SolvingWorld Problems via Respect and Mutual Understanding
their conclusions. Then they see us as evil because we disagree with them, and instead of seeking solutions together, we now just seek to prove each other wrong. This situation is becoming more serious as almost every major national issue is becoming politicized, with both major parties trying to destroy the other. I think I should be clear: I don’t belong to any political party. I refuse to allow someone else to decide what I should believe and whom I should have allegiance to. I tend to lean conservative on economic issues, and I tend to lean more liberal on environmental issues. But, above all, I value truth! I think there’s great value in knowing the truth! Whatever the truth is, I believe we should seek it. Only by knowing the truth, and sorting truth from fiction, can we make good decisions and find good solutions. A person who disagrees with us is not our enemy. They may be our best friend. They may be our spouse. They may be our brother or sister or our neighbor. If people disagree with us, there is probably a good reason. And if we shut them down, we will never be able to work out issues together to find solutions that we can all support. Let’s listen to what they have to say. Let’s explore our differences. Let’s see where we can agree. Let’s work together to find solutions we can all support. Recently, I’ve seen far too many families and friendships split up because people simply disagreed
on things like politics, mask mandates, vaccines, and so forth. These are important issues that we need to be able to talk about safely without taking offense and without retribution. We need to make it safe for people to disagree with us. And we need to let them know that we love them and value them even though we have different points of view or different opinions. Let’s not listen to those who would tell us that it is politically incorrect to have discussions about such important things. Let’s not listen to those who would tell us that we need to shut up and be silent. Let’s not heed those who tell us that discussions about really important issues are not for the public forum. And most of all, let’s make sure that we don’t deem those who disagree with us as someone who needs to be silenced. We all are looking to find the best solutions for ourselves, our families, and our nations. When you get down to it, there is more that unites us than divides us. The best solutions always come from hearing all sides and seeking truth – no matter where it is found. Sincerely,
A MESSAGE FROM CEO FRANK VANDERSLOOT
As Melaleuca has experienced tremendous success around the world, I’ve had the opportunity to work with individuals from all over – folks from all walks of life, different ethnic backgrounds, different religions, different levels of education, and different political persuasions. At Melaleuca we celebrate and respect our differences. We have learned to love and honor each other even though we don’t all see the world through the same lens. At Melaleuca we seek and value truth, regardless of its source. We give credence to facts, not dogma. And we seek solutions to the world’s many problems through understanding and analysis rather than from the propaganda of one political party or another. Over the past few years, I have noticed a trend emerging in society that I think is very dangerous for mankind and for our nation. It seems it has become commonplace for people to actually deem those who disagree with them as their enemy. Especially in social media, it has become the norm to become offended if someone disagrees with us on almost any topic. And instead of listening to each other, we are taught to attack those who disagree with our opinion or the opinions of those whose side we have chosen to be on. Indeed, we are being taught by society that if someone disagrees with us, we should silence them. We should punish them. We should attack them. We should shun them. Or at the very least we should shut them up! We
have made it politically incorrect for people to state their views on any topic that might disagree either with us or with those whom we have sworn allegiance to. I think that’s dangerous. Unfortunately, it is apparent that in today’s world many first decide who they want to follow or what they want to believe. Then they seek only the evidence that sustains their belief system and “proves” they are right. Often, people seek less truth once they become advocates of their own position and try to get converts. And unfortunately, they begin to ignore any facts that might suggest they are wrong. Society is now teaching us that those who disagree with us are our enemy. That somehow if they disagree with us they are evil, regardless of how they came to A person who disagrees with us is not our enemy.… If people disagree with us, there is probably a good reason. And if we shut them down, we will never be able to work out issues together to find solutions that we can all support.
@FLVanderSloot
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