Wow!

The response to my request for your thoughts on “What would make America Great Again” was quite significant. I received responses from so many that I am going to share them over the course of  the next several weeks with readers. Naturally many of you are local residents, but some responded to me from outside the region — such as Matthew Pugh of London, England. Pugh was born and raised in Alpena.

If there was an overwhelming theme in all the responses, it was the need for Americans to return to civility, to treat each other with respect and learn to better communicate with each other.

Zig Ziglar once said, “We all need a daily check up from the neck up to avoid stinkin ‘thinkin.” Most of our respondents seemed to agree.

Tom Brindley titled his response “Don’t Talk with Your Mouth Full!”

“Society has become tolerant and even condones bad behavior. Sense of personal responsibility is declining. It is evident in: lack of manners, sloppy grammar and speech, disrespect, and intolerance. Only what reinforces one’s opinion is considered relevant.  Responsible use of electronic media is a place to begin the process of change.

“‘Think Twice, Post Once!’ To make America great again, people must realize that communication is like a piece of wood. Wood once cut is permanently altered and an electronic message once transmitted is irretrievable. Wood can be replaced, and messages can be clarified but what was before will never be again.  A brash statement can end a long friendship just as it can end the career of a politician.”

The Rev. Paul Lance, minister of the First Congregational UCC of Alpena, urged readers to return to some of the basics.

“What it will take to make America great again is for more people to follow a basic ethical principle from long, long ago: ‘You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ Jesus quoted that Bible verse (Leviticus 19:18) both in his Sermon on the Mount and in response to the question: ‘Which is the greatest commandment?’

“Not only Judaism & Christianity, but all of the great world religions echo that basic ethic: Treat the other person as you would like to be treated. Do not do to another person what you would not want done to yourself. Even the most secular humanist knows they should love their neighbor, if not because God desires it, but because it is the right thing to do. We call it the ‘Golden Rule.’

“Unfortunately, too many people hold self-centered “me-first” values, quick to take advantage for one’s own interests even though it leaves others at a disadvantage. We further limit ourselves by not seeing other people as our “neighbor” because they come from somewhere else, or are richer or poorer than we are, or look different or think differently than we do.

“The polarized campaigns widened the divides between us and the rancor stirred up mean-spirited feelings. It’s time to get back to the basics of caring for one another, regardless who our neighbor is. Just do it.”

Finally, Mike Dotsch of Ossineke offered this advice: If you want to see where to begin, look at the man in the mirror.

“In my humble opinion, helping America become great again begins with us, the citizens of this wonderful country. We don’t just live in this country WE ARE the country. Whether it’s by a secret design or just an incredible coincidence, the first two letters in ‘United States Of America’ are U & S. which form the word ‘us.’ It’s up to us how the direction of this country moves forward from this point in history, we can determine it’s course for the future.

“So, how do we do that? Well, I cannot think of a better way to start, than to improve the way we treat each other. Like President Obama said in his post election comments the morning after the election, “we have to remember that we’re actually all on one team.” Truer words could not have been spoken and sometimes we forget that. We are a family of 325 million and we need to treat each other like family. To coexist in this great land of ours, we need to respect each other more and try to be more civil to each other. But above all, we need to stop committing violent crimes against each other and killing one another. My God, this is the year 2016, you would have thought by now, we would, as a civilized society, be well beyond violence and killing.

“During the last 240 years, we have had presidents, politicians, professors, religious leaders and successful business entrepreneur’s offer wonderful words of wisdom and knowledge to us to help improve our country. But, at this point in time, I cannot think of any better advice fitting for our country, than the five words proudly and confidently exclaimed by Bill S Preston, Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan, founders of the ‘Wyld Stallyns’…”BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER.'”

Be excellent indeed.

Next Week: Great. Greater. Greatest — more of your thoughts.

Bill Speer can be reached via email at bspeer@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 354-3111 ext. 331. Follow Bill on Twitter @billspeer13. Read his blog, More BS (Bill Speer) at www.thealpenanews.com.