Typically, I take controversial positions on GTM, selling, leadership and other business issues. I have cautiously avoided writing about anything that could be construed as “political.”
I can no longer stand by silently. It would be irresponsible, I have to speak out. Frankly, I don’t care about the consequences, because speaking out, and encouraging others to do the same (regardless of views) has never been more important.
It seems everyday, sometimes every hour, we see continued acts, by the leaders of our government, that are unimaginable. Some will be deemed illegal, but they will fight, possibly ignoring. Some are irrational, when analyzed thoughtfully and supported by data. Some are self serving–or serving those of certain classes.
And too many are simply inhuman. They demonstrate a careless disregard for human beings and our lives.
There are too many to cite.
I will focus on one. It’s close to my heart. I come from a military family. My father fought in three wars. My sister and brother-in-law were career officers. I grew up at the tail end of Vietnam and have had friends killed or seriously wounded/scarred. I have had friends/colleagues serve in actions in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
My father is buried in Arlington, about 15 grave sites from General Colin Powell. My sister is buried at the Punchbowl in Hawaii, another military cemetery.
Whenever I visit those cemeteries, it is with great reverence. I am surrounded by heroes. Every one of them. Some have been decorated with our nation’s highest honors. Some have no decorations, but they served.
These heroes, don’t fit any single category, other than they served to protect our country and each of us. They come from varied backgrounds. Differing races, genders, nationalities, religions, and identities/orientations. Some were not citizens. But all were heroes.
Yet somehow, the Defense Department and the Pentagon see fit to redefine heroism.
They are purging thousands of documents, website references, and other things, to scrub these sites of things that might be considered “diversity.” While some references have not been purged, they are much more difficult to find.
Holocaust related information is being removed, labeled as DEI.
Certain articles related to September 11th remembrances are being removed.
At Arlington National Cemetery, links to notable African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Women are being removed.
References to things like Black History Month are being removed, while military bases are being renamed after confederate heroes.
The story of Hattie Peterson, a black woman in the Army Corps of Engineers has been removed.
Medgar Evers mention at Arlington has been removed. Major General Charles Calvin Roberts, a Medal of Honor winner has been removed.
The lists go on and my shame and anger mounts.
Heroism has nothing to do with DEI. Heroes don’t fit any single category or classification, but come from every one we can imagine.
But apparently, in this new political world, heroism is redefined.
They are white. They are male.
I am ashamed.
I am angry.
Afterword: None of us can be silent on this and the other things we see every day. Every day, I leave messages at my congressman and senators offices. The 5 Calls app can help you do the same. I also write them, Find Your Representative will help you, you can compose online messages (my congressman refuses to respond to my questions other than sending a link to an irrelevant video, but I will persist).
Afterword: I tried the AI generated discussion of this. It was actually pretty good and interesting. But I don’t want to have it distract from this post. If you want to listen to it, email me or put a comment on the post.
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