tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204358997085828680.post5140019773068690270..comments2023-10-31T02:08:57.631-07:00Comments on 2010 ILC at Brown: Smooth SailingMadeline Kronenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809038721402994691noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204358997085828680.post-25555415604853016412010-07-13T20:27:39.923-07:002010-07-13T20:27:39.923-07:00Lupe,
Last things first: You're thanking God...Lupe,<br /><br />Last things first: You're thanking God for those umbrellas? Maybe God gave me the idea to go out and buy umbrellas in the middle of July but don't I get a little credit for it, too? [Speaking of credit, I didn't see her name on the credit card bill. :-) ]<br /><br />Loved the photos.<br /><br />Don't take this the wrong way, Lupe, but I think your imagination got the best of you with those pipe cleaners. I immediately got the gavel but with the other two it was like when you go into an art gallery and the artist tries to tell you that you're not really looking at spilled paint on a canvas. He tells you what you're really looking at is a prime example of man's struggle with his inner demons as he fights the temptation to destroy his televisions and the gods that control them. I mean, if the viewer can't make it out at first glance, then maybe the artist is just making it up on the fly. :-)<br /><br />Now knowing what the green and the yellow pipe cleaners signify, though, I say: "they're works of art" Brava to you, Lupe."<br /><br />Your little exercise about stepping up or stepping back is a great one and the ones that are bitching the loudest over it are the ones that need to adhere to it the most. In their minds, they've already solved the problems of the world and they become angry when the rest of the world doesn't accept their prominence and accept them as the true leaders that they are. In reality, a true leader would step back and allow the others to speak. [Do you like the way that I've completely analyzed them based solely on what you've written?]<br /><br />In my own union we have a rule that comes down from our national headquarters that apprentices have neither voice nor vote. Not allowing them the vote has some valid reasons behind it but the idea that they shouldn't be allowed to voice their opinions is backwards and self defeating.<br /><br />When I was the President of my union my policy was to let EVERY member speak his piece. What I told the journeymen members was that why should we assume that because that apprentice has only been in the trade for a brief period, that she doesn't have the solutions to our problems. And even if she doesn't, she's going to learn by asking questions and bringing up ideas for discussion.<br /><br />Perhaps those members of your class that want to dominate the conversations are less confident in themselves than the image they want to you to see. Something akin to a false bravado. Perhaps in their own minds, the only way they can keep proving to themselves that they're the honcho is to quash any other ideas and dominate/control the conversation and the direction it takes.<br /><br />I'd like to think that in all of the positions of power and authority I've had, that I always led by example and not by force of will.Don Gosneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17110247579694408858noreply@blogger.com