Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin had several things in common. Not the least of which was how they faced an argument or a political debate.

Thomas Jefferson explained how he thought about his friends and fellow Founding Fathers this way: “I never heard either of them (George Washington and Benjamin Franklin) speak ten minutes at a time, nor to any but the main point . . .They laid their shoulders to the great points, knowing that the little ones would follow of themselves.”

That’s when they all would speak out. Only about the main points. They were all very careful about this. Words make a great difference, especially when you use carefully thought out ideas and engaged in few arguments.

Unlike Charlie Brown, who was visiting Lucy at the psychiatric help booth she maintained. If the doctor was in, help was 5 cents!

Charlie Brown rattles on “And also when I talk to people I find that they don’t really listen to me . . .”

Then he continues and says: “I find that I can’t seem to hold a person’s attention . . . When I talk to people their minds sort of wander off, and they stare into space, and. . . .

“And . . . and . . .” Yes, you got it. Lucy is staring off into space and she’s not really listening to Charlie Brown.

That’s why it’s all the more important to “speak to the main points” and know the little ones will take care of themselves. Don’t ague, don’t dispute, don’t belittle.