Category: Philosophy

Posted in Philosophy

Leadership Lessons From Parenting

Posted on by simplebender

There are so many lessons you can learn from Parenting. So many can and should be applied to Leadership.

Lesson: Be present, be calm, be patient, and listen to them;

Employees need you to be there for them. They need you to be present. They need you to be calm and patient and they desperately need you to listen to them. New and senior employees look toward you for support and guidance. They need you to be calm in the face of any calamity. To show limitless patience and support. Also, they have ideas and perspectives which need to be heard and considered. Don’t miss an opportunity to learn just because you are the boss.
Lesson: Let them stumble, fall, and fail; help them up and coach, don’t fix;

As painful as it might be, a good leader will let their staff stumble, fall and fail. The key will be to prove to them you will be there to help pick them up and coach them, guide them. Don’t yield to the extreme temptation of simply fix the problem. Show them they have the insight and capability of resolving the issue, even after a fall.
Lesson: Grow with them before you find yourself treating them as inferior;

Employees grow with every task and especially those they stumbled through. A leader must recognize this growth and maturity. Acknowledge this increasing capability with ever more challenging assignments. Holding them to the same level of tasks shows them you haven’t grown in an appreciation of their capabilities. They will continue to grow in spite of you. Or, they will meet your level of expectation and you both will fail; and it is your fault.

Lesson: No matter what, no matter when, no matter where—just support;

Commit yourself to publicly supporting them, no matter what, when, or where. They rely on your public support and your private constructive criticism. Show your public support, they will follow your lead and support you. Criticize publicly and expect the same in return, or worse behind your back.

Lesson: Don’t play favorites;

Every employee is unique and special. Each has amazing talents as well as faults. Don’t play favorites. Find within each how they best can aid the organization and praise the hell out of what they do. Help each with their unique weakness while they exercise their strengths. Everyone has a key role. Yours is to not play favorites as this will undoubtably be divisive and failure is eminent.
Lesson: There is a forest amidst the trees, sometimes you don’t need to sweat the small stuff;

It is so easy for an employee to focus on the minutia. Help them understand there is a bigger picture. The small parts, while important, must be addressed with the larger objective in view. They are solving a critical part of the whole, but they must know what the whole really is. It’s not their fault if their creative solution is counter to the global objective. There are many solutions to all problems. Let them in on the secret and let them devise solutions to support it.
Lesson: Leadership just as Parenting is something you GET to do every day, not HAVE to do

It’s a privilege to be a leader. If you don’t think so, you shouldn’t be one. You GET to help guide and grow people to be better than they were. You GET to learn from a wide diverse group and then impart knowledge to others. Leadership is an opportunity to grow their future which you GET to champion. None of these you HAVE to do; but, if you feel they are mandatory obligations you shouldn’t be a leader.


Remember, YOU are their example; no pressure……

#NeverFearTheDream

Posted in Philosophy

Critical Thinking: Let’s Rethink This

Posted on by simplebender

There’s been quite the ferment about Critical Thinking in the last several years. Unfortunately, it is being misrepresented and becoming a lost skill. Critical Thinking is Deep Thinking. It doesn’t come easy, especially in this world of instant gratification and distractions. It is quite often emotionally painful. Critical Thinking forces you to challenge some (all) core beliefs. You may find them to be deceptions or myths. It can push you past the survival thinking mindset we tend to find ourselves entrapped. It will certainly break through the status quo mindset which plagues us.

Embrace curiosity and become a lifelong learner. Don’t be satisfied with what you hear or see on the internet or TV. Force yourself to ask a simple question: ‘Does that really make sense?’. Start thinking, questioning, probing, and researching. Find out for yourself.

Become an active listener rather than an active talker. Listen to other viewpoints. Resist formulating your defense while those viewpoints are being presented. Have patience. Absorb their meaning and implications. Then, reflect on how your experiences support or reject them. When you express yourself, be reflective on what you’ve heard and be respectful.

Take your time in decision making and systematically solve problems. Dissect complex problems to solve them. Try to see the forest and the trees at the same time. The more difficult and complex the problem the more you need a diverse group to solve it. Reach out to others not in your comfort circle for their opinion, theirs might just be the key to resolution. And then, learn to pause before acting. Reflection beforehand can be invaluable.

