A Day of Reckoning, Everybody Faces One…

No matter who you are, or think you are, whatever wrongs you commit, whatever lies you tell, will eventually be exposed.  You will be held accountable for your actions, and the truth will come out.  All the money and power in the world cannot help you escape the truth.  Sure, you can delay the inevitable for a while by using money and influence to manipulate the truth, but sooner or later, the lies get too big, and the truth comes out.

Just ask George W. Bush.  Let’s take a look at the growing list of lies we have endured from this president.

Weapons of Mass Destruction?  There aren’t any in Iraq now, and there certainly weren’t any when “W” was telling us about his proof that they did exist.  We now know that that was a bold faced lie, one that was spread to scare the public into supporting his case for war. 

Saddam Hussein and the Al-Qaeda link.  Yet another lie intended to scare the public and try to keep support going for a war that has clearly lost favor with the citizens of this great country.

The latest lie may be the only one that contains a sliver of truth.  While campaigning for republican candidates, you stated “We need to stay in Iraq in order to keep gas prices close to $2 a gallon.”  If I remember correctly, when we started down this path, you assured us it had nothing to do with oil…

Worse even than those public declarations, is the work he has spawned behind the scenes.  Legislation has been passed that has eroded essential liberties that our country was founded on, the Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act.  These laws, passed under auspices of protecting the public from the terrorist threat facing the country, are more dangerous to our country than the enemy they were “designed” to protect us from.

Benjamin Franklin said “They who can give up essential liberty in order to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” 

I place a lot of the blame on the political climate that got ”W” elected in the first place.  Partisan politics has destroyed our leaders’ ability to think and act independently.  Anyone that didn’t support the president initially was labeled a “liberal”, a “traitor”, or “un-American”.  Since when did having an original thought or opinion make you un-American?

I reject labels; I am neither a republican nor a democrat.  I have my own opinions and beliefs, and prefer to evaluate the issues of the day on a case by case basis.  I’d like to see some leaders emerge over the next few years that have the same ideas on public service.  I don’t care if they have my same opinions on all subjects; I just want them to have their own opinions, not those of the people holding the purse strings. 

I support our troops.  They are the biggest victims of the lies told by this administration.  As of today, our troops have been at war for a longer period of time than they were for all of WWII.  For what?  Almost 3,000 Americans deaths, and countless Iraqi civilian deaths.  What have we accomplished?  Did we not learn anything from our experience in Vietnam?  We are locked in a struggle in a country whose government is not supported by its people, and there is no end in sight.  There can be no victory here, and we now know we should never have been there to begin with. 

Is it any wonder I don’t trust our leaders today.  It’s not just George W. Bush, I don’t trust any of them.  Not because I think there is some big conspiracy, but because I don’t think any of the people supported by the leaders of today’s political parties have any personal convictions.  They have sold out for political contributions, and only look to further their careers.  They are willing to lie in an effort to further their own agendas. 

Where have you gone John McCain?  You used to do your own thing, not caring whether it followed party lines.  I guess getting beat by “W” destroyed your spirit.  Maybe you have given up on the American people’s ability to think independently, just as I have given up on today’s politicians. 

Well now is the time for us to hold our leaders accountable for these lies.  We impeached a president for lying to the public about having an affair.  I think “W” has committed a far worse crime than fooling around with an intern.  His lies have cost the lives of American men and women.  It’s time he be held accountable.

Marine Corps Reserve Association Update…

I got an email this afternoon from Kathleen at MCRA HQ.  She was giving me an update on our recent fund raising efforts.  I want to share her experience with everyone.  Last year, we attended the Marine Corps Expo and were only able to raise $100 with four workers manning the booth.  This year we raised well over $2,000. with just Kathleen and Col. Esau.  Great Job you two!

Here is Kathleen’s message, enjoy!

 ”MCRA’s participation in the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon and Expo was a HUGE success! The Team MCRA runners raised about $11000 in donations for MCRA, and we got over $2100 in cash donations at the Expo itself.

Our Team MCRA members were amazing! We asked them to commit to a minimum fundraising effort of $650 per runner, but they outdid themselves with an average of $915 per runner! And they all were very motivated to raise money for MCRA’s mission.

The Expo was an amazing, Marine-friendly environment and everyone was interested in our organization and our mission. Standing in front of our booth, we handed out thousands of brochures, and as we did we gave them each recipient a very brief overview of MCRA and its missions. We estimated that 1 out of 3 people then gave us a donation! You just can’t help but be successful in an environment like that!

Please let your blog readers know that it is not too late to donate to the Team MCRA runners, they can access their fundraising web pages via www.usmcra.org/teammcra2006.html.

After expenses, we stand to net about $5,000. Not bad for a first year effort. Already, we are brainstorming ways to maximize our efforts at the next Expo and attract more Team MCRA runners for next year. We are exploring the possibility of running a team for the 10K, which is held the same day as the Marine Corps Marathon.  

Kathleen”

Can I get a big OOOH RAHHHH!!!!!

Bullies in the Workplace

I saw this article today, and thought it fit with some of my previous posts.  I hope you enjoy it.

John

Jeanna Bryner
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com Tue Oct 31, 5:00 PM ET

The office might be far from the playground, but it’s not off limits to bullies. From a screaming boss to snubbing colleagues, bullies can create a “war zone” in the workplace.

In a recent study, bullied employees likened their experiences to a battle, water torture, a nightmare or a noxious substance. Understanding the seriousness of workplace bullying and what it feels like to get bullied could help managers put the brakes on the behavior, shown to afflict 25 to 30 percent of employees sometime during their careers.

“Many Americans are familiar with sexual and racial harassment, but not generalized workplace bullying,” said study team member Sarah Tracy of Arizona State University. Bullying can lead to higher company costs including increased employee illness, use of sick days, and medical costs, ultimately affecting productivity, she added.

Workplace bullying can include “screaming, cursing, spreading vicious rumors, destroying the target’s property or work product, excessive criticism, and sometimes hitting, slapping, and shoving.” Subtle behaviors, such as silent treatment, disregard of requests and exclusion from meetings, count as bullying.

Bully icons

The scientists interviewed 17 women and 10 men ranging from 26 to 72 years old, who had experienced bullying. Often, people have trouble putting into words their emotions surrounding bully behavior. So the researchers analyzed the metaphors found throughout the participants’ descriptions of bullying.

More than any other metaphor, participants characterized bullying as a contest or battle, with a female religious educator saying, “I have been maimed. … I’ve been character assassinated.” Others expressed feeling “beaten, abused, ripped, broken, scared and eviscerated,” the researchers stated in the upcoming issue of the journal Management Communication Quarterly. 

The bullies were described as two-faced actors, narcissistic dictators and devils, leading workers to feel like vulnerable children, slaves and prisoners in these situations. As one employee explained, “I feel like I have ‘kick me’ tattooed on my forehead.”

Bully-proof office

How can you take the bite out of a bully-fied office? “An important first step of changing workplace bullying, is helping people to understand that it’s more than just kid stuff,” Tracy told LiveScience.

Early intervention can nip bullying in the bud before it escalates into an established pattern, one resulting in high company costs. The problem is that most bully victims keep their mouths shut, whispering their horrid experiences to close friends rather than higher-ups. The use of metaphors, the researchers suggested, is more subtle and more likely to seep into conversations both public and private.

The scientists will continue examining the prevalence and impact of workplace bullying. In another research project, which will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Office Management, they found that out of more than 400 U.S. workers surveyed, 25 percent were bullied at work.