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Respect Along With Thanksgiving

Respect Along With Thanksgiving

I read something this week that I believe we all need to keep in mind every day. We all need to ratchet it down a little by keeping this weeks “Think Right” in the forefront of every conversation we engage in this week. This one is particularly important for us to remember following such a contentious political season, and with so much rapid fire and varying information coming at us each and every day regarding the coronavirus, and Covid-19.

This particular “Think Right” becomes even more important to remember in light of what our Great Country was founded upon. I also witnessed and was a part of this concept growing up. This particular concept involves our application of respectful discussion and debate.

I think this can be summed up better by these words from Robert Quillen; “Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument an exchange of ignorance.”

I learned in one of my senior high school classes that when a debate turns into a personal attack, the attacker just lost the debate. Unfortunately, I have seen discussions denigrate into a personal affront more than once in this forum. It sometimes seems all it takes to trigger this attack is a differing opinion, or a buzz word that gets under someone’s skin. I hope we can also keep this in mind particularly this week when having discussions with friends and family as we gather together (in whatever fashion that may be) to give Thanks for what we have.

Remember also, when these interactions occur, that life is short for all of us. When the rubber hits that road in life the only things that really matter are friends and family. Let’s not lose them over a word that triggers an immediate poorly thought out response. We have all been guilty of this at one time or another.

And as a parting thought, perhaps if you have experienced this unfortunate outcome during this past year as a result of harsh words or personal attacks either by you or directed at you, that you might take the first step by reaching out to that person. An apology or just letting them know that you really care more about your relationship than the debated issue will go a long way. Perhaps you can begin by noting to the other person that you both may have lost your heads over that conversation so many weeks or months ago. I guarantee this will be a Great first step in the process of mending your relationship.

I hope we can all enjoy our Thanksgiving by Giving Thanks for who we are, and what we have. Let’s put the debates and discussions aside for now and just enjoy one another.