It is quite an art to disagree with someone without being disagreeable. Many of our politicians--both the left and the right-- lack this grace. Democrats make many rash statements and then excuse the source by saying that the party is "a big tent." You can advocate for the abolition of the police and prisons, press for cashless bail, and advocate for expanding the supreme court just so long as you pass the admission test for belonging to the "big tent" --hate Trump!
On the other side Trump himself is guilty of ruffling feathers with several of his statements. His initial statements on Greenland must have rankled Denmark which owns Greenland, If he had been more diplomatic, he could have achieved his goal of obtaining a defensive base in the arctic without upsetting the Danes. We now know it is in the interest of both the United States and of Greenland as that base has finally been agreed upon. Trump also has made strange statements with regard to other territories. He changed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. He wants to change Lake Ontario which has a border with Ontario, Canada to a US name although we have a Lake Michigan which borders both Michigan and Canada.
Back closer to home, I have corresponded with a reader/writer who was most gracious although he disagreed with me. Our correspondence went like this:
My June 12 letter to Northside Sun.
I have read and reread Patrick Taylor's article in the June 5 NSS. It is well written, carefully thought out, and makes the points Mr. Taylor wishes to convey. Unfortunately, I disagree with most of them. (I then went on to give my criticisms.)
Patrick found my e-mail and replied to me:
Good afternoon, Mr. Gilderson,
I just read today's Northside Sun and was delighted to read your rebuttal of my most recent article. After your second sentence, it didn't matter that you disagreed with me. My goal in writing for public consumption is to have readers be able to say the kinds of things your second sentence said. Anything after that is gravy. I am humbled and flattered you took the time to read and read the article again then take the time to draft an article with your differing opinion...Thank you again for your very great compliment...Pat Taylor
If we could all be that gracious in our disagreement with others the world would be a better place.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" Proverbs 15:1
Peter Gilderson, Madison.