Deep critical thinking requires a lot of self-reflection. It requires a willingness to accept your ideas, concepts, and beliefs might be wrong. As such, practice a little self-compassion too. Don’t be self-critical but be self-aware and willing to change, if change is needed. The first step is being willing to ask.

Critical thinking has been demonized because it has made a lot of people uncomfortable. The questions have probed long-held beliefs and institutional practices. That’s what you do when you practice Critical Deep Thinking. Relax and enjoy the mental and emotional challenges ahead. Your life will be better for the effort. #NeverFearTheDream

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Posted in Philosophy

Striking a Balance With Equality and Equity

Posted on by simplebender

Thomas Jefferson metaphorically penned, ‘all men are created equal’ knowing this wasn’t the case. Not only are we not created equal, but we will also live and die that way. Let me ask; as a civil society, should we strive for equality, or equity, or their combination?

We are inundated with initiatives trying to make things equal and to ‘level the playing field’. Enacted Federal and State laws mandate equality. To a great regard those efforts have enabled many to achieve great things. Achievements only a few decades ago they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to even try; let alone succeed. And yet, today we are seeing an extreme backlash of those initiatives. Rejection by those who believe their inherent privileges have been stolen and given to others. Evidently, efforts for equality have resulted in a sense of winners on the backs of losers. Even though their misplaced perception of loss is far far greater than reality.

Could we possibly reframe the discussion away from equality and focus on equity? Should everything be equal? Must the ‘playing field’ be level? Or could we try to find ‘both/and’ solutions rather than ‘either/or’ ones. Solutions where everyone can win and achieve. We could be looking for objective oriented opportunities. Those which encourage everyone to achieve the desired goal.

Not everyone needs the same level of assistance to achieve the same goal. Some don’t need any and some need a lot. Making everything equal may not be the right approach. Overcompensating some while others may still be lacking and fail.

Equity is not equality. Presuming equal opportunity, consider three youngsters wanting to watch a ball game but are on the wrong side of a fence. Their height differs; one tall, one medium and the other, well just short. There is sufficient material to make six, one-foot-tall, boxes for them to stand upon. Equality would be each of them getting two boxes to stand on to watch the game. In this case the tall one, who could almost already see over the fence is over compensated. The middle one can now watch the game. However, the short one is still too short to watch. Everything is equal but the goal wasn’t achieved. Equity would rearrange the boxes to give the tall one, a single box; the middle one two, and the short one would get three boxes. This is clearly not equal. Yet now, each of the children can easily stand and watch the game. Even though the distribution of assets wasn’t equal, the goal is achieved, and everyone is happy with the outcome. Everyone won.

No one ever promised the world would be fair. No one should expect everything to be equal. It just doesn’t work that way. Inequalities surround us. However, all people, must be treated equally, have equal rights, and equal opportunity. Not because it’s the law but because it’s the right thing. Some people are born to privilege, others to poverty. Some are physically or mentally blessed, and others struggle with either or both. Our public policies could consider balancing equality with equity. Can we promote equal opportunity and equity in resource allocation?

Let’s focus on achievement rather than equality. Focus on finding ‘both/and’ solutions rather than defaulting to ‘either/or’. We celebrate Black History Month and recognize the amazing contributions of so many from such meager beginnings. While we learn to treat everyone equally, let’s stop trying to make all things equal and stop sanitizing history. There are some things which need equality and some which would benefit by equity. Those who need more should receive more. Those who need less should be willing to get less. Equality is not equity, and we need both. #NeverFearTheDream

Posted in Philosophy

Optics and Perspectives

Posted on by simplebender

Can anyone imagine the perspective of someone outside looking at recent critical elections. Imagine optics from their perspective. Is there a difference between armed DOJ officers and State Troops ‘protecting’ ballot boxes and polling centers and armed Russian troops at polling centers in ‘liberated’ Ukraine territories? Is there a difference between ‘little green men’ watching over Crimean voting and ‘masked vigilantes’ watching over those in the U.S.

