I suppose most of us could all find fault with how we grew up in some way --- there is always mom, dad and Uncle Joe to blame things on. However, for me, with all its imperfections, what I remember MOST now is the gift my big brother gave me, when he focused my attention on the importance of striving for EXCELLENCE in all I did. Some of his early lessons for me came when he was still in high school and became my “surrogate father,” when my dad and mom split up. He qualified his advice with a sense of realism (or was it a reflection of his own doubt?). "You may not get to do this or that, he would tell me, "...because we can't afford it, but you, little sister, should always work as if all these dreams will come true for you and EXCELLENCE is the differentiator."
Later on, my brothers lessons were affirmed with each achievement that emerged in small and big influences on my future. Working toward EXCELLENCE, became almost addictive. I loved achieving and it fueled working hard, which had its generous rewards. I am most grateful to attest that the ability to dream, a high regard for ethics, deeply held values and a strong belief that the best opportunities are produced through EXCELLENCE have stood the test of time.
The truths about EXCELLENCE were deeply rooted in history. Aristotle's words have been an ever-present reminder:
"We are what we repeatedly DO. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."
It seems at one time, the pursuit of EXCELLENCE, was a constant theme in working toward our own individual American Dreams. Our achievements, and some of heroes were widely admired all over the world. Our pursuit of EXCELLENCE drove GPAs in college, the ambitions of our athletes to reach new records, helped children to dream, businesses were in search of it and "the American Dream" was made of it. Today, EXCELLENCE isn't a word you hear much from people, young and old and in-between. I’ve even heard companies shy away of its ideals, because it raised the bar to a level that seemed less than anyone expected to achieve. Also, perhaps our replacements of the pursuit of excellence have exacerbated the major tragic problems that weigh heavy on our lives, our human family, living creatures, the world and this planet.
It seems that perhaps by choices we made carelessly, we have let go of the pursuit of EXCELLENCE as our driving force and allowed the AMERICAN DREAM to be traded before our eyes for an intentional seductive flow of VIOLENCE, SEX and GREED that has grown like a cancer on our society. This brainwashing has gone way beyond “free speech”. It has us hooked and its tantalizing realities are popping up in our lives and in the lives of our children and grandchildren, while lining the pockets of the wealthy and filling our minds with garbage ---- neutralizing the gruesome to point it doesn't even matter to us anymore ---- and sadly, it appears we can't get enough. We want it more and more ---- or at least, the seduction or indifference keeps it coming --- or it wouldn't sell.
OUR PURSUIT OF VIOLENCE, SEX and GREED
This notion was fully revealed yesterday during the SUPERBOWL. The ads for the extravaganza, included previewing the top shows over and over again. Every drama show that was previewed for MONDAY, TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY was full of the grotesque and violence beyond imagination. Even the new popular show, HEROES demonstrated that our culture is now redefining today’s HERO in a backdrop of VIOLENCE and DESTRUCTION ---- not EXCELLENCE and ACHIEVEMENT. Even the comedy shows previewed and the advertising shown in prime time afternoon, where our young children are present, were full of violence, sex and things that are far from values like the pursuit of EXCELLENCE. Today, taking it still to another LOW POINT to titillate perverse minds further and chalk up profits, one of the key magazines, featuring Britney Spears and Paris Hilton as teenage idols, reportedly has brought a new gross term to life, questioning if we are raising a new generation of young women, they labeled "prostatots". Who is to blame for this?
I'm not a prude, or raising any moral flags, but it saddens me --- and I hope it saddens you too --- to visibly stop, look and recognize just how low our society has stooped to seduce our desires for pleasure, power and dough. I suppose there are plenty people and corporations who bear part of the blame for this erosion of values and decency in our country and our world. What has happened to us? How did we allow this to happen?
LEADERS SET THE TONE
That is what I was taught as a leader. Certainly, there have been gross things happening since the beginning of time, but I believe our recent generations have taken violence, indecency and greed to a new lows as we've all witnessed. Violence, sex and greed have progressed further than one can imagine in the last 10 years. Since LEADERSHIP sets the tone, our self-proclaimed WAR PRESIDENT and the BILLIONS of our hard-earned dollars spent on killing, destruction and lining the pockets of the WAR PROFITEERS has been part of the VIOLENCE SEDUCTION we've all bought into as citizens.
If we are as Aristotle said, what we repeatedly DO, we, the American people, own part of this era of VIOLENCE and GREED. We have accepted less than the best in our politicians, for our military, in our leaders, in our policies, with our media and for our human family across the world.
John Perkins, famed author of the New York Times bestseller, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, wrote a compelling piece that will make you think.
READ IT and see what you think.
Any thoughts? I welcome your perspective.
Debbe
NEW BOOK: The Secret History of the American Empire by JOHN PERKINS
Pre-Order at Amazon.com
Visit the John Perkins Collection at the Global Dialogue Center
Confessions of Economic Hit Man with new material in paperback
Debbe Kennedy
author and founder, President and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies
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