You are correct, sir. Whether or not we admit it, all of us have some feeling or predisposition on most subjects. Since that's a given, it's important to determine how we respond to our feelings in each situation.

As a child I remember being in a restaurant and becoming desperately hungry while waiting on our order to arrive. Eventually I took matter into my own hands literally and decided that food on the next table looked and smelled just fine, thank you. To my parents' dismay, I dashed over and grabbed a dinner roll. After that incident, my father helped me learn not to act on impluse and just grab whatever I wanted or say whatever I thought.

Eventually restraint becomes a habit. Of course we all have a bias of some kind, but we don't need to act on it. A little time and reflection makes for better communication.

Some people take pride in saying whatever happens to come into their heads. They'll defend their behavior by explaining that any other response would be false and deceptive. Scripture tells us that pride goes before a fall, and that the man who says whatever he thinks is a fool.

Bias (or emotion) may shape the first thought that comes into my head -- maybe something about the lying, thieving Yankees. When that happens, it's time to slow down and think. Experience teaches that all parties involved are better served if we allow time to consider the issue from a different viewpoint and find a more reasonable form of expression.