Jon Searles

National "Do not Criticize, Condemn, or Complain" Day



Posted: Saturday, April 03, 2010

by Jon Searles

As I dig through my wallet amazed by the mass of papers it can hold that are hastily stuffed into it during each financial encounter over several weeks I find a little piece of my history that is over 20 years old . Among the Dunkin Donuts receipts, ATM receipts, losing lottery tickets, business cards from salesman I have met recently, gas receipts that have faded beyond the point of actually reading them, a $20 dollar bill (wow, how did that get in there!) and assorted membership cards (Regal Cinemas, BJ's Wholesale, Big Y grocery, etc) I find a very soft folded 3x5 notecard that I placed in my wallet when I was 24 years old on September 1, 1987. It is a little dirty, worn along the folds , corners are rounded and a diamond shaped hole has formed in its center. Written on the card, along with my signature, is the statement "Do not criticize, condemn, or complain."

In 1987 I worked for Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham, Texas. Blue Bell was a great company then and by all accounts it is still a wonderful business making great ice cream whose popularity continues to grow across the southern United States. As an aside, I always thought a good marketing campaign would be "Blue Bell Ice Cream, growing across the south like the spread of fire ants." but it did not catch on. I was obviously in operations and not sales. One of the requirements of employment involved training sessions that focused on ice cream manufacturing as well as good management techniques. One of the management classes was modeled after the teaching of Dale Carnegie. In the class we were asked to pick one of the teachings of Mr. Carnegie and his "How to Win Friends and Influence People" focus and write it down as a goal. The fact that his book was written and published in 1936 and still used today is a testament to the common sense teaching of the man. The goal I wrote down on my worn piece of paper that has softened over the years in my wallet is "Don't criticize, condemn, or complain."

I very quickly began searching the archives of my Searchwarp writing to see how true I had stayed to the little piece of paper that I sit on every day. As a very amateur and occasional writer I guess I have not been 100% true to the teachings of Mr. Carnegie in my writing. Writing certain types of articles requires a level of criticism, condemnation, and complaint. I had always taken this as a direct rule when dealing face to face with people more than the culmination of words when I was trying to make a point in my writing.

But what if If we were able to set up a national holiday that asked everyone to participate. We would call it "Do not Criticize, Condemn, or Complain Day". For twenty four hours the population would commit to follow the directive of the day. Most news and talk shows would have to go off the air during that day, many newspapers would have far fewer pages, politicians would be silenced, and many blogs would lose its audience for a day.

I think maybe we have become a population that relies too heavily on our ability and right to speak (and write) our mind. We find ourselves "criticizing, condemning, and complaining" in the land of opportunity and the greatest country in the world. So what do you think? Can you do it?

I doubt it, we are a whining, lazy, worthless, and greedy population. Smile, I was just kidding. Have a wonderful day and share it with someone!

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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)
» left by Brianna Popsickle
 2 years 24 days ago.
120 fans.
I like that idea Jon. Wouldn't it be something if it actually caught on?
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» left by Jon Searles 2 years 17 days ago.
43 fans.
Brianna,
 
As you can tell I am late in reading responses. Thank you for reading. And if it actually caught on we would have a lot less television personalities.
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» left by Terry Johnston
 2 years 24 days ago.
7 fans.
Cool John, but I where you went completely wrong was......... Just Kidding -- Good Article John!!
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» left by Jon Searles 2 years 17 days ago.
43 fans.
Thank you Terry and just because I do not know a lot of people from Canada, thank you for a great Winter Olympics!
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» left by Terry Johnston 2 years 14 days ago.
7 fans.
Thank you John very gracious of you to say so!
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» left by Terry Johnston
 2 years 24 days ago.
7 fans.
Cool John, but I where you went completely wrong was......... Just Kidding -- Good Article John!!
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» left by Anonymous
 2 years 21 days ago.
John, I think this is a great idea!
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» left by Marijo Phelps
 2 years 13 days ago.
141 fans.
Another way to maybe put this is to share the truth in love - then you can have all necessary dialogs and exchanges but doing it with the right heart will definitely make the difference - might just allow someone closed to listen too - novel idea? Thanks John!
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