Rhetoric

This week, as many states across America continue to prepare for upcoming elections, one word keeps resonating in my mind as I watch the campaigning.

That one word is “Rhetoric.”

You might use a different word that comes to mind as we watch candidates berate each other.

Whatever happened to being kind to one another?

As one who speaks professionally and aspires to be better, if it’s one word, I know it’s “Rhetoric.”

I would rather have a meaningful conversation in all that I do!

I fully understand that I live in a Red State here in Alabama, and I have the choice to either listen to or reject what is said on television.

As someone who tries to watch it sparingly, I often wonder about the values openly expressed on television.

I hear things about a Politician “Toten” and “Still Toten” as it relates to gun laws.

We have so much gun violence that one can assume it doesn’t matter.

I hear things about blasting people and putting them in the electric chair.

What is even more interesting is how all these people reference President Trump to make sure you know which party they are endorsed by.

Granted, we have the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech, and the Second Amendment, which protects the right to bear arms.

However, some have taken it to an extreme.

I was curious about how many people involved in the January 6, 2021; insurrection have received a pardon from President Trump.

“Trump’s first action after returning to the White House was pardoning about 1,500 people who were convicted in connection with the January 6 attack that saw a mob of his supporters storm the Capitol in a bid to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory and keep Trump in power. He commuted the sentences of another 14 people, including leaders of the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys.”

Full List of January 6 Prisoners Released by Trump – Newsweek

My first thought is that these are “Criminals” who have violated the Constitution of the United States.

Moreover, I know it’s only going to get worse all the way to the elections and the polls, with voter rights affected.

Maybe you enjoy all the rhetoric around you, and that’s okay.

What I don’t enjoy is seeing the fabric of America pulled apart and how the landscape has changed.

I’m still going to do my part and vote; however, I’m also aware that campaigning is not cheap.

Every commercial that runs on television costs money, and as they say, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.”

I know in contrast to the Japanese proverb, “The stake that sticks up gets hammered down”, or “The nail that stands out gets pounded down,”

Therefore, we are now in a culture where you can use as much rhetoric as your pocket or your conscience can afford.

Today, as you go about your business this week, I challenge you to take a moment to listen to what people are saying and how they say it.  Are the words being used kind or true?

There are many wise sayings, but here are two to think about:

“Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men.” – Plato

“Rhetoric is nothing but reason well dressed and argument put in order.” – Jeremy Collier

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/rhetoric/

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Your Litmus Test

On this day, as we celebrate, I’m humbled to have served and honor those service members who have died in military service to our nation.

For them, the “Litmus test” was courage.

I’m honored to have visited and walked the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial for those who died in the Normandy landings and the Battle of Normandy.

A powerful phrase, “All gave some, some gave all,” honors the sacrifices of military service members as it recognizes that everyone contributes, but some make the ultimate sacrifice.

This past week, I had an epiphany of what many people would call a “Litmus Test” after having an opportunity to vote in local state elections.

I realized many years ago that freedom isn’t free, especially for those considered to have given their lives in defense of it.

The emphasis behind the words of “Litmus Test” was confirmed in my mind early Saturday morning, May 23, 2026, when I witnessed a woman about 30 years old on a two-wheeled pink scooter balancing a gas can while waiting for the traffic signal to turn green in the turning lane opposite me.

I felt sorry for her when her actions and circumstances didn’t go in the positive direction she expected.

As the light changed to green, she not only dropped the gas can, spilling gas on the road, but she also created an accident waiting to happen.

The two cars behind had to navigate around her while dealing with her environmentally hazardous spill.

In my mind, she failed the litmus test of driving a scooter while balancing a small gas can with the spout attached.

What was she thinking that she could balance and drive with both hands at the same time? She had to let the can drop or get run over.

Surely, she hadn’t thought it through.

If I were a local Sheriff or Police officer, she would have been fined immediately.

