Civility should be a traditional value

To The Editor: I see bumper stickers that tout “Traditional Family Values.” I wonder if my traditional family values are the same as theirs.

For example: I believe in kindness as basic to all family values.

This would include taking responsibility for my family’s growing up into being kind, responsible citizens.

My hope would be that they would have such a sense of responsibility to their immediate family and also for their world family. I believe that we have a kinship with all people everywhere.

Any time we denigrate other people and deprive them of their sense of worth, we have violated their rights as human beings and do violence to our own sense of worth, thus demeaning ourselves.

Any time we distort the truth to justify our violence or unkindness, we violate our relationship with all those for whom we have some responsibility.

For me, relationships are sacred. Communications are ties and channels for the flow of a spiritual bond that unites us.

To lie, cheat, steal, defraud, kill, wound or in any way manipulate or exploit anyone is to violate all people everywhere.

This is true not only for people but for all forms of life and even the earth itself.

Don Keefauver

Hendersonville