[May 4, 2021] Throughout the West, we are witnessing an unusual trend. Organizations of all stripes are being politicized, where their mission changes depending upon political party affiliation. The downside to politicization is the usefulness of that organization. A recent example is the U.S. Center for Disease Control. Tasked with protecting American health, safety, and security threats, both… Read More »
[May 3, 2021] It is said that hard times create hard men. World War II was a war that characterized hard times, and out of that trauma came Curtis LeMay, a hard man; the youngest and longest-serving general in modern American history. He rose from obscurity, lacking social graces, old-boy connections, or lineage to become America’s most innovative… Read More »
[May 2, 2021] Wilson Cox, a childhood friend of mine, seemed to eat nothing but Cracker Jack caramel corn. Those over the age of 40 know what I mean when the “prize” that came in each box was small, cheap, and meant for little kids. If you’ve run into this Cracker Jack kind of military leadership, you’re not… Read More »
[May 1, 2021] Many of my military friends make fun of the French peoples and their military. An old joke asks, “What color is the French national flag? Answer, White for surrender.” But the French have stepped up and they might just be providing the leadership that will save the West from ideological ruin. Earlier this week, 20… Read More »
[April 29, 2021] Progressive Insurance has been entertaining us with its commercials for years, and I want to highlight one of my favorites. Why? The commercial has a message hidden within a message; and it’s an important message. The one I like best is titled ‘Dr. Rick Methods, No Fussin No Cussin No Backtalkin,’ where Dr. Rick (a… Read More »
[April 28, 2021] I live in the state with the highest COVID infection rates and the nation’s highest death rates, second to none. New York and Michigan states garner the most media attention for high death rates, but they have a rival in New Jersey Governor Murphy. Yesterday I was sitting in my chiropractor’s office waiting for a… Read More »
[April 28, 2021] One hundred-one years ago, in April 1910, Theodore Roosevelt spoke about citizenry in a Republic. His speech in Sorbonne Paris is popularly known as ‘The Man in the Arena.‘ An oft-repeated theme of my leadership blog deals with individual responsibility, and Roosevelt won great acclaim for his emphasis on personal duty and accountability. If anything,… Read More »
[April 27, 2021] “To the shores of Tripoli …” I’ve sung the words to the Marines’ Hymn more times than I can remember. I know much of their history, as I learned their past for the heroic battles fought. The era of the Barbary Pirates was on my list of readings for a long time because that is… Read More »
[April 26, 2021] In the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers (2001), Episode 5, Lieutenant Winters gives the task of escorting German prisoners to the rear.1 He tells one of his trigger-happy soldiers, You’ve got on round [of ammo] … I want to make sure all the prisoners make it. There is a lesson in ethics in this scene. … Read More »
[April 25, 2021] War is a common condition of humans. In truth, it can be convincingly argued that the history of our human condition is perpetual war. Peace is an aberration. I want to address a comment I hear often … “Given that war is so common, is there glory in war?” To begin, I want to be… Read More »