My interpretation is that the terrorists attacks jarred us from our feelings of security and reminded us all of our mortality. In my own mind, my mortality has induced in me a need to get things right before I check out with the grim reaper. As you get older, a person should absorb knowledge and gain experience so that eventually you can determine what is good and what is not good. When we are young, everything is subject to interpretation and even rejection. But after awhile, it seems that a person should understand what constitutes good and what doesn't.

So once again I will get on my soapbox and attempt to explain why I think it is important that we should try to reverse some of the trends over the past 40 years. In a word, style has gone out of style. I will start out with dress. Beginning with the youthful rebellion of the 60's, which was my generation, everyone started doing their own thing. This included snubbing authority by dressing like slobs and starting to talk with more profanity.

A month ago, John Martin, who was campaigning for state representative, addressed the Minonk City Council. Mr. Martin looked very dapper and important in his suit and tie. The city council members were dressed in very casual attire, some wore sweat shirts. I couldn't help notice the clash of images. Who looked more important and more serious minded? It occured to me that meeting to discuss the welfare and future of the lives of 2000 people every two weeks is a serious enough matter that required more decorum and respect than has been shown at past council meetings. At last Monday night's council meeting, I wore a suit and tie to show the respect that these meetings deserve and I will continue to dress up for future council meetings.

Our taste in music has deteriorated. Every time some one pulls up to me at a stop light with their car reverberating with the sounds of rap music that is blasting my ear drums, I wish I could press a button and blow up the speakers in their car.

But there are signs of hope. The radio station at Illinois State University, WGLT, plays modern and traditional jazz music every week day from morning till night. The FM station at 89.1 is now the most listened to station at night in the Bloomington area. I think this is especially heartwarming since a lot of young college students listen to that station and their taste for music is being formed. They will gain an appreciation for one of the best art forms in America, jazz music.

I don't want everyone to think that I only like highbrow or sophisicated music. Another American art form is also making a comeback - bluegrass music. Last week, WTVP, the Peoria public television station, had a two hour special on bluegrass music from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the old home of the Grand Ole Opry. The musicians were great and the music was great. And guess what? The musicians were all dressed up in suits and ties. They had respect for their music and their audience. One of the stars of the show was Ralph Stanley who is 76 years old and sounds as good now as he did 50 years ago. Can you imagine listening to Michael Jackson when he is 76 years old? Unfortunately, bluegrass is considered hick and uncool, but I feel that bluegrass musicians are about as talented and as dedicated a group of musicans that you will find anywhere.

I understand why new houses don't have a lot of the architectural detail. It's because it costs more money. However, looking at the price of the house over a lifetime, the extra detail does not cost that much and you are leaving behind a building that the next owner will be proud of.

Years ago new houses were built mostly by people in their middle years after they had accumulated some money and could afford a fairly nice house. With today's emphasis on immediate gratification, people build something because they want something new even if it means they will have to cut down on the quality in order to do it. A good example of this is the number of new houses that have a brick facade in the front and vinyl siding on the rest of the house. We are building more and cheaper house nowdays compared to fewer more expensive houses years ago.

With all of the nice older homes in Minonk, if I were young I would prefer to remodel an older home and bring it back to its original granduer rather than building a new home. It probably is less expensive to remodel an older house than to build a new home and you probably will end up with a nicer house.

Style can even be applied to our everday relationships with people. It seems that we tend to be more rude when we have conflicts or disagreements with others. Treating other people with good manners is something we all can probably improve on. In my own lifestyle, I am going to try to cut down on my profanity. Profanity is so ubiquitous nowdays, that no one is shocked anymore when a profane word is uttered. I don't know how it got started but the level of conversation today has been lowered with the extreme number of cuss words, slang words and useless words such as "You know" and "Like".

All of this rambling brings me back to my main point. Life is short and serious. We are only going to be here once. I am going to try do it right. If I can't afford to do something right, I will wait until I have the extra money to do it right. I will dress more appropriately for social and religious events. I hope to see women in dresses again and I hope I don't see people wearing jeans to church.

Over the past 500 years western culture has developed standards for excellence. I am not egotistical enough to think that standards of good taste do not apply to me. I think it behooves everyone to attempt to apply every facet of their lives to tried and true standards of excellence. I really believe it will improve how you feel about yourself.

You do not have to be rich to have good taste. It doesn't cost anymore to listen to good music or to read a good book or dress appropriately. Style is democratic and can be acquired by all.