I was reading a blog asking when the Democrats would work with President Bush. One response asked when Bush would work with the Democrats. Both sides were right, and yet, both sides were horribly wrong.

One of the values I have instilled in my children is that someone has to be the mature one. When one is being cantentious, the other can't justify their response by the other's actions. What happens around us, how other people act and interact, is beyond our control. All we can control is how we respond to those around us. And it is in that response that our character is defined.

This principle doesn't only apply to Gid's kids, or to President Bush and Congress. It can apply to situations as small as a property boundary dispute or as large as an international conflict. The only way to effectively persuade people to your cause is by showing your ability to work peacefully with others and resolve conflict in a firm, yet fair manner.

Signing off,

Gideon MacLeish