Surely there’s a difference; surely. Of course, there’s a difference; of course there is. There is isn’t there? No seriously, there is right? Right? Maybe only from our perspective.

Optics and perspectives are everything. Now, let the world press start the spin cycle. Don’t be shocked at how we are not perceived. But of course, there’s a difference; really there is, right? #NeverFearTheDream

Posted in Philosophy

Democracy dies with blind loyalty and uninformed, intimidated voting

Posted on by simplebender

Democracy dies because of uninformed voters, misinformation, blind loyalty, and masked intimidation. The idea of a people-controlled government necessitates the populist cast ballots and respect the outcome. Your turn to let democracy win is now. Be an informed, knowledgeable, non-single issue, country before party voter. While every vote is sacred, an uninformed, ignorant vote is dangerous because elections have consequences.

Our system of voting, and our form of government, are more at risk today than ever before. It’s up to us to ensure their survival. The risks are real; ignorance, misinformation, intimidation, gerrymandering, and least of all fraud.

The airwaves and multiplatform media are awash with half-truths, slanderous snippets, blatant lies and a never-ceasing, bot propagated, flood of misinformation. Every minute of every day a new incendiary hoax is proliferated to influence the ignorant and the blind followers. It’s hard to pierce through the noise and find the truth. Remember, hate speech isn’t free speech. Those who want to influence voting don’t want you to research and study. Don’t listen to the ridiculous, the outlandish, or the absurd. Stop funding those individuals and organizations which support them. Defy them, study, and research all the issues and candidates. Reach out to the League of Women Voters, read the Voters Pamphlet, question the nonsense. Educate yourself.

Voter intimidation and political violence is on the rise. A dangerous turn of events which cannot be tolerated. Masked and armed people in military garb are now ‘observing’ Arizona polling stations and ballot boxes. These vigilantes, reminiscent of the masked KKK, are afraid to show their identity yet they photograph the voters. Their presence chills the atmosphere of a free and fair election process and heightens the risk of political violence. In today’s polarized election cycle this could be anywhere, not just Arizona, especially after a Federal Judge refused to stop them. Polling centers and ballot boxes must be free of harassment, direct or implied. So, if your ballot box is being watched, cast your ballot, then turn and smile to their masked, cowardly, faces and give them the appropriate digit enhanced wave they deserve.

Gerrymandered voting districts are fundamentally wrong. Party controlled legislatures are redrawing election boundaries for their own benefit not for fair representation. During the years of Jim Crow Laws extraordinary efforts were made to limit black voters by determining the smallest amount of black heritage would disqualify voters. In a reversal of logic southern Republican legislatures are now determining people must have a high degree of blackness to be deemed as black to be a factor in redistricting. A perfect example of the means justifies the end, holding power no matter how unethical.

Voting integrity is an issue and yes, voter fraud did occur in the 2020 election. The Heritage Foundation, a heralded conservative organization, has documented an unimpressive 1380 proven instances of voter fraud across the country. A fraud rate of less than nine proven fraudulent votes per million cast. After spending almost six million dollars on forensic analysis, Arizona determined blatant, systematic, fraud did not take place. Yes, we have a problem but it’s not voter fraud. It’s the Big Lie and those who continue to propagate and benefit from it.

Our democracy is at our mercy. We have a responsibility to be independent informed voters who will politely and with civility take part in the process. We must not, cannot, be guided by blind loyalty, swayed by the attack ads, or the propagation of lies and inuendoes. Voting districts should be established by independent bipartisan commissions, not biased state legislatures. Our democracy depends on us standing up and being counted as thinking individuals, not manipulated party zombies. #NeverFearTheDream

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Posted in Philosophy

Question everything you think you know in pursuit of Truth

Posted on by simplebender

When we were children, we listened and absorbed the lessons taught by our parents and our role models. As adults we must ensure the lessons we teach and actions we take are based on truth and facts, not perspective and conjecture. Just as ‘the truth will set you free’ (John 8:32) and ‘I think therefore I am’ (Rene Descartes) we must challenge everything we think we know and view from every perspective before we can conceive it is the truth. We must escape from our own Plato’s Cave (The Allegory of the Cave, Republic by Plato), and seek the blinding daylight of reality, and encourage those who are still captive in their cave to escape.

