I wrote this opinion letter before the latest unbelievable rude and untrue tweet storm from the president regarding a woman, Mika Brzezinski, on June 30. The Tampa Bay Times published it June 23.

As we near the Fourth of July, manners are on my mind. What weighs on me is a national rise in rudeness and what it might tell us about ourselves. Benjamin Franklin was viewed by his contemporaries as a successful ambassador for our young country during the American Revolutionary War. Thirteen virtues guided his life. One of those was humility.

Franklin believed that we should court humility as an antidote to pride and be courteous to one another. I like to think that his humility helped him persuade France to lend us critical funds to fight the British.

What benefit might have come from Franklin being rude? Certainly he would not have persuaded France to be our ally.

This Founding Father believed that civility must rule despite differences. I wish I could say he would be happy to see the fruits of his work today. Would he be disappointed to see Americans pecking at each other, as if we have lost sight of our ethics — whether they be based on our faith, spirituality, conscience or upbringing? Where have we lost our sheer good sense?

In honor of Independence Day, may we remind ourselves that we can have opposing perspectives yet still engage in civil discourse. We can work vehemently to sway each other, and yet part with respect. In this way, we honor the legacy of our Founding Fathers, more than 40 presidents, thousands of civil servants, our brothers- and sisters-in-arms: all who birthed and built this country. We honor ourselves.

As we joyfully gather together to partake of hamburgers and veggie burgers, root beer, ice cream and apple pie, may we remind ourselves that we need not think alike to be kind to each other.