As for the local state elections, I thought to myself: Why is voter turnout so low, and what does it take to get people to vote?

I thought about what the litmus test was for our Alabama lawmakers to redraw congressional districts.

Having some data from previous elections, I’m fully aware that the black vote is critical in Alabama, yet despite getting people to the polls, it continues to be a major challenge.

Each of us has our own litmus test for what success might look like in any area of our lives.

Yet year after year, voting remains an issue among people of color as boundary lines are redrawn across the state.

Supreme Court clears path for Alabama to redraw congressional map – CBS News

“The new lines in House Districts 1, 2, 6, and 7 will only matter if the Supreme Court allows Alabama to redistrict.”

Having personally supported Representative Terri Sewell (District 7) in the past through her annual Job Fair, which she conducts each year, I’m sure there is a litmus test for what success looks like, as it’s her largest constituent event of the year.

“The state plans to revert to Legislature-drawn maps for both congressional districts (2023) and state senate districts (2021). If Alabama adopts the 2023 map, it would go from two majority-Black congressional districts back to one, a shift that directly imperils the seats held by Sewell and Figures.”

Supreme Court Lets Alabama Redraw Maps, Threatens Dem Seats

Not that I even want to be in politics or talk politics; it’s interesting to me, since moving to Alabama, how redrawing lines can affect voters and the outcome of future elections.

In my opinion, there is a push to go backward instead of forward.

Not that I’m a betting man, I’m sure there was a litmus test being conducted on how all parties did both good and bad.

I’m also aware that, leading up to the recent state elections, last week, watching or listening to commercials, that family values were important to younger voters.

Most U.S. parents pass on their religion and politics to their kids | Pew Research Center

Whether teachers want to admit it or not, the curricula taught in schools are either a hindrance or a support to understanding that the Government is probably slanted towards one particular party.

How Families and Algorithms Influence Youth Politics

I believe that by November 2026, we will see the results of my litmus test, and it probably won’t be a surprise.

Take a moment to think about the various litmus tests you have undergone over the years.

LITMUS TEST Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster

It can be said that “What We Value in Ourselves We Use as A Litmus Test to Judge Others.”

A Litmus Test to Determine Character | by CW Ethridge, Just Figuring It Out | Medium

What is that litmus test you are running in the background of your mind that you tell yourself today, I can do a specific task.

It was easy for me as I loved being a Soldier and sacrificing 30 years of my life in that occupation, putting my life on the line for the freedom of others.

Maybe telling yourself today that you’ll go to church this week, exercise, or even get up early. We all have names for the litmus test we are running in the background of our minds.

Here are two quotes about the litmus test for you to ponder today.

“Most often, qualifications are defined by the credentials of the person who last held the job. If that is to continue to be the litmus test, white males will continue to be the top choice on any list if the interviewer is also a white male.”  Madeleine M. Kunin

“For me, the litmus test to know whether or not I’m doing the right thing is to examine whether my decisions are love-based or fear-based.”  Robert Gant

Today, take a moment and reflect on the words “What We Value in Ourselves We Use as A Litmus Test to Judge Others.”  What was the last litmus test you took part in that was a key decision you had to make?

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/your-litmus-test/

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Boost Communication, Build Influence, and Lead with Confidence through Curtis Leadership and Training

Think about the best leader you have ever worked with. They probably did not just tell people what to do. They listened. They made people feel included. They communicated clearly and stayed calm under pressure. When they walked into a room, people paid attention — not because of their title, but because of who they were. That kind of leadership is not something you are born with. It is something you build. And with the right training, anyone can develop it.

If you or your team want to communicate better, have more influence at work, and lead with real confidence, you do not need to figure it out alone. You need a proven program that teaches these skills in a clear, practical, and encouraging way. That is exactly what this training was built to do.