The Allegory of the Cave is an excellent illustrative story for our times. Trapped in a darkened cave watching images parade upon the wall. All we can see are these images and hear their sounds as each creature passes. This is our only means of knowledge and therefore deemed our reality. Just as children we believe what we see and hear. If the figure of an ass passes by and trumpets, we have no choice but to believe the ass trumpets. We know no difference. Not until we are able to escape our bonds of our dark cave can we see a little more truth. We discover the visions we saw on the wall were shadows of silhouettes made with artificial light, not reality. Yet, we still think an ass trumpets because we know nothing different. The puppeteers stay in character as they move the silhouettes and continue the ruse.

It’s not until, once again, we strive to reach the bright daylight outside of the greater cave do we see reality. We are blinded by the brilliance of the sunlight. It hurts at first. We try to shield our eyes until they become accustomed to truth’s brilliance. We see and hear the real ass and elephant and are shocked, in denial and disbelief. We see the sky, hear the surf and thunder, and smell the wonders and stench of real truth. We think to ourselves; we must tell those left behind, still in their cave. However, after harassment and threats we understand another great reality. Each of us must find our own way out of our caves. Regardless of the amount of encouragement, each must decide to either stay in the comfort of manipulated delusion or face the enlightened discomfort of truth. But we can still encourage them and should.

And today the shadows projected upon our wall are controlled by mass and social media. One controlled by only a few for their financial interests and the other manipulated by inhuman bots programmed to disseminate disinformation. We are told ‘truth isn’t truth’ and follow our tribal instincts finding ourselves more comfortable to believe those in our groupthink world and our new puppeteers. For us to break free of their influence we must escape the chains by which they bind us.

So, here’s the deal; if you are not viciously challenging what you believe, or think, and those two are different, every day then you are not in a position to challenge or question anyone else’s ideas or comments. This is a pretty high bar, but one each of us is more than capable of jumping, every day. Through this self-challenge we can see truth is truth, not perspective or the chaos of conspiracy theory. Elephants trumpet like elephants and asses don’t, they heehaw.   #NeverFearTheDream

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Thanks….Stay well and Keep Questioning..everything

Posted in Current Events, Philosophy, Political

The Taproot of Racism Runs Deep…Don’t remain silent

Posted on by simplebender

In a Nation founded on the premise of White dominance, it is little wonder overt and covert racism runs rampant. This, unfortunately, is manifested so profoundly in our schools. This should be an embarrassment to and a lesson for every one of us. We and our children weren’t born racists. Racism is taught. We taught them, as our parents taught us. And our social, financial, legal, and educational systems support those incendiary teachings. To be clear, we are all racists, to some degree or another.

There are only a few types of racists. Those who are flagrant and overt and those who are silent and covert. Both racists, but one more troublesome than the other. I am less incensed by those who are flagrant racists and homophobes than I am with those who sit silently by and let the chastisement and harassment continue. The first is a group who are hardened and feel aggrieved by any minority advancement and want only to turn the pages of history back. The other stands idly by giving support and approval by their silence. It’s said a stupid person is the most dangerous type of person. However, a strong case can be made for a knowing person who remains silent in the face of abuse and harassment is much more dangerous and perpetuates the offense.

To the students and youth of the Nation. You represent our future. You have access to information your parents and grandparents never had, can’t understand, or arrogantly choose to ignore. Listen, observe, critique, and analyze everything you have been, and will be, taught. Don’t rely on anything, or anyone, without critically assessing all sides of the issue. Determine for yourselves what is right, just, and fair and then continue to viscously challenge your own conclusions. Above all else, take your school and community back. Don’t be silent. Silence is tacit support and approval. Let your voice be heard. Call out and be intolerant of racial and gender slurs and harassment the second they happen. Support and befriend those who are targets. Be intolerant to this abuse as you would any abuse. Use the tools uniquely at your disposal. Utilize social media, in your school paper, and your school clubs and organizations to support the victims and take the power away from the perpetrators. Express your disapproval of teachers and administrators who fail to act. Expect more accountability. Have the moral compass and moral fiber to do what’s right to break the chain of abuse. Don’t ever be satisfied with the status quo because it is inherently and systematically racist.

