Good manners, southern style

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I just read a post about mano po, a Filipino tradition of kissing the hand of elders (I'm sorry I can't remember who wrote it), but it got me thinking about ways we show respect in the southern US. Saying yes mam, no mam, yes sir, and no sir were drilled into us from infancy. Heaven help you if you forgot to say it two times in a row. Millions of southern mamas when their youngin would say "yes", would give them The Look and say, "Yes what?" Then it had better be yes mam, yes please, or yes thank you. It always sounded so rude to just answer yes or no. It was disrepectful to elders, teachers, and everyone in authority. To this day, I can't bring myself to tell someone to shut up. Shut up was the equivalent of cussing. The worst I can do is tell them to hush. And if I'm really mad, it's hush up. All good southern kids were also taught to always say please and thank you. When our grandbaby was barely talking, I heard her say thank you in baby talk. I couldn't believe it! I've recently read that some are offended when some young person says mam or sir. Some people look for things to be offended over. Good manners will often get you further in life than education or wealth. Ask any employer doing a job interview.