What’s Wrong Today:
Recently, there here has been a
rash of statements across many segments of our society saying: “this is not who we
are”.
It is becoming an automatic
response from business, politics, military, and government officials after some
horrifying event occurs. Some suit steps to a microphone and states that
whatever happened, it is certainly “not who we are”.
So,
consider these dispatches from the front:
This
is not a reflection of who we are”
–Jeff Gearhart, Wall-Mart’s general counsel, on the
firm’s Mexico bribery
“This
is not who we are”
-Hillary Clinton on the US massacre of 16 Afghan
villagers
“This is not who we
are”
–General John Allen, commander of forces in
Afghanistan, on Koran burning
“This
is not who we are”
–Leon Panetta on troops posing with enemy body parts
“This
is not who we are”
–Hillary Clinton, also on troops posing with enemy body
parts
Spying by police “is not who we are”
–Newark Mayor Cory Booker, commenting on the NYPD
spying on Muslims in Newark, NJ
“using
pepper spray on peaceful protesters…is not who we are”
– UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi, after the pepper
spraying of students
“the assertions made by [Jeff Smith] do not reflect our values,
our culture…at Goldman Sachs” (In
other words, this is not who we are)
-Lloyd Blankfein, CEO
of Goldman Sachs
So,
What’s Wrong?
If
these acts are “not who we are”, they sure
are who we are becoming. If they are not “who we are,” then why so many recent examples of bad behavior?
The transgressions
are always framed as “one bad apple in the barrel”. The “not who we are” phase has
moved up near the top in American PR usage. It is now just like your child’s: “it wasn’t me, it was him.”
In the
business world,
we are consumed by winning; coming in second is for losers. The pressure to
increase profits is unremitting. This has created a culture in the financial
services industry that tolerates making huge (hedged or unhedged) bets with the
capital of our banks. While at Walmart, bribery of foreign officials just
another arrow in the quiver.
In the military, the loathsome acts
by our warriors in Afghanistan may indicate what our military’s culture has
become. Or, these acts might just be a direct result of the constant pressure
of returning to the battlefield for a 4th or 5th
deployment in 10 years that is caused by our politicians’ inability to say “it’s
over”.
In law
enforcement,
local and federal agents are increasingly militarized. Their culture is
evolving from “protect and serve”, to enforcing order and protecting property.
They see the public, particularly protesters, as a kind of “enemy” to be
subdued. Protesters are likely to be perceived as threats to the authority of law
enforcement, so they are beaten, pepper-sprayed, spied upon and locked up.
Meanwhile, we participate in a public farce
perpetrated by the suits, based upon lip service to the morals and culture of
the recent past. And it plays out in an endless loop in our media.
It is time to stop pretending that we are
not accountable, the “who” can only be us. If we are truly better than this,
if this is not who we are, then we had
better act quickly to change both who represents us, and the culture of our businesses
and institutions.
Ultimately,
we all share the blame for the actions of our government, our economy, our
culture. We need to hold all levels of business and government accountable for
any action that betrays America’s promise.
Walt Kelley had it right in “Pogo”
in 1970: “We have met the enemy
and he is us”.
