Hi All,

CLICK HERE for the audio I recorded for Memorial Day, 2009…

Six minutes about your responsibility to live big, and to honor those who died for your liberty to treat it with respect.

That’s the 2009 version, and I’m going to stick my two cents in right here with the 2010 message…

I’m looking at the blogs, and listening to the conversations around me. The absolute disrespect we are hurling at our political leaders, and those who disagree with us…it amazes me.

It is a dishonor to those who gave our lives so we can have liberty.

Look, I understand what happens when you have a computer and the ability to speak your mind without having to interact directly with those who can read your words.

We allow our anger and our frustration to boil over. We participate in a free-for-all of hostility and hatred. The consequences for that kind of hate speech are minimal.

Or are they?

The fabric of our society is our CIVILITY. To disagree with the positions of our elected officials while honoring them as people and the process that allowed them to become elected in the first place.

It’s the same process that allows them to be voted out of office.

When we write and say things out of hatred – when we make it personal – we tear at the fabric our society was built upon.

We stop hearing each other. We make it easy to make decisions by listening to the voices of intolerance, bigotry and narrow self-interest.

Simply put, we become dumber.

And this is no time to be dumb. We need the best minds. We need an informed electorate now more than any other time.

Calling each other names plays into the hands of those who wish us ill.

It also happens to be a favorite tactic of those who kill and blow themselves up because someone’s religion or skin color is different.

It’s Memorial Day weekend. Honor those who gave their lives for your liberty.

Discuss. Debate. Disagree.

Organize. Make sure your elected officials know what you want, and why you want it.

Work to vote your favorites in and vote the ones you disagree with out.

And honor the sacrifice of our veterans by cherishing the values that a prosperous society needs to stay prosperous.

Your Friend,
Larry Hochman