I realized today, that given we are at a state of war, with Americans coming home in body bags ... yet, I am strangely repressed in bringing up the matter to anyone at work. I see that this would work both ways, were I to be a proponent of the war, or against it ... I simply can't talk about it for fear that I would anger or alienate people around me.
Now, I'm sure some of you will spout off that you're free to say whatever ... but I ask you to look at the big picture. I suggest that the subject of war is off limits at virtually every institution I know of ... schools, banks, manufacturing, offices, etc.
Working for local county governmemnt I'm pretty much limited to "Good Morning" and "See you tomorrow"
We have a property tax amendment that's up for vote in the 29th. I found some info on the web that pointed out the down side of the issue and made copies of the piece and gave them to my co-workers. I was called out by my supervisor for doing so.
In my office I'm the only one who has been in the military and I do have definate opinions about the war. Discuss them at work ,no way. It's hard to tell a good joke nowadays.
As you know I volunteer at the local PD the detectives talk about the war all the time. Mostly they believe going into Iraq was a mistake, Afghaistan will never be cleaned up and Pakistan the same. Some of them are exmiltary and they compare it to Vietnam, how do we get out of the mess.
Before I had to retire from CBP Marine, we talked about it all the time. I'd guess maybe 85% of the pilots, Air Officers and Marine Enforcment Officers were all prior service.
Besides, we went on security zone details for the ships pulling out of Jacksonville and Mayport taking the 101st Airbourne over at the start of the war.
At this point I beliveing its more about keeping stability in the area and less about the oil. We import 12 percent of all imported oil from this region and seems with a little conservation and more drilling in the north slope, Canada and gulf areas we could replace the mid east oil we import. I am allowed to speak my peace at work. Peace, Dick
SocAut I own the office; all hands are allowed to discuss the war; however regardles of the topic no one is allowed to disagree with my opinions or as the ultimate moderator, I will ban them. : )
We don't discuss politics, religion, sex, or anything that could be construed as derogatory against any person in the workplace or our clientele. Constructive criticism, senior to junior, one-on-one is not the same as just calling someone an A'hole.
It's out of decorum and we absolutely cannot get our clientele talking about anything other than our products and their purchase thereof. Alone, one-on-one, you know what is appropriate if you know each other.
You might get away with mentioning fact, but without personal opinion; as in
"Did you know that by the end of this second week in March, 2008 we will go over 4000 U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the start of the war?"
...but that's about the end of the commentary. I cannot add on;
"The little town where I grew up only had about 1900 residents. That means that more than two little towns like where I grew up have been utterly destroyed."
I think I've posted this several times, but here I go again. My grandson is coming home after his 5th tour in Afghanistan. I pray he doesn't have to go back, that is pushing his luck. Several (9 that I know of in one day)
I own the place… we can talk about whatever the heck we want to talk about!
Stormie, glad he’s coming back home! I pray that he doesn’t have to go back, too! Please pass to him and his family my heartfelt gratitude for his service!
Pat, no one in our office is upset with our speech because we are honest. Our minority folks join in on the jocularity. We talk about race, color, creed, religion, politics, charity, the public dole, etc. The only time it gets a little heated is politics… not race, politics! And it usually has to do with handouts or morals.
A few years back, I worked in Municipal Government. I was the TV Director and managed the electronic tv bulletin board. I put up a slide with a Soldier in front of a sunset with 'Support Our Troops' on *gasp* the municipal tv channel which cycled through to be viewed about 20x an hour. I was sternly told to remove it by the new Town Manager. Mind you, the slide had been approved by and put up when the former Town Manager (who was a military Veteran) was in the position.
I am/was also a huge Troop Supporter and Advocate. Because of that, I was promptly told to clam it or shown the door if I didn't stop visually or verbally showing support for our Troops because the Town Manager's and Town Council's words exactly, 'supporting the troops is supporting the war' (I never did anything to interrupt the workday). I was also TOLD to remove my yellow ribbon pin (my Son was a Soldier as well as two of his best former high school buddies). I put in my resignation before they had a chance to put my ars at the street.
They couldn't differentiate 'Supporting the Troops' talk vs. politics.
SNR, you made the right move to walk out the door! In the long run, right will be proven right and those buttheads will be exposed as they are... morons.
