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Do You Remember the Fourth Grade?

I don’t know if you remember fourth grade or not.  For me, that was an age where I started to get into a bit of the wrong crowd.  I remember we would wrap a rubber band around a

finger and thumb to create a small slingshot, and we would shoot our wooden pencils into the ceiling or the roller shades.  Yeah, a little damaging to school property isn’t it.  Poor way to treat other people’s stuff.  And then, when someone was “different” we would make fun of them, because if everyone is making fun of them, then they aren’t making fun of me.  Not exactly the way Dale Carnegie would suggest in order to make friends and influence people.


Do you see a similarity between fourth grade and our political arena today?  I do not. It’s a bunch of political Bull-oney!


High Road Leadership


I have spent the whole year having discussions using John’s latest book, High Road Leadership, Bringing People Together in a World that Divides.  First off, let me clarify, I care who wins the election, but only because I want the best country in the world to continue to be recognized as such!  I want what is best for our country.  I do not expect that only one political party has all of the answers.  Nor do I think that one political party causes most of our problems.  The closest analogy that comes to mind would be to suggest that there is only one best chicken company in the world; and while there are statistics to suggest that there is one chicken sandwich company is the best, that is not to say that there are not other companies that make excellent chicken menu items, and that you can have chicken a variety of ways.  Additionally, who wants to eat the same meal of chicken all the time?  I suspect that the correct answer is no one.


Additionally, historically, there are a few past presidents that compete for being recognized as one of the best presidents our great nation has ever had.  Two of those presidents are Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.  You may think otherwise; nevertheless, my point is that these are two examples that tried to UNITE the people, not DIVIDE the people.


Migration to Something Better...


And when it comes to the world - most countries do not have the challenges that we have.   Most of the people want IN to our country because they want OUT of their current country and living conditions.  Certainly there are “bad apples” trying to get into our country - I am not denying that.  


However, a simple search indicates that Bangladesh is a country that leads in the area of migration challenges largely due to the greatest climate affected country in the world due to rising sea levels, extreme storms and other environmental challenges.


And from an international immigration perspective, the United States is home to more international immigrants than the next four countries (Germany, Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United Kingdom) combined according to the most recent UN Population Division data from mid-2020 (as of March 13, 2024).  I don’t know about you, but I found at least one name on this list to be surprising that it is even close to being on the list, let alone in the top five, or even fifty.


Two Sides


Again, not to pick one side over another, my intent is to be purely impartial. I will start with saying there are always (always) two sides to any story - and they are not the right way and the wrong way.  The truth always lies somewhere in between.  Just look at any argument that does not include yourself, and it may become apparent that there are truths and misconceptions on both sides.  Now if you can ever come up with any situation where one side is so perfectly appropriate in their communication, thought process and actions that they should take no responsibility or accountability for what is happening - I will simply be amazed!


Our primary political parties create the idea that they are diametrically opposed to each other, and they accuse each other of being the worst thing or set of actions that could have ever served our country.  Do you remember your middle school years?  Do you see much difference in the way people act?


I am suggesting that there are better ways to act and treat people, even the ones that we do not agree with!    I believe that these people are doing the absolute best thing they can do for our country.  (However, the opposing party (whichever one it is), acts and accuses them of being purposely negligent, even to the point of comments of jail time after being done with their current service?  Utterly disappointing!  Utterly devaluing people!  Utterly setting the worst possible example for any other persons in the world that are watching how the best country in the world treats other people.


Either way, by the time this comes out, one side will have “won.”  The question is - did “We the People of the UNITED States” win?


Nevertheless, I’ll close with this quote from one of my favorite leadership philosophers, Jim Rohn:  “One person caring about another represents life’s greatest value.”  

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