Note to Self: Don’t Blog in Anger

by Carol Anderson, Featured Contributor

YESTERDAY, I penned a blog post in anger. I’m not going to do that again. My post had to do with the news coverage of Costco pulling Dinesh D’Souza’s book “America” off the shelves.

I think I am permanently angry at the political infighting that is going on around us, and was looking to pick a fight. I’ve calmed down now, and have a different message to blog today.

My husband and I both wrote to Costco yesterday to express our disappointment with their decision to pull the book. His note was fairly measured; mine was irate.

This morning he received a response to his note from an Executive Assistant to the CEO. I didn’t. The note contained an attachment that explained what they said were the facts; the same ones that they have released to the press citing the sales figures about two books – America and Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton. According to the release, Hard Choices was selling 3 times the sales for America. When the new movie based on D’Souza’s book was released, interest in the book increased and they reordered before all of the controversy hit the media.

Okay, I’m skeptical, but I really hope and pray that their explanation is the truth.   But it was not the official response that has caused me to rethink my anger and my position. It was what seemed to be a sincerely honest exchange of email between this Assistant and my husband. After four exchanges, she made the statement that she had worked at Costco for years, had watched leadership decisions, and she trusted in her heart that the leadership would not make a politically based decision.

It was heartfelt. It really was.

What’s interesting in this for me is that Costco is an organization I have long admired. We’ve been members since 1994, shopped in three stores in three different cities.   The shopping experience has been noteworthy in every store. We see the same people for years. They smile. They go out of their way to help. Their merchandise is high quality.   Recent attention to Costco has contrasted their treatment of employees with Wal-Mart, and disclosed an aggressive pay and benefits structure which may help to explain seeing the same employees year after year.

Perhaps there was a little bit of shock that a company I so admired could be so stupid as to do something like that. Perhaps I wanted to see the dark side of where our country’s politics are taking us.

While I’m still skeptical my inclination is to believe this Assistant because I have seen the same amazing behavior and loyalty for years from employees of Costco.   I don’t know the truth, but I regret having jumped to a conclusion in anger that may or may not be correct.

So…a couple lessons here. First, don’t blog in anger. Second, my husband’s measured response deserved a reply; my angry note did not. Hopefully, I will be able to call upon this lesson the next time I find myself angry.

I don’t know the truth about Costco’s decision, and will probably never know it. But I don’t want to allow my fears about where our country is going to allow me to jump to conclusions. That’s the same behavior I’m angry with.

Thanks for listening….