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Features July/August 2021 Miller Family Message

Leading with Civility

Miller Family Message by Steve Miller

Every summer on July 4, we have the opportunity to celebrate the independence of our nation and the freedoms we enjoy in this great country. More than two centuries ago, our nation’s Founding Fathers came together to create the Declaration of Independence, which brought people together and offered a unified vision of the country. Although it is not perfect, we have rights and freedoms that many in other countries do not have. Countless men and women have fought and died to secure these rights, which include “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Now, as we look to the future of our country and how we can work together to make it an even better place to live, I feel strongly that we must lead with civility. The Larry H. Miller Group of Companies includes employees throughout the United States, and we can start from within, leading with civility and inclusivity. When working with others in any capacity, you may find yourself in disagreement with their ideas or beliefs. But this is no excuse to treat them poorly. As Gail Miller said during her commencement address at Southern Utah University, “Be civil. Use good manners and be polite, even if you don’t agree with someone. We’re in serious need of civility right now. Civility can and will change the world for the better.”

Our communities and country will greatly benefit from civility and treating one another with inclusivity and respect. We believe firmly in this notion in all capacities, from personal interactions between friends and family members to political discussions and discourses. In October of 2020, we supported a call from the business community for civility and patience in advance of the election and its ensuing results. Within that call, organizations emphasized the storied history of our great nation, thanks to the spirit of freedom that allows Americans to vote based on their conscience and do their part.  

While we do not have to agree with one another, and certainly situations will arise in which we do not agree with those around us, we can always be civil. “We can disagree, but we don’t have to be disagreeable. We can give people the benefit of the doubt,” Gail Miller said while addressing the Utah Bar Association at their 2019 Fall Forum. “We don’t always have the facts needed for judgment. In our daily activities and interactions, we don’t know what someone else is going through. We need to withhold judgment and learn to love people. Get to know them, understand them. Let’s band together when things get tough and not knock each other down. No matter what the issue is, we should seek solutions through the lens of civility.”

We can look back in history to see many examples of inclusivity and civility, even among individuals who stand at far and opposing ends of the political spectrum. Some imagine the Founding Fathers as agreeable and unified men, but personal and political differences caused many disagreements among the group. They came together to break free from the monarchy that held power in England, but divisive exchanges occurred as the Founding Fathers each emphasized their beliefs on whether the federal government should hold more power or that power should be granted to the individual states. Despite the heated exchanges and strong disagreements, those who formed our nation were able to work together to create a country founded on strong principles of freedom and unalienable rights.

In more recent history, we can look to the example of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia, who both served on the U.S. Supreme Court. The two were close personal friends and often shopped for souvenirs together while traveling and spent holidays together with their families. According to Scalia’s obituary published in the New York Times, “(Scalia) seldom agreed with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the important questions that reached the court, but the two for years celebrated New Year’s Eve together.” Although they disagreed politically, they treated each other with civility and even formed an unlikely friendship that spanned decades.

I hope that each of us can use these examples as we interact with others and engage with those around us, now and into the future. While current times might feel divisive, it is certainly not the first time people disagreed with one another, nor will it be the last. Focusing on what you can control – your reaction and interaction with others, particularly those you disagree with – will set the tone for unity in our communities and our nation.

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