Nearly four years ago I shared thoughts On Being RESPECTFUL in this space. Sadly, our society has drifted farther away from this noble concept in the time since. My latest piece builds upon earlier commentary regarding how civility breeds genuine respect.

I am not a political creature; I am deeply patriotic, however. Our Nation has been built on a foundation of freedom, visible in its many forms, and represents a remarkably diverse cultural mix of people from all around the world. We are far from perfect and yet we discovered a model for governance designed to enable us to advance while we aspire to get better, together.

When senseless acts of violence punctuate a peaceful gathering, as now happens all too often, we are momentarily horrified. There are calls for unification and action, yet little seems to change. At the root of these tragedies is a lack of respect for people with different ideas and beliefs. We are entitled to our respective views and similarly obligated to show others genuine respect for their own.

Respect breeds respect. And violence breeds more violence. It is incumbent upon leaders at all levels to show more of the former and zero tolerance for the latter. Words matter and actions speak louder than words.

Our future rests in our collective hands.

Tempus Maximize!