To my white brothers and sisters, I’ll be as blunt as possible. We are a product and beneficiary of the Nation’s Anglo centric beliefs and social systems. We have never experienced racial intolerance to the extent those of any color have and probably never will. To be very clear, we are not the victim of racial discrimination, no matter how much affirmative action. We, collectively, have not suffered or experienced racial stress. No matter how personally affronted and insulted you might be with the slightest form of racial ridicule you feel it is dwarfed by that which minorities have and are experiencing every day and have experienced since the formation of the Nation. It is systemic and toxic and holding back this country’s ability to reach new heights and achievements. And for god’s sake, stop looking and hoping for the next ‘Great White Hope’ because she/he might be an LGBTQ of any color.

#NeverFeartheDream

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Posted in Philosophy

Critical Thinking and Theory are needed now more than ever

Posted on by simplebender

Today, more than ever we need to practice Critical Thinking and the principles of Critical Theory.  We are bombarded by partisan media, politics, and opinions.  We face both sides of the ‘Big Lie’, ‘Stop the Steal’, and unabashedly biased ‘journalism’ and editorials.  Without a structured, normalized, approach toward analysis we are destined to wallow in unverified, unchallenged fantasies which can then become the structure of our society, institutions, and legal systems.

Critical thinking and theory do not profess any bias toward outcome, rather they focus us on a questioning process and let the outcome evolve and crystallize more with ever probing questions.  We must never just accept, but rather presume something is wrong, something can be improved, and/or be more holistically truthful.  Process and practices which encourage us to make explicit self-examination, and which are more concerned with preventing the loss of truth rather than being afraid of the resulting outcome are good for individuals, institutions, and societies in general.  Critical Thinking and Theory typically has three aspects: 1) presume something is wrong and identify what, 2) identify the aspects, or actors, which can be and/or need to be changed, and 3) establish norms for routine criticism and analysis. The only way to determine if our institutional knowledge are institutional myths is to critically challenge, probe, and analyze every aspect, on a continuous basis.  If it proves false, then let facts prevail. If it withstands the scrutiny either the challenge needs to be changed or the facts are firm.  Therefore, Critical Thinking and Theory are the anthesis of cancel culture.

As to Critical Race Theory.  Let’s agree; racism isn’t biological.  We are not born racists.  It is learned.  Therefore, racism must be a normal feature of our social fabric.  Woven into our education, public policy, and legal structure.  If so, then our responsibility as a society, as members of a civil order, is to critically ask ourselves, what needs to be changed in those institutions, and legal framework to eradicate systematic racism.  Consider how much fuller and richer our accepted history would be if it were written including all perspectives including those of race, religion, and gender.  Imagine how our legal system could be improved, presuming institutional racism could be recognized and removed.

If you are unwilling to accept the pretext of institutional racism and sexism, ask yourself why it took over a hundred years after the end of the Civil War for the Civil Rights Act to be passed and the Supreme Court to recognize the legitimacy of mixed marriages.  Ask yourself why the Civil Rights Act was even necessary.  Why were Jim Crow Laws passed and brutally enforced? Why, the Equal Rights Amendment hasn’t passed? And why are the Boards of Corporations essential devoid of minorities and women?

Those amongst us who refuse to challenge the social norms and status quo will forever be the pawns of those who want to manipulate the uninformed with disinformation, biased partisan partial perspectives, and conspiracy theories. Ironically, those claiming cancel culture are the ones who have tried for centuries to cancel and ignore the historical perspectives of others.  All of us, to some degree, are racist and sexist; our social culture made us what we are.  Maybe we should be engaging in Critical Gender and Critical Religion Theory as well.  

And who am I?  I’m an engineer, trained to question everything, challenge the status quo, and continually search for a better way to make things, systems, and processes work.  Trained never to accept anything at face value regardless of who propagated the thought or policy.  The one who practiced the art of Critical Thinking and Theory as an engineer and executive in the private and public sectors to advance engineering, as well as corporate and public policy.

