How To Survive The Peril Of Misbehavior
The destiny of our nation depends on the choices we make.
Look around. Listen to the message broadcast to the public. Watch people’s behavior. The narrative is the same regardless of the originator: If a person doesn’t support the same political party as the messenger, they are wrong.
Each party sends the same message that there’s no cooperation or discussion with those perceived as the enemy.
Our national behavior is becoming that of spoiled four-year-olds. When fighting to support a political party, it’s not about a win; it’s all about power to keep the other side under control. It’s as though it’s acceptable to discredit a broad population of people, publicly attack them, call them names, or seek to remove opportunities from them.
This behavior is wrong, and it’s counter to a standard of civility that keeps a free nation operating safely. Even with political unity, standards of courtesy and kindness fade. With perpetrators scheming against others, the belligerent behavior becomes their new relational baseline.
Eggshells
How are we as a nation going to remain healthy and maintain orderly societies where people feel safe? People are walking on eggshells from life’s uncertainties, and today the “us against them” opposition by the politically selfish only makes things worse.
Since we attract what we think about and receive what we put out, who’s at fault when the bad stuff comes?
Going through the motions for someone else
Back in the day when mature adults led our nation, we could talk about areas of disagreement and work through them. Nowadays, people want what they want, without even knowing the impact. All the while, their decisions align with what someone else tells them to want.
When will people realize that unless we come together as a nation, we become nothing more than a “tool” to foster someone else’s position, power, and bank account?
Political leaders picked up on the latest buzzword and refer to themselves as “influencers.” That’s probably an accurate title, given they are driving people into political fights for someone else’s gain.
I avoid public endorsements of any political party. There are areas of each party where I agree and others where I don’t.
My moral compass drives my decisions, and God guides them. I don’t share my vote.
People that know me know my stance.
The grocery store
Last week, I stood in line at the grocery store. As I waited on my socially distanced dot on the floor, a man walked up, invading my space, and said, “I was just wondering, who did you vote for?” I said, “Who I voted for is my business. You need to go stand on that dot over there.”
“C’mon man,” he said, “You need to tell me who you voted for,” while still standing next to me. I could feel my pressure building, and my tolerance level was evaporating quickly. I told him, “I have NO NEED to tell you my vote. There’s something called social distancing. Back off!” He got the point and moved quickly. I paid for my couple of items and left. I felt as though this guy’s nosiness would determine whether I was a political adversary or an ally.
To me, a person who claims the right to invade my privacy and personal space is on the wrong side of civility.
The man at the gym
While this interaction went south pretty quickly, an incident at the gym took it to another level of stupid. Yesterday I went to the gym, had a good workout, shower, and headed to my locker. I saw an older man in one section of the locker area.
I was in the center section, and I heard a couple of men on the other side of the lockers. Sound travels throughout the locker room, and the guys on the other side were talking about sports. One guy then asked the other who he thought would be president. “Beats me,” he said.
About this time, the older man walked up to the sink near my locker. He was naked and stood there facing the mirror. He began loudly attacking one candidate, almost yelling at no one and everyone while staring at the mirror. I determined to stay out of it. Besides, there was nothing I wanted to see with his naked butt facing me.
The two guys on the other side got real quiet.
I finished dressing, grabbed my gym bag, and started to leave when he turned, pointed at me, and said, “You’re probably one of those DAMNED conservatives!”
There was nothing to show my political beliefs. I could have been part of either party or none. One thing for sure, I didn’t appreciate being referred to as a “damned” anything. Given that he’s a much older man, I just said, “Thank you. Thank you very much. That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me all day,” and I walked off.
Suddenly, laughter resonated throughout the locker room by the two guys on the other side, along with a couple of others in another section. The older man stomped off to his locker, and I left.
I was glad he finally quieted down, not so much that it humiliated him. But then, just like the guy at the grocery store, he embarrassed himself with his expectation of others to tolerate his misbehavior.
I want to emphasize that we can be better than that and choose not to display this conduct toward others. We can create a society of freedom and safety for everyone if we choose to.
If we don’t, then we inherit what we put out.
The “Greatest Generation” sacrificed and built a nation of opportunity so their children, and grandchildren, and WE can live in safety and work together. If they labored and built a nation giving us a life full of benefit, who are we to interrupt freedoms and opportunities for the next generations?
We should not be a nation at war with one another because of opposing ideas. We can be mature enough to be civil and seek areas of agreement to better our country and our citizens.
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⭐️ About Anthony M. Davis
Anthony M. Davis is a Leadership, Success & Stress Coach, Board Certified Therapist, Top-100 International Travel Photographer. As a Coach, he helps people just like you overcome obstacles & reach their goals. His free book, “Keys to Your Success” is available now.
