When I was growing up, I was taught to respect the people around me. Throwing a temper tantrum in the store would have earned me a trip to the car and a sound spanking when we got there.

Treating people rudely would have led to grounding for the next three months.

Monday evening, as Jeremy and I were walking out of Wal Mart from picking up supper, Jeremy put his arm around my shoulder and I leaned my head over on his shoulder. I had just put in 16 hours at three part time jobs. I was exhausted.

As we walked back to the car three young teen-age girls drove by in a bright red pickup -- obviously owned by one of their parents -- one of them yelling, "Get a room," as they drove by. I yelled back a few choice words, letting them know that their breeding obviously left something to be desired.

We drove by them as we left the parking lot. I rolled my window down and continued my tirade, embarrassing my son and "explaining" to the girls why their behavior was inappropriate. They hung their heads and refused to look at me. I wonder what happened to that bravado they had displayed so viciously only a few moments earlier.

Whatever happened to good old-fashioned manners? Did they go extinct when their parents stopped spanking their children for fear of being investigated by the Department of Social Services?

Did it become taboo when it became the norm for parents to allow their children to throw temper-tantrums in the local store, screaming at the top of their lungs the entire time they are there?

Is it because children are now sent to a corner for using foul language rather than having their mouths washed out with soap?

Whatever the reason, we as adults should be afraid -- very, very afraid. These young people are our future. One day they'll be deciding how we spend our old age. I, for one, am not looking forward to being governed by a bunch of spoiled little brats with no manners and even less respect for the people around them.

As for the young "ladies" that chose to find their pleasure in demeaning other people, I have a special message --respect your elders, treat others as you would be choose to be treated yourself and most importantly -- GROW UP.