Columnist.
We've endured similar narcissistic behavior for the last seven years.
I find it very curious that so many folks have enthusiastically thrown their support behind Donald Trump in 2016. But I'm particularly amazed at evangelicals who have fallen head over heels for Trump, both those in the pews as well as noted evangelical leaders such as Jerry Falwell, Jr., Robert Jeffress and more. As I've listened to these men trumpet their praise for Donald, much of their rationale is based on the billionaire's perceived business acumen and his supposed fiscal credentials.
How many times have you heard someone say, "God gave you two ears and one mouth so you can listen twice as much as you talk?" While I don't know if that's the reason God made us that way, I do believe in the message that is conveyed. It seems that many in leadership are frequently more interested in speaking first and listening second, if at all. Perhaps a leader seeks to impress or dominate the conversation. Or perhaps he simply feels he has all the answers. But if there's one thing that will diminish the respect of others, it is a leader's lack of interest in what others think or have to say. It may not be intentional on his part, but if a leader cares about those he is entrusted with, it's incumbent on him to listen more than he speaks.
This last week I had the opportunity to view the newly released Hollywood movie, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. Having followed the tragic circumstances surrounding the loss of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012, I was eager to view the movie. The film tells the true story of four Americans killed, including our ambassador, during an attack by Islamic jihadists at a U.S. compound in Libya, as a security team struggled to defend the lives of several dozen Americans.
"White Privilege." This is a phrase we've begun to hear frequently in our nation over recent months. Even some leading presidential candidates are jumping in to opine about the subject. I'd like to weigh in on this divisive topic, but before I do, I need to briefly touch on my past. Growing up in Spain for more than a decade, I can remember many instances when I had the opportunity to affirm my American citizenship. Whether I was being singled out by Spanish kids when playing with them in the street, or whether it was wearing my size 12 red, white and blue Converse high-tops, there was no mistaking which country I called home.
**Boom!** As I sat staring out the window of our twin engine plane, I could hardly believe my eyes. The engine just feet from my window had exploded, with parts and fluids blowing through the cowling (cover) of the engine. The plane began to veer hard to the right and was losing altitude. I looked around at the other passengers, some of my closest friends and employees, and I saw a look of fear, concern and perhaps even panic by some. Could this really be happening to us?
In April 1967 one of my heroes, Ronald Reagan, gave a speech to the California Republican Assembly just a few months after being elected Governor of California. At the time, his state was facing significant challenges and he had sought to attract men and women from the private sector to help in turning the state around. In his speech he recognized the fact that in order to achieve the successes he envisioned he would need to find "men to match our mountains."
It seems the popular thing to do these days is to declare oneself a conservative, at least, it appears that's the aspiration of nearly every one of the Republican candidates for President. It's also true that during nearly every Republican congressional campaign, the candidates insist that they are the true conservative. But is the Republican Party overwhelmingly represented by conservatives, both in Congress and in those seeking the presidency? Is it simply that easy: just assert one is a conservative and, voila, he or she is such?
It's that time of year again, when we all scurry around doing our last minute shopping for that person who seems to have everything already. And as so many of us rush around to make sure that our final purchases can be delivered in time for Christmas by UPS or USPS, it's easy to forget just what Christmas is all about.
Growing up in Spain as a young child through the age of 15, I did not have the opportunity to engage directly in many of the things other American kids enjoyed. Whether it was a football game, hanging out at a burger joint, or just enjoying a pack of Juicy Fruit, my upbringing did not include any of these things. Truthfully, though, I do not feel slighted in any way given the extraordinary opportunity I had to grow up in a foreign land and experience its culture and people.
Risk. It's something we all live with. Risk is simply a degree of danger or loss that we face, whether known or unknown, and we face it every day. If we're smart, we seek to manage that risk, both personally and professionally, but it's always there. We purchase insurance to protect our assets. In business we hire risk managers. We lock our doors. We wear a seatbelt when driving. We check the air in our tires. There is no end to the things we do to mitigate our risk of loss or injury.
