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Your Life: Relationships are more important than being right

Charlotte Lankard: A lack of mutual respect is creating a society of rudeness and divisiveness.

BY CHARLOTTE LANKARD, For The Oklahoman | Published: March 11, 2013 Comment on this article

I work with couples who've forgotten how to be kind and respectful when disagreeing. I listen to many of our elected officials on both sides and it seems they too have forgotten how to be kind and respectful when disagreeing.

And who among us has not at some time put someone else down trying to elevate our own importance? All of us would do well to remember the words of the psalmist.

Whether it is defending our point of view, stating our opinion, marching in protest or debating the issues we deem important, what keeps us from using good manners?

Our children are watching. How different their future might be if we were teaching them that the relationships we have with one another are far more important than a need to prove we are right.

Charlotte Lankard is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice. Contact her at clankard@opubco.com.

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