When things don’t go our way, when we are tired or
frustrated or disappointed or even frightened, the human instinct is to lash
out. To respond with angry words and
sometimes, particularly if we are children or just childish, with angry
deeds. The rash of bullying being
brought to the public consciousness now is nothing new. It is, as they say, as old as the hills.
We tell our children to say no to sex, to drugs, to smoking,
to alcohol, to not talk to strangers.
We tell them not to lie, not to eat too much candy, not to
jump on beds. And to look both ways
before crossing the street.
Why don’t we also tell them to ‘just say no’ to being mean? More than that, why don’t we also tell them to
just be nice. One of my favorite lines
from a play and movie is from that wonderful work, “Harvey”, by Mary Chase,
when that lovely man, Elwood P. Down says, “…my mother used to say to me, ‘In
this world, Elwood … you must be oh, so smart or oh, so pleasant.’ For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.”
We can tell our children all these things. And we can just try as best we can to set an
example. For another lovely man, Dr.
Albert Schweitzer, is quoted as saying:
“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”
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