Kindergarten Rules

Unless you've been on Mars for the past 6 months, I probably don't have to tell you how politics have been a hotter topic than usual.  People either love or hate the new leadership and they have no problem voicing their opinions.  There have been protests.  There have been demonstrations.  There have been fights.  Things have gotten downright ugly, really ugly.

It's human to disagree sometimes.  It's divine, however, to listen to and respect others even if their beliefs differ from our own.

I can't help but think back to the lessons learned in kindergarten.  There were kids you didn't like and kids who didn't like you.  I remember my teacher saying that you didn't have to like the other person, but you did have to get along with him or her.  I'm sure I wasn't the only one to hear that somewhere while growing up.  What happened?  Did so many people forget that lesson?

There's a small group of us here at the library.  We all had different opinions about the election and while we voiced our opinions, we didn't shout and get nasty.  We listened to each other and we respected what we had to say, even if we disagreed.  Isn't that the way how things are supposed to work?

If you ask me for my ever humble opinion, I think we can all revisit the basic rules of kindergarten, the rules of showing respect, being polite, and acting courteously.  Don't shout and don't be mean.  Try to be helpful.  Clean up your mess.  For other lessons, take a look at Robert Fulghum's modern day classic, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  It's alright to disagree, but do so in an appropriate manner.

Ever respectfully yours from the perch.