By guest blogger Sadako Red [see disclaimer]
[January 21, 2015] Who doesn’t like going to a good movie on a sunny Sunday afternoon? I went with a good friend of mine, who retired recently as the COO of a large manufacturing company. He’s also a U.S. Marine combat veteran from his time in Vietnam and suggested we see American Sniper directed by Clint Eastwood. Who knew that upon leaving the theater we would be called a racist, sexist, homophobe. The movie theater was packed with people and we vastly enjoyed the movie; perhaps that explains why I overlooked the sullen look on a few people standing outside in the parking lot.
But, as luck would have it, in Washington D.C. a few nutcases would be there picketing the movie as “racist, sexist, homophobic, and Islamophobic.” Of course we were called names by a few hippie throwbacks just for seeing a movie. Maybe they never heard of freedom of choice but that’s beside the point. Now don’t get me wrong, I love confrontation. I relish a great gentlemanly debate on the most serious of topics on foreign policy, military affairs, domestic security, race relations, etc. Nothing makes me feel more alive than the chance to make a point; in particular to idiots who use fear as the core of their argument. In our case, the nutcases wanted me (I assume all going there) to fear such public accusations.
Fear is exactly the tactic used by race baiters like the Reverend Al Sharpton and others who use that line of thought. He recently called for an “emergency meeting” on why the Academy Awards failed to be sufficiently diverse when no black actors or directors were nominated. He plans to discuss “potential actions” on the upcoming February 22nd award ceremony. In other words, he is employing the fear tactic. I rarely watch the annual awards presentations because I have no interest in fashion or stardom, but this year with Reverend Al involved, I’m marking my calendar. It’s sure to be entertainment on the cheap and he’ll scare the piss out of the hypersensitive Hollywood crowd.
Fear is a powerful force. In times when people lack the courage to stand up for what is right, fear is more effective than traditional forums of debate and scholarly discussions. Using fear is however the refuge of evil and those who compound that immorality by acquiescence are just as guilty of wickedness as the one perpetuating it. The Department of Defense is no exception. Fear is used effectively to prevent people from speaking out; even when that would mean improved effectiveness and efficiency of our military forces.
As readers of my columns know, I believe strongly that race is not a factor in determining our actions – race is irrelevant. Race doesn’t make us do anything. Likewise, my gender (sex) and my sexual orientation does neither. I have no fear of name calling even when it is by popular figures like the Reverend Al Sharpton. I fear no man or woman who would accuse me of being a racist, sexist, homophobic, or Islamophobic. I have no fear, not because it is untrue, but for a more important reason, because I know evil when I see it and can do something about it. I will not be apologetic about imaginary transgressions of myself or others.
Apparently I’m in the minority of those without fear of such accusations and that is sad.
You can find me on the web. Just look and find my writings on “leadership”.
Author: Sadako Red
Disclaimer: I chose the pen name Sadako Red in order to remove any notoriety reflecting on my other real job as a very senior executive in the Department of Defense. Naturally, my opinion is my opinion only and despite DoD wanting to associate with my fine work, they cannot have it. Trust me, they want it. Trust me, they can’t stand for it.
Sadako Red’s Previous Posts:
* Ferguson and Race: Missed Opportunities in Leadership
* The U.S. Army, Race Relations, and Manhood
* Race: Leadership and the Lack of Leadership
* A Failed Management Culture in the VA
* Race Trumps and Leadership Fails
* Race, Character, and the Government
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