Respectful Coexistence

The terrible events in Tucson this past weekend have made many of us think about our desire for peaceful coexistence. We wish that our differences could be expressed and debated in a civil manner, without vituperative spewing, threats, and other extreme and violent behavior. Let’s let tolerance and respect for other people and their views drive our behavior and interactions. Overcome polarization with open-mindedness, thought, and an eye on important goals. I’d like to see us apply some values, intellect and effort to minimize conflict over differences and find common ground that allows us to move forward constructively.

Our challenges are broad, in our personal lives, in business, in our communities, and politics. But we have choices we can make in all of those arenas. We control our own behavior and are responsible for our actions. We choose to participate in our communities and shape them into places we can be proud to live. We elect our politicians, and are entitled hold them accountable to represent us conscientiously.

The business world is reflective of many of the issues exhibited in our world today. In a well-run corporation, ethical leadership, effective management, clear goals, policies and procedures, the application of laws, and human resources programs help govern the chaos. Individuals mostly “behave”, at least in part because they don’t want to harm their careers, lose a paycheck, or be humiliated in front of their peers.

Each of us can make a difference at some level. Be caring in your personal relationships, respectful and constructive in your work environment, cooperative with community efforts, and active to make your voice heard in politics. Let’s all lead by example, and make clear what we expect from our fellow civilians and our governments. We’re smart enough and good enough to make some changes.