Greetings,

The attached was sent by a former employee who was nice enough to remember me at Christmas and thought I might enjoy it. I thought you might enjoy it as well. Keep clicking on it as there are a number of
pictures. It also gives me an opportunity to let you know what I'm
thinking about. I'm thinking that we are a seriously divided nation.
That how we view each other is distorted by who the media puts on stage as speaking for "this side or that side, liberal vs. conservative, blue vs. red, religious vs. secular". I will probably offend some of you, but that is not my intent. Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell no more represent the vast majority of evangelical Christians than Michael Moore and Al Franken represent the majority of liberals. George Carville is not the best example of a democrat any more than Tom Delay is the best example of a republican. I'm not sure that a Hollywood star or a rock star truly represents what the majority of American's think, anymore than I believe that CEO's who make Millions of dollars in salaries and perks have any real touch with reality.

Having said that, I am more encouraged than ever about this country and all that it stands for. We had a very divisive election, and as far as I'm concerned, was way to vitriolic. Clearly, half of us who vote have very different views on what is going on in the country and what we think should happen going forward. However, with over half of the nation divided on its thinking, after the election, did any of you notice anything different in your personal relationships, your work environment, your drive to the office, your going out to dinner or a movie, or shopping? Were people different in there attitudes towards you or in yours towards them? No, I didn't think so. We have come back together, we have resumed our lives, and will each continue to do our part as friends, workers, spouses, parents, siblings, and adult children. We didn't need tanks and troops in the streets to keep order.

We briefly had the talking heads pondering the significance of the election, while one side shook their heads in disbelief, and many on the other side smugly said I told you so, but when all is said and done, our representative form of government performed as designed, and in a nation as large and as diverse as ours, that is no small achievement.

My wish for each of you, no, for all of us, is to look on the bright side, to see all that is good and right, to fight fairly for what we believe in, to see the glass half full, to be thankful for all that we do have, to remember those less fortunate, or those who have lost loved ones, and reach out to them in both word and deed. To remember that being rich is not who has the most, but he who needs the least.

Please be careful over the holidays, remember all of those in harms way, and have a wonderful season, however you celebrate it, but I'll wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Rick Rodell
President/CEO
Cornerstone Systems
Memphis, Tn.
901.842.1017