Get Off Your Flip(pin') Phone

So I have taken a couple weeks off. I'm sorry. But I must say, I enjoyed my time away from Omaha-- like I always do.

But while I was away, some struck my ire. And now that I have few moments (believe me, life has been non-stop since I got home), I'd love to talk about it.

As part of my trip, I took some time to go to Gettysburg. You know, big battleground, lots of people died during the Civil War... and all for shoes. Seriously, the three-day battle of Gettysburg was fought over shoes-- check the history books.

I'm not sure if many of you have been to Gettysburg, but I'm sure almost all of you have heard of it. And as such, you know that there is a huge national cemetery there.

Now, I'm not the most patriotic person in the world-- in fact many people razz me about being 'Openly Canadian'. But I know, when you get to a battlefield-- especially a cemetery, you show your respects for the men who died. They fought for a cause, there is not question about it. Even those who fight on the side of evil (Confederates, Nazis, Crusaders) they fought for something they believed-- and that deserves respect.

So, I think we can all agree, when you walk into a cemetery-- and pretty much anytime you around history-- you remove your hat, you don't goof off or joke around, and YOU TURN YOUR CELL PHONE OFF!

How disrespectful can you be? OK, the person in the Civil War Museum in Harrisburg-- who missed the sign asking everyone to turn their phones off-- that upset me a little. But the moron walking through the cemetery at Gettysburg-- deserves the fate of everyone who rests in peace, there.

You must think awfully high of yourself to think that you are above courtesy, and that you can never be too far away from your cell phone. Here's a little hint: if you think you are going to need to be on the phone at a given time-- coordinate your schedule around it. If you have a conference call with someone that day, it probably is not the best day for you to go visit museums or similar settings.

You are probably the same people who refuse to turn your phones off on airplanes. I'm not sure if I believe the dangers of having your cell phone on, while on a plane-- but rules are rules, and rules are for everyone.

Sure, it's great to have this technology where, no matter where you go-- with the possible exception of the resort I was at in Pennsylvania-- you can be in contact with friends, family, and work. But it is not a free pass to do as you wish. It just leaves the honus of respect and courtesy in your hands.