Do we do the right thing?? - 2005 Article

Being a human resources practitioner throughout my career I was always struck by the pains HR went through to make sure all sides of an issue were examined, and that all parties in a conflict were heard. Many times this amounted to days spent making sure that each 't' was crossed and each 'i' was dotted. When I began negotiating labor contracts and directing bigger and bigger employee populations, this became even more important and more cumbersome.

With increased government regulations, the world of human resources became even more combative. State and Federal Regulators thought nothing of fining your organization if even the smallest of reporting requirements was overlooked or overdue. During the 70's, 80's and early 90's I often watched as entire management teams froze with fear at the thought of having to enforce an EEOC ruling, or had an OSHA official show up at their door unannounced. At times it became comical.

During my two decades in high volume manufacturing, two of my best friends turned out to be my VP's of Manufacturing. They taught me that you can never ask "Why" enough, and that it isn't always a bad thing to say "No" to an employee. I used the latter rule a lot in business and also applied it to Vice Presidents, Presidents, and Union Reps, all with good results. Both of these lessons I gleefully applied to education of my children as well. (Although I must admit I could have, perhaps should have said "NO" a bit more with both Kara & Kris!)

I was thinking the other day of how hard it is to get things done here in America as a nation, and also within the legal system. There's always an attorney around to fight a case no matter how stupid it is, no matter how frivolous, no matter how contemptible the plaintiff is. In many cases attorneys have fought on one side of an issue early in their career and a few years later they are fighting on the other side of an issue. In some cases it seems as though the plaintiff is having it both ways and winning. Same thing with Congress and passing laws. At times bills sail through both houses of Congress as if blown by a strong wind, at other times we learn about simple majorities being replaced by super majorities - 3/5 votes need as opposed to 51%. Frankly I can't keep all of the procedural nuances of Congress straight.............unfortunately I believe, neither can Congress!

Two quick examples to help me make my point.

First, what attorney in his right mind would bring to court the lawsuit suing the owner of a dry cleaner $54 million dollars for loosing a pair of pants. Ahhh, the plaintiff bringing the suit against the dry cleaner was an Administrative Law Judge - forget it, nuf said!

Second, during the last 4 years there have been fights in Congress over the size of the airplane being requested by House leadership; in 2006 "the Gang of 14" was created in the 109th Congress - whereby 7 Republican Senators and 7 Democrat Senators decided they would not vote the way their parties wanted them to...did this make any sense? Around the same timeframe, there were a lot of Senators and Congressmen/women/persons who wanted to treat detainees at Guantanimo Bay as felons, and give them access to legal counsel and all the other rights American citizens get when they're incarcerated. Many still do! I don't know about all of you, but for me this last one is taking it a bit too far. When people are trying to kill you during a war, I'll be damned if I think they should get Ron Cuby to defend them! There's even a part of me when I think of our brave dead service men & women and their families, that feel that these scum should never even have made it to Guantanimo Bay in the first place - if you catch my meaning!

All of this is just prolog to the purpose of this posting. For a really long time I've believed that as Americans, we are going too far to be able to say "we do the right thing." Personally, I've believed ever since 9/11 that our Congress is made up of a bunch of "weak sisters" on both sides of the aisle! My kids use the terms "wus" & "wimp" and I have to say I agree with both terms as it applies to every one of the 535 Congressional members. I have been shocked at the lack of leadership the Republicans demonstrated when they held both houses of Congress, and am shocked still by the continued lack of leadership the Dems have shown under Pelosi & Reid.

As a country, I have watched us "gnash our teeth" and protest in the streets about how we're treating enemy combatants who throw feces on their guards and would just as soon slit your spouses throat while they sleep. Unbelievable! We bend over backwards and install foot washing stations for islamic students, but we forbid spectators and players from invoking a prayer before a football game! We spend billions trying to ban guns....when I hope all of us know that CRIMINALS AREN'T BUYING THEIR GUNS FROM STORES, hence they ain't filling out your forms you dumb schmucks! And finally, for some reason we don't promote the fact that every year the United States welcomes over 2 million legal émigrés from all nations around the world to our country - instead we accuse anyone not in favor of granting amnesty to 12 million law breakers as being against family values. (???) Now, how far removed from logic & "doing the right thing" is that?

In Australia during 2005, they were facing increased criticism of their "way of life" by Muslims that had arrived in Australia during the previous decade. The report below was originally printed in 2005 and was sent to me last week by a good friend. It's remarkable because it harkens me back to the lessons I learned from my two Manufacturing VP's. Most importantly, that it's alright to tell someone "No! This is the way we do it here!" But as my friend said, doing so would require our president and congress developing some backbone. ( I'd put it another way....it would involve our president and congress growing a couple of .... well you get the picture! )

More and more I think the United States can learn a lot if it takes a look around at how other countries are dealing with certain issues. Especially Prime Minister Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello! We might even learn from the French, as long as we remember to reverse everything! Enjoy the article and let me know what you think.

Ken

Dum Spiro Spero

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Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia, at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he said on National Television. "I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia: one the Australian law and another Islamic law that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option", Costello said.
Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off." "Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want, to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off", he said.
Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.

Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians."
"However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia." "However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand." "This idea of Australia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle." "This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom"
"We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, Learn the language!"
"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture."
"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us."
"If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your culture, but do not force it on others.
"This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'."
"If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."