#NeverFearthe Dream #CRT #CriticalRaceTheory #woke #cancelculture

Posted in Philosophy

Fifteenth and First, Celebrate Both

Posted on by simplebender

Fifteen years ago, on Father’s Day, June 19th, a soft-spoken, conservative, stoic, son of Georgia, member of the Band of Brothers 101St Airborne, and my Dad past away, losing his battle with cancer.  And today we also celebrate the first anniversary of Juneteenth, as a recognized National Holiday.

I think my Dad would be very happy with how these are now forever tied together.  You see, he and his twin sister were orphaned very early and were raised by various aunts and uncles in and around Atlanta.  His life was not easy, but it was so very full.  He lost half his fingers and fractured his back parachuting into combat in WWII but never missed a chance play baseball with me and my brother.  He was always there for us, no matter what, no matter when, no matter where.

He was careful with his words and by being so he quietly taught many valuable lessons.  You knew, when he said something, it was worth listening to.  He said, ‘treat everyone with respect until they prove otherwise.’ and ‘never let your handicaps define you’ These were not just words with him.  He lived them and taught them by example.

So today, we celebrate the life he led, the lessons he taught, and the power of respect as we recognize, and welcome the celebration of, Juneteenth.  Too long in coming but with us now forever and rightfully so.   #NeverFeartheDream, #Juneteenth, #respect

Posted in Philosophy

What have we become; what are we afraid of?

Posted on by simplebender

We have witnessed and experienced a lot in the last year, as individuals and as a country.  However, the capitulation and implosion of the Republican party maybe the most shocking.  The Grand Ole Party which once championed global influence based on principles and global trade has become a Group of Patsies wallowing in self-delusion, fearful of shining the light of truth, and idolatry.  The party, in my lifetime, faced down the tyranny of Soviet Russia now embraces its own form of tyranny, race-based caste system, and isolation.  It is now a party which advocates hiding behind walls rather than tearing walls down.

The party, which once proudly advocated for fact-based decision making, is now advocating hiding from the investigation of the January 6th insurrection.  Burying their collective head in the sand trying to make believe it did not happen.  That a mob; flying the flags of a corrupt defeated dictatorship, the flag of racism and slavery, and those of idol worship; did not attack the Capital, did not assault Capital Police and the foundations of our Constitution.  Nope, didn’t happen.  It is fake news and was a group of peaceful, law abiding citizens exercising their freedom of speech and having a ‘tour of the Capital’.  Denial does not mean it did not happen.  Denial does mean it will happen again.  How many members of Congress will stand up for the Constitution and this country and try to determine what happened on the days before and after January 6th.  And how many will prove they are panderers and patsies only vying for votes from those who are too afraid to seek truth.

What are we afraid of?  As we consciously and unconsciously practice our unique form of race-based caste system.  What are we afraid of?  Are we afraid of losing some of our race-based privileges?  Are we afraid of equal rights, equal treatment, and equal access?  Are we afraid, that on any given level playing field, we can no longer compete?  That maybe, just maybe there are those who are better who have never had a chance to show just how good they are?  If we consider ourselves a team; TEAM USA is failing.  It is failing to play the best the players or even to let them try-out for the team.  We must look forward and recognize everyone has more talents and more to offer.  Exclusion based on race, gender, creed, orientation, nationality, education, or anything else succeeds in maintaining a false based caste system and inhibits all of us from moving forward toward greater goals.  It succeeds in allowing those who strive to see us fail drive wedges of misinformation into the fabric of our nation.

The principles of fiscal discipline, personal responsibility and accountability, global leadership and trade, and social compassion have been cast aside.  Cast aside for denial, scapegoating, isolation, and radical racial divide.  The Republican Party I was a part of for more than half a century has been displaced by a cult, worshiping a demigod in the hopes of maintaining a failing direction and whose leaders care more about being re-elected than taking a stand for the principles of the country.  The Party was bigger than one person and now is as small, and as shallow, as one.  The party, whose leaders, once stood in defiance of tyrants and dictators now embrace them rather than standing for freedom, truth, and democracy.  The idea of ‘truth will set you free’ can only come to reality if we actually seek the truth. 

#NeverFeartheDream #GOP #Jan6 #BigLie