Uniform

  It appears to me that we, as a society, have lost a bit of formality. Everything is getting casual. The way we greet each other, the manner in which we dress, and how we take our meals. Perhaps that all began with the invention of the TV dinner. According to several sources that all began in 1953 with left over turkey. The story is a salesman realized there were 250 tons of frozen turkey left over from Thanksgiving and came up with the idea as a way to sell them. Next thing you know they are selling those snack tables and we're eating in the living room. Today dining rooms are something too formal for most homes, replaced by a family room. TV dinners are still around, but mostly replaced by home delivery these days.

  Consider how we greet one another these days. How often do you hear anyone call another maam or sir? Do you see people extending their hand in greeting strangers? Do you see anyone addressing a stranger. No, the best you can expect these days is a nod of the head to acknowledge that they even saw you. That, I suspect is just to let you know you are being watched! It pays to be aware these days. Saying excuse me or pardon me while passing in front of someone at the store or whatever is something rarely heard. Do the gentlemen offer their seats to the ladies? And don't get me started on the use of pronouns. Well, as I said, things are a bit casual these days.

  I was thinking about this again on Saturday while watching the Army/Navy game. They were interviewing a General. What I noticed about this General was his hat. He was wearing what I assumed to be the regulation cover, that's what the military calls a hat, a cover, at least the Navy does anyway. This Generals hat was squashed down on the sides. Now, that used to be something you would see in WW2 movies. The pilots would have their hats that way from wearing them with their headphones on. It's looks cool, gives you that seasoned, veteran look. 

  I get that, we had a few things like that in the Navy as well. The way you shaped your dixie cup was one of them. Not regulation and you didn't wear them that way for inspection but when you hit the beach that was cool. Key chains hanging from your beltloop is another, not regulation. All buttons buttoned, that's regulation as well. For formal occasions none of that was allowed. Anytime you were in the public eye was a formal occasion! For that reason that General wearing his hat in that fashion stood out to me, what kind of example is that? 

  I've noticed that the wearing of berets in the last few years as well. Seems like everyone is wearing a beret in the military. I suppose it gives you that "tough guy" look, like a green beret. They are getting very stylized that much is certain. Also quite informal in my opinion. Like wearing fatigues everywhere these days. In my day you couldn't wear your "working" uniform off the base, you had to be dressed appropriately, in the uniform of the day. Yes, that was a thing. There were rules and regulations to follow. You didn't get to just do your own thing. Although, I admit we did make certain modifications to those uniforms to make them look cooler. For us sailors it was usually liberty cuffs, a tailored tunic that zipped up one side and the shaping of your white hat. Many were custom made in Japan, Spain and other countries frequently visited by our ships. You could have a uniform custom tailored and ready to go in a few hours! Yes, I had one.

  The objective in all of that was the adherence to discipline. Discipline, formalized behavioral actions. The proper rendering of honors, like a hand salute and the formal addressing of your superior officers. In the Navy, you remove your cover indoors. They don't call them the uniformed services because we are wearing a uniform! They are called the uniform services because we are expected to perform our duties in a uniform manner. That includes the wearing of the uniform. 

  Of course I'm old enough to remember when lots of folks wore a uniform. The tv repair man did, the gas station attendants did, the milkman, the postman and the police. They were a source of pride and let you know their profession right away. The fast food places carry on that tradition which, if you think about it, is ironic as it was tv dinners (fast food) that began the decline in that formality. The only other one that pops to mind is Progressive insurance, they wear an apron for some mysterious reason. Home cooked insurance? 

 Well, things change over time. There are things I did that my parents thought were outrageous behaviors. I went to church without wearing a tie! My mother was shocked to see other ladies in church without their gloves on. I've seen stores open on Sunday! Kids today may call their parents by name. I didn't know my mother had another name until I was like five years old, and knew right away to never call her that! Looks to me that the military is getting a little loose in the discipline department. At least that is my take away from that generals appearance on national television. That isn't the way your cover is supposed to look General! Who do you think you are, one of the Black Sheep pilots?