<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content='"MSHTML 4.72.3612.1700"' name=GENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT><SPAN = class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial size=2>List,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>Whether you are a Christian or not, we all would be benefited = by considering what is contained in the word of God.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2><STRONG>Galatians 5:15  But if = you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another</STRONG>.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>To those on both sides of the war, you cannot win by arguing. A house = divided against itself cannot stand. Bickering, backbiting, and bullying does no = one any present or eventual good. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>Think of how ridiculous it is to fuss and fight with each = other:</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>First, you all are on the same team. You are piano technicians, and have common = interests. You want to do the very best job that you can. You have more = in common than you realize, but because you are fussing, it brings out the = worst in you.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>Second, you have the same ultimate goal. You want to further = yourself, the PTG, and its members, encouraging them to fulfill higher = expectations. If you are too busying defending your own self, then you will spend all = your energies there and not in your field. It will consume you. Life is short = enough as it is. Don't spend it in controversy.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>Third, </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2>your business is not affected by the comments of anyone else on = the list. Though your feelings may be singed a little, or your pride affected, = your business which you have worked hard to build is not affected by what = someone else says. Your customers don't think less of you because of a silly = comment by someone else on the Pianotech list. Is not your business the thing that = really matters? Remember the old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my = bones, but names will never hurt me." If this is so, why worry so much = about what others say about you?</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>Fourth, you bring embarrassment to others on the list by silly = squabbles. You make others look bad.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>Fifth, If you all would work together, and not think the worst of each other, = more good will be accomplished. Each of you have valuable experience and insight = to contribute to us on the list.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>May I suggest this piece of advice that was given to me one time? "A = spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." If you have a disagreement, = sugar-coat it, for crying out loud. Choose your words carefully, in a manner that = is calculated to bring out the best in another. Apparently, this feud has = been going on long before I subscribed in January. It appears that the = contestants are well aware of the positions of their opposition. Why don't each of = you try to bring out the best in the other rather than shooting each other down?</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>Finally, in the words of our former national spokesman on race = issues in America, "Can't we all just get along?" You may not agree with = another, but you surely can be civil. Puerile incivility and = professionalism are mutually exclusive.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>God help and bless all of you,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial size=2>John = Formsma</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=830085118-11041999><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial = size=2>P.S. I refuse to take sides in this skirmish. I just want peace.</FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>