In writing training sessions I do around the U.S. and in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, I urge students to maintain a tone of respect and civility in email, no matter how emotions rise and fall in the workaday world. Anything less and you risk eroding morale and productivity. Email simply makes it too easy to “vent,” while on the phone or in person you know how the message affects the recipient and your approach is polite, even professional. Inevitably, that point generates vigorous nods from many students in any country.
On a much larger stage than business emails, tone is also a matter of dignified, classy behavior — or not.
Hillary Clinton handled what was probably the worst day of her life by getting up on Nov. 9 and making a gracious conciliatory speech. Her opponent bellowed and tweeted evidence-free about a “rigged system” right up to Nov. 8 — the day Hillary got more votes but lost. Had Donald Trump lost, he would still be whining. What is appalling is that many of my fellow Americans would have accepted that nonsense unquestioningly.
Of course, the Founding Fathers would wonder what happened to their precious Constitution and the peaceful transfer of power they envisioned.
Heed these words from Vice President-elect Mike Pence, a decent human being: “We cannot do democracy without a heavy dose of civility.”
Let us hope that the man who is about to become leader of the free world gets the point.
Dave Griffiths, Mechanic Falls
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