"What a stupid question that is. What a stupid question...

...But I watch you a lot. You ask a lot of stupid questions."

Imagine the above question being voiced by a parent to a child, a teacher to a student, a pastor to a congruent, a boss to a staff member, a politician to constituent, a sales clerk to a customer, a doctor to a patient and so on. I imagine the customer walks out never to return and perhaps writes a compliant to management. The patient walks out after giving the doctor a piece of her mind. The congruent changes churches, the staff member starts looking for a new job and stops by the HR department and placing a call to a lawyer. We all know what it is when someone tries to make us feel small.

When someone lashes out at us, at first it can be embarrassing, even humiliating. When we are called out in private it's painful--in public it's unthinkable. When televised across the world the person lashing out is viewed as a bully and the recipient of the tongue lashing is...I don't even know what to say. The emotion doesn't stop at embarrassment--the feeling can follow us and even shape our self esteem. Indeed, sharp and cutting statements can haunt us and sadly be traumatic experiences we carry throughout our lives.

One of the most fundamental ways to learn is through questions, answers and listening.

People, let's not indulge the petty attacks of those in high places, at the seat of government or from companies and organizations from across the country. Let's not fall prey to the shallow vitriol and be divided by commentary that's intended to divide rather than unite. We are not victims but fellow citizens in the greatest experiment, a republic made of inspired dreams, with justice for everyone. The foundation of America was equal ground for everyone. A place where every vote counts as being demonstrated once again in the state of Florida, by machine and by hand if necessary.

I not only admire the women that were at the receiving end of someone that feels entitled to speak to another person in such hateful tones, grimaces and finger pointing. All gestures that were rehearsed over and over to me since my youth is poor behavior and attitude and to never do. I guess from one's point of view the questions asked by the reporters may have been inappropriate. But even then as cultured people we show restraint and maturity. We refrain from finger pointing because we know there are four fingers point back at the accuser.

I know when you're in the public eye like politicians, they face hard, tough, direct and uncomfortable questions. And maybe sometimes inappropirate questions. Maybe that's common ground we can all agree with. Perhaps, we can also agree that someone doing their job isn't grounds to berate and humiliate.

I recognize poor behavior manifests itself everyday across the world that doesn't mean the rest of us need follow suit. I've been subjected to it and sadly I've also contributed to it, for which I'm sorry and regret. The people in the media aren't my enemies, frankly, I don't know any of them from any channel. However, I know the three women that were belittled are educated, experienced and worked hard to earn their places in front of the camera. I know they're mothers, daughters, aunts and sisters.

The reporters have households to run and support, careers to manage, detractors and advocates, positive attributes and flaws. We all show up to work and deserve more for our efforts than the receive the charge of being stupid and a loser, for simply asking challenging questions as part of the job. And even if the reporters were not educated, experienced and well paid, they are worthy of our respect, regardless of job, status, political leaning or working for media properties we don't like.

My challenge to America: Let's learn to speak to one another with open hearts and minds. A hymn from church, encourages, "Let us all speak kind words to each other."

I don't live in a pollyanna world--as a marketer and entrepreneur I know what it is to live under a veil of "feedback" by bosses, peers, clients and competitors. I've learned, none of us will get what we want from within our separate silos. We need one another to make America the country it aspires to be that it can be. What America becomes isn't up to our political leaders. What America is what we say it is. America is how we behave in our interactions at home, church, play and work.

If elected official don't have the fortitude to initiate change, it then falls to us to change. Maybe today and tomorrow we can make a difference. Reach out to someone who doesn't agree with our point of view. Befriend someone with an opposing idea. Go to lunch with someone who isn't in our normal circle of friends. Go outside of your typical comfort zone, hire and promote someone beyond your normal set of criteria...someone who doesn't think, act and look like you. Trust your common sense, believe in your instincts to hire and promote beyond the typical candidate pool. Be an example--model the way for others to follow.

America is one of the few places on the planet where prosperity and success can be achieved by any one from the most modest to the most elite. The situation in America regarding race is owned by all of us. We're all accountable. How we get along with each other can't be blamed or shifted to someone else. Our places of business and activity are not owned by the committee but by the individual--the one--you and me.

America doesn't belong to a few who believe they are entitled nor to the powerful, the politicos. No, America belongs to us all. Let's not buy into faulty thinking it's okay to be poor mannered and bullying individuals, crying divisive rhetoric trying to out speak one another, who have distorted views of who we are as Americans. Let us define who we are everyday, showing our best behavior even in the face of critics. May we maintain our integrity. Let us frame America, for Americans by Americans, Americans from all walks of life. Thank you to all my friends, colleagues, mentors who are liberal, conservative, white, black, brown, republican, democrat, asian, men and women, poor and rich, church going and those who are not--most but not all have shown me a higher way.