A Program Built on Real Experience and Proven Methods

Curtis Leadership and Training is a Maxwell-certified program designed to help individuals and organizations grow stronger leaders at every level. It is built and facilitated by a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major who served for 30 years on active duty and spent over 14 years in federal civil service leadership. This is not a program written by someone who read about leadership. It was built by someone who lived it — in the field, in the boardroom, and everywhere in between.

The program brings together the world-class leadership principles of John Maxwell and applies them through hands-on sessions, open conversations, and real-life practice. Every module is designed to be practical and easy to apply. You will not just learn ideas — you will practice skills you can use the very next day at work.

Boost Communication: Say Less, Connect More

Most people think good communication means being a good talker. But the truth is, the best communicators are the ones who make other people feel understood. That is the difference between simply talking and truly connecting — and that difference changes everything at work.

In this program, you will learn the five factors that help people connect: the relationships you build, what you know and share, what you have accomplished, what you can do, and how you have lived your values. You will also learn how to adjust how you talk to different kinds of people, how to have tough conversations without making things worse, and how to handle workplace conflict in a healthy way. For any team struggling to communicate clearly, these skills are a game changer.

Build Influence: Lead Because People Choose to Follow You

Through Curtis Leadership and Training, you will discover something important: real influence has nothing to do with your job title. It comes from how you treat people, how consistently you show up, and whether others trust what you say and do. When you build that kind of influence, people do not just follow your instructions. They follow your lead.

The program walks you through five different ways people try to influence others — from force and intimidation to genuine, two-way trust. You will figure out where you currently land on that scale and learn how to grow into the kind of leader people are grateful to work with. When you increase your influence, your leadership grows. And when your leadership grows, so do the people around you.

Lead with Confidence: Know What to Do Even When Things Get Hard

Confident leaders are not the ones who have all the answers. They are the ones who know how to stay calm, keep thinking clearly, and keep moving forward — even when things get messy. That kind of confidence is a skill, and it can be learned.

This program teaches you how to set goals that stick, build the kind of personal resilience that helps you bounce back from setbacks, plan strategically for your team or organization, and lead through a crisis without falling apart. One of the most life-changing parts of this program is the Emotional Intelligence module. You will understand yourself better — how your emotions affect your decisions and how your energy affects the people around you. That self-awareness changes the way you lead, communicate, and connect.

Handle Conflict. Build Teamwork. Grow Together.

Every team has conflict. That is normal. What matters is how your team handles it. Do people speak up or shut down? Do disagreements get resolved or swept aside? When conflict is handled well, it actually makes teams stronger. It builds honesty, respect, and better ideas.

This training gives your team tools to resolve conflict in healthy ways, build genuine trust with each other, and create the kind of environment where everyone feels like they belong and their voice matters. You will also explore how to tap into the full wisdom of your workforce — especially in diverse teams — and how to build collaboration that makes your whole organization better.

Twenty Modules. One Clear Goal: Better Leaders.

Curtis Leadership and Training covers 20 structured modules across five areas: Leadership and Management, Conflict Resolution, Performance Measurement, Team Building and Communication, and Productivity and Resiliency. Each module builds on the last, so by the end of the program, participants do not just have a set of new skills — they have a clearer, more grounded sense of who they are as a leader and how they want to show up for the people they serve.

Whether you are an individual looking to grow, a manager ready to lead better, or an organization that wants to build a stronger culture from the inside out, this program meets you where you are and helps you move forward with purpose.

Conclusion

The leaders your organization needs are already on your team. They just need the right training to bring out what is already inside them. Investing in people is never wasted. It is the most important thing a leader can do. And it starts with one simple decision to take the next step forward.

Take the next step today. Explore the full course catalogue at McKinley's Thoughts and discover how 20 Maxwell-certified leadership modules can transform the way your team communicates, collaborates, and leads. Visit mckinleysthoughts.com/courses/ to review the full curriculum and connect with us to schedule your organization's training today.

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Reflections

This past weekend (May 1-3, 2026), I attended one of my annual conferences.

