No Politics Today … How ‘Bout Some Kindness?

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Holidays, Politic-Free Mondays, Social commentary

I think that Robert Hubbell’s column from yesterday is something we could all benefit from, not only on this Labour Day holiday but every day …

Practicing civility and kindness on Labor Day.

September 2, 2023

By Robert Hubbell

No politics today. Just a plea to practice civility and kindness toward workers over Labor Day Weekend—and all year round.

          I wrote yesterday about Joe Biden’s kindness in phoning his friend Mitch McConnell after the Senate Minority Leader suffered a second “freezing episode.” That story generated many comments and emails, including one from reader Bronwyn F., who linked to a Harvard Business Review Study on increasing incivility toward “frontline workers.” See Christine Porath in Harvard Business Review, Frontline Work When Everyone Is Angry |  Incivility on the Front Lines of Business.

          The article describes the author’s studies showing that incivility is on the rise everywhere, but especially toward frontline workers. The reasons are obvious. Stress. Partisan politics. Covid. Technology. Social Media. Weakened family and societal ties. Increasing wealth gap. Lack of self-awareness.

          The article addresses the challenges faced by employers and employees in an environment where customers are increasingly uncivil and rude. The article will raise your self-awareness and I recommend it. The author concludes on this hopeful note:

Incivility is contagious. Fortunately, civility’s power to spread is just as great.

          As we enter the Labor Day Weekend, it is an appropriate moment for self-reflection about where we are as a nation in our treatment of workers. The pandemic recession was hard on everyone, but especially on frontline workers who deal with frustrated, unhappy, stressed customers who have exhausted their emotional reserves. Joe Biden’s kindness and civility in phoning a political opponent to express concern and empathy is a good model for us all.

           If we can muster the ability to be civil to frontline workers, that would be a vast improvement in the daily life of our nation. But we can go one step further. We can be kind—not only to workers, but to friends, family, and complete strangers.

          Here are two of my favorite examples, both from my wife (a.k.a. Managing Editor). Whenever we are driving on city streets and she sees workers laboring in the hot sun to repair roads, pick up trash, reconnect utilities, etc., she tells me to slow down and then rolls down her window. She waves to the workers and says something like, “Thanks for your service! The streets look great! Thanks for working on such a hot day.” The workers always wave back and smile, surprised that someone noticed and appreciated their work.

          A second example: When we walk into a restaurant and my wife sees an elderly woman sitting by herself, my wife approaches the woman and compliments her on something she is wearing. “Love that necklace! What a pretty top! Great shoes.” It is a small gesture that is not about clothes or jewelry. It is about paying attention to someone who is sitting alone in a restaurant. You can imagine the boost to the spirit of the person who thought she was invisible but suddenly feels noticed.

          When we approach frontline workers at retail establishments, medical facilities, and government offices, we frequently look through them as if they are not there. We are like heat-seeking missiles, locked on our targets: Acquire food, buy goods, obtain services, and leave. But those workers are just like the people they serve—struggling to make it through the day in a world that is becoming increasingly mean-spirited. They, too, are exhausted, frustrated, and stressed. They work at minimum wage jobs to pay for school, provide for their families, or scrape by in a world that dealt them an unfair hand.

          So, on this Labor Day weekend, let’s make an extra effort to be civil and kind to those workers who won’t get a vacation day on Labor Day. They showed up to work to serve you so that your life could be safe, healthy, convenient, and happy. Thank them for showing up to work on a national holiday!

          This Labor Day, go out of your way to be civil and kind to the workers in your life. And while you are at it, consider doing the same for family, friends, and complete strangers—just like Joe Biden would. Our nation will be a better place for it.

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40 thoughts on “No Politics Today … How ‘Bout Some Kindness?”

  1. It was a kind – I was going to say gesture, but that is an ungenerous word – but whatever it was, it was how civilised human beings should act.

    As for reasons for so much incivility, everything today is so much louder and faster than it used to be, everyone gets pushed along through life often only partly in control, so no wonder tempers fray,

    And then there is the Trump effect…

    Liked by 2 people

    • You know how in some songs, or in certain scenes in movies, there is a sound that starts out small, then grows louder and louder and LOUDER until … KABOOM!!!! ? That’s how I see the world of today … you’re right … everything seems faster, louder, people have less time for others, and it’s building to a crescendo … That’s why I like to stop every now and then, take a breath, look at the people who are doing good things, who seem to care about others, who plant flowers for the bees … little things mean a lot these days, don’t they?

