“I will show respect for personal property and natural resources.”
The third rule of civility can mean a variety of things. It covers a litany of issues, from littering and vandalism to wastefulness and engaging in practices that are toxic to our environment. But I also thought about it when I read about a controversial case in the news.
It seems tourists—including two American sisters—have been wreaking havoc in Cambodia. Their crime? Posing for naked photos inside the Angkor Wat temple. Apparently the sisters were deported as punishment for disrespecting the sacred site. And for good reason.
Can you imagine the uproar if people disrobed in an American church, temple, or mosque? Being a tourist on a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip is no excuse for showing such a lack of respect and civility. Having visited Cambodia myself last year, I can’t imagine what these tourists are thinking. You wouldn’t act that way in a museum or library, let alone in a place of worship or sacred site.
It’s important to be mindful of the space around you, whether you are at home or abroad. Otherwise, chaos rules.