Thinking In Different Frames Of Reference

          When a situation requires your action, think carefully. Don’t just do what’s expected! Consider your approach by applying the 5 “W’s” and the “H” observed by every competent journalist: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How?

           If action is needed, who should do it? You may be expected to, but who, really, is best able to take the action needed? Do you need to delegate, or get assistance, or arrange for witnesses?

           What is the essential outcome? Others will always ‘know’ what you should do, but what do you want to accomplish, or have accomplished for you, and what is the best way to get there? What do YOU think needs to be done?

           When should it be done, for best results? Very often, the answer is NOW. But not always. What are the needs of everyone involved? Keep your objective in sight.

           Where should the deal go down? Your territory or their space? Public or private? What perception do you want to create for principals or observers?

           Why is the action you’ve chosen the best way to get to your objective? Why is it thoughtful and not just a destructive knee-jerk.

           How do you preserve everyone’s dignity as much as possible, honor the people involved, avoid others’ mistakes or obstacles, and achieve the goal that YOU set, to protect the interests of your family, associates, country, employment, or beliefs?

           Around here, whether you’re being proactive or reactive, these are the starting points for thinking in different frames of reference.

Hood Robin And The Bigots

          For scores of years, some Americans have cloaked bigotry and racism with polite “code phrases” that shield their users from disdain. Phrases like, “urban problem” which relates to African Americans; “family values” which places some racial groups, who can’t afford to live in families, opposite poor whites, who can’t afford not to, let alone affluent people who may choose family life; and “immigration problem” which means Asians and Hispanics and dark skinned others, who have, or might take desirable jobs.

           Then the 2016 Presidential campaign comes, and with it a street-wise scrapper who foregoes the niceties of polite discourse. He calls Mexicans criminals and rapists, proposes deporting millions of people, deplores Black Lives Matter, supports violence against protesters, and shows crass disrespect for women. America’s bigots respond enthusiastically. To the international embarrassment of America, they avidly support his snot-nosed petulance, and lack of substance.

           He is the logical conclusion of the greed, privilege, obstinacy, and stupidity of exclusive VS. inclusive thinking. And his nearest competitor is even worse. While he and his ilk want to divide Americans because of economic difficulty, America’s real economic issues go begging. Like, why are there too few jobs, why is our infrastructure crumbling, why is the government short of money, and why isn’t congress addressing America’s needs?

           Around here, we think people need to ignore the manipulators and get busy supporting what has and will continue to make America great. Community, diversity, immigration, and innovation. And certainly not the “reverse Robin Hood” tax concepts of demagogues.