1. To our children we say, Don’t talk back to me, I’m your parent. To our spouse we give the message, Let’s live and let live. If you criticize me, I’ll be a bitch to live with, and you’ll regret it. To their families and the world the elderly give the message, I am old and fragile. If you challenge me I may die or at least you will bear upon your head the responsibility for making my last days on earth miserable. To our employees we communicate, If you are bold enough to challenge me at all, you had best do so very circumspectly indeed or else you’ll find yourself looking for another job.