It was our 78^th Gulf Coast District Conference in Hoover, Alabama, hosted by Zone Four of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary.

The theme was “Claverism and the Holy Spirit-The Force That Moves You.”

Ironically, each morning or evening, our Chaplain offered a reflection during our prayer services.

For me, it was the Saturday morning prayer service that he asked us to think about what percentage of “Faith” we have tied to our religion.

What was interesting was that he told us that none of us in the room is 100 percent reliant on our faith.

He went on to use a grade card, saying that 75% would be like a “C” in school.

This allowed me to reflect even more deeply, knowing that many of us, me included, rarely received a “C” in anything.

Therefore, today I must ask you have you ever thought about what is the percentage of faith tied to your religion?

As you look at your own scorecard, think about the last time you faced challenges and setbacks.

Think about how you dealt with losing a loved one or a family member recently.

Think about how you deal with adversity daily and how much you rely on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the force that moves me each day in my life.

Father Vernon, our Chaplain, is famous for saying that “You have to go through it to get to it.”

In my opinion, what each of us goes through each day, both good and bad, reflects our faith.

Who we call upon when times are both good and bad is only known by us.

As I now have passed six years of journaling five things to be grateful for each day, I know where I am in my faith.

I can look back at those moments when I relied on my faith to get me through both the good and the bad times.

One thing is for sure: life is what you decide to make it.

I believe that you can be the healthiest person in the world, and when it’s your time, it’s your time.

Therefore, the question is, what percent of your faith is tied to your religion?

Knowing that you can’t be 100 percent, because we’re all human and have flaws, take a moment to think about your rating of yourself.

Today, I challenge you to think about yourself as a person of faith as we begin this week.  Take a moment and also reflect on your life and how far you have come to be the person you are today.

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.”  Thomas Paine

“Even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise.” – Victor Hugo

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/reflections/

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The D Words

A few weeks ago, was interesting because I heard our Priest’s homily at Mass, which made me think.

He spoke about various words that start with “D”.

Every word made you think about being disillusioned.

As I sat and listened to all the negative words that evoke feelings of disillusionment, such as a loss of hope, trust, or belief, it’s amazing how our minds work.

Many of us don’t often think twice when we hear words such as Disappointed, Dissatisfied, Disenchanted, Disillusioned, Disbelief, Disheartened, Dispirited, Dejected, Dismal, or Despairing.

What is it that keeps our minds focused on the positive and not the negative?

You’re probably asking where am I going with this specific thought today?

Maybe it’s because of my connection to building a stronger defense against any words that suggest a loss of hope, trust, or belief.

As you watched or listened to most of what the news covered this past weekend, I’m sure one of those words that start with “D” came to your mind.

In case you missed it, it was the White House Correspondence Dinner on April 25, 2026, and the Shooter from California.

White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting updates: Shooting suspect called himself ‘Friendly Federal Assassin’ in manifesto

I believe it doesn’t matter how many times something happens in America; those with power will refuse to do something about it.

It has been said now that all those who attended the White House Correspondence Dinner know how it feels to have an active shooter in their midst.  Yet the gun laws in America will not change.

Just like the Priest who gave our congregation his homily about the letter D and the words tied to it, he never saw this weekend coming full circle.

Safety in America remains a challenge.

I’m sure there are multiple lessons to be learned, even after seeing the number of Secret Service and Security personnel protecting the President of the United States was revealed.

So, the question is, what is your one word that starts with “D” from this past weekend’s White House Correspondence Dinner?

“Do not be like the cat who wanted a fish but was afraid to get his paws wet.”  William Shakespeare

At some point, you will need to get beyond your fears and get your paws wet.

Those in attendance at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. got more than their paws wet.

We’ll have to wait and see what happens next.

Today, I challenge you to think about the Letter “D” in your life, not in a negative way, but in a positive way.

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/the-d-words/

 

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