OoE & USS Wisconsin Reply
"...In such a briefing, I read, 'these are my standards and I expect you to live up to them.' Inappropriate at the very least."
Colonel,
Your interpretation of the presented slide which, as "Ronnie's Rules", serves as his principle operating guidance to DISA employees is entirely accurate...and inappropriate on the part of Lt. General Hawkins. Were I a muslim, jewish or catholic departmental employee I'd have to wonder just where I stood in the eyes of my commander. That, alone, creates an unhealthy command climate.
"...That said, I am in areement with Z about the lack of wrongness in mentioning God - we should be free to believe in God, and say so (but I am a private citizen - not a commanding General)...".
God is not merely mentioned but highlighted in writing as the opening and closing elements of his guiding principles.
"...it is bbetter to make Faith a private thing, shared on request and not shared on request as well."
Unfortunately, a personal discussion isn't the case here. Had Lt. General Hawkins NOT included written reference to God in his guidance but had been asked about his faith later, I'd completely concur it was within his rights and beliefs to profess his faith. I'd even suggest he would be obligated to profess such lest he be considered duplicitous or a liar. That wasn't, however, what happened.
Instead he proactively introduced his faith as a capstone element of his command climate and topped such with "Rules". I don't know about you but when a Lt. General makes perfectly clear his seriousness on any matter by couching it within the context of rules, whether I adhere to those beliefs or not (whatever they may be), I'd better damned well take seriously HIS belief in such.
That conditions my behavior and expectations. Matters of spiritual worship especially so. Therefore, if I should feel threatened by Ayotollah Khameini's incessant reference to Allah in every other breath, forgive me if I conclude that I stand little chance for a fair judgement by him as a catholic. So too, perhaps, here.
"...In such a briefing, I read, 'these are my standards and I expect you to live up to them.' Inappropriate at the very least."
Colonel,
Your interpretation of the presented slide which, as "Ronnie's Rules", serves as his principle operating guidance to DISA employees is entirely accurate...and inappropriate on the part of Lt. General Hawkins. Were I a muslim, jewish or catholic departmental employee I'd have to wonder just where I stood in the eyes of my commander. That, alone, creates an unhealthy command climate.
"...That said, I am in areement with Z about the lack of wrongness in mentioning God - we should be free to believe in God, and say so (but I am a private citizen - not a commanding General)...".
God is not merely mentioned but highlighted in writing as the opening and closing elements of his guiding principles.
"...it is bbetter to make Faith a private thing, shared on request and not shared on request as well."
Unfortunately, a personal discussion isn't the case here. Had Lt. General Hawkins NOT included written reference to God in his guidance but had been asked about his faith later, I'd completely concur it was within his rights and beliefs to profess his faith. I'd even suggest he would be obligated to profess such lest he be considered duplicitous or a liar. That wasn't, however, what happened.
Instead he proactively introduced his faith as a capstone element of his command climate and topped such with "Rules". I don't know about you but when a Lt. General makes perfectly clear his seriousness on any matter by couching it within the context of rules, whether I adhere to those beliefs or not (whatever they may be), I'd better damned well take seriously HIS belief in such.
That conditions my behavior and expectations. Matters of spiritual worship especially so. Therefore, if I should feel threatened by Ayotollah Khameini's incessant reference to Allah in every other breath, forgive me if I conclude that I stand little chance for a fair judgement by him as a catholic. So too, perhaps, here.
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