“If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read President Can't Swim.” Lyndon Baines Johnson
The media is filled with misrepresentations and complaints, so vehemently, that you’d think that lives were at stake. And it spills over to family and friends, as if agreement is more important than blood or friendship. Again, I’m amazed that the only place where civility reigns – by policy and norms, is in the workplace. Disagreement is allowed but disagreeability is not – because in that arena, customer service, satisfaction, and experience are more important than anything else. And because of that, disagreements often turn to tolerance because of the need to work together. Years ago, I was in a hospital for an extended period due to an industrial accident. The man I shared a room with, and I were total opposites – politically and otherwise. But neither of us could get out of bed so we were eventually forced to talk to each other. And I learned that if you dislike something, learn all you can about it – the pros and the cons, before getting mad. And if you still disagree, do it responsibly, looking for bridges rather than roadblocks. He and I remained friends long after we got better – not because we changed our opinions, but because we had learned to respect each other. Keep and open mind and look for the things in life that we all can agree on today.
Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908 – 1973): The 36th president of the United States. He became president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, under whom he had served as vice president.
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