      Liked by 2 people

  2. Biden came to see the hurricane an damage in Fla and offer any assistance needed. DeSantis refused to meet with him. The press kept asking Biden what he thought of that and he never took the bait and said the governor did a good job and he was sure he had prior commitments, which he did not. As Biden went to several locations, he talked warmly to anyone who wanted to speak with him and took lots of time. A few assholes had their Go Brandon signs, the finger signs and other pro trump signs. The difference in class and trash.

    The harsh reality is people are willfully ignorant, easily conned and often violent. This will not change. One main reason is there are just too many people.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Just shows what a lack of character DeSantis has. I was surprised to see that Senator Rick Scott, who I typically think of as a grade-A asshole, did meet cordially with President Biden. Even he rose above politics in the interests of the people of Florida.

      Like

  3. The pandemic has seen the rise of incivility towards frontline workers, such as healthcare, restaurant, retail, etc. I hope with the pandemic slowly receding to the background, we can all reflect on how we treat each other and our frontline workers.

    Liked by 2 people

    • No matter how frustrated a person is, there is simply NO justification for taking it out on others! I cringe when I hear a patron being rude to a restaurant server or grocery clerk … they’re not paid enough to take such abuse, nor should they have to.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. So, sorry but I don’t see this happening. At least not at this time. The media is fraught with “news”, i.e., commentary, opinion, bullshit, Kabuki to the point where we don’t know real from AI, we’re all f()ched!

    Liked by 2 people

    • What you say is true, but … can’t we overcome that? Can’t we learn to put humanity ahead of greed? Sigh. If not, if all is lost, if there is no hope for humans to learn and improve, then what is the point in living?

      Like

  6. Pingback: (REBLOG) “NO POLITICS TODAY–HOW ‘BOUT SOME KINDNESS?”—-from jilldennison-Filosofa’s Word | By the Mighty Mumford

  7. A beautiful post today, Jill. I’m going to attempt to reblog, so wish me luck. Actually I really should print it out and put it where I can read it every day. My temper is getting the best of me at times, especially with dealing with the robots that answer all business telephones now.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Thanks, Angie!!! I hope you can reblog … if not, feel free to just copy and paste! Or, I can send you a link to use. Whatever works. I do understand your angst & temper, but in the long run, it hurts only you. Deep breath, my friend … step outside and take a minute to look at the flowers, chat with the birds. Love you!

      Like

      • It’s too hot to step outside again. I am going to Walmart later this week though so that should help. Most of the problems have begun with trying to talk to the robots while trying to set my accounts back up. I think I’ll forego the net for a few days until things get back to a semblance of normal. Love you back. Laptop acting up so I’m going back to sleep for an hour or so.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Yes, I stepped out this morning for about 5 minutes … just long enough to feed the birds and squirrels, and to water the flowers, and I swear it felt like there was NO air out there! I was gasping and sounding like a freight train by the time I got back in the house. I have a recurring nightmare that the air-conditioning goes out and I would die within the hour! Hope you got those extra hours’ of sleep and enjoyed them with only happy dreams! 💖

          Liked by 1 person

      • I think if you could send the link it might work. Not able to send as reblog to FB, and copy and paste didn’t work this time. I think it is the cheap Dell I’m using rather than my problem. At least I hope that’s the culprit.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. That list of reasons for increased incivility. I think it is missing two big causes. Self-centeredness, and greed. People are too concerned sbout thenselves and getting what they want yo care about other people.

    Liked by 3 people

  9. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
    —Leo Buscaglia

    Liked by 2 people

  14. Jill, great story. I love the exemplar in his wife. Also, Biden calling McConnell is classy. I wonder if the previous president called McConnell? Keith

    Liked by 5 people

    • Agreed on both counts! His wife sounds like a gem, and I give Biden a two-thumbs-up for putting aside political differences in the interest of McConnell’s ongoing health issues. That is what real humans do. Ha ha … the former guy reach out to another for anything other than money? Hardly!

      Liked by 1 person

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