The Return of Arrogance

Some of you may remember my message expressing an opinion of American corporate arrogance in the form of visiting VIPs (here and here to refresh your memories). The bosses of the people mentioned in those articles are here visiting now. Anyone in the pharmaceutical business out there? I need a Costco-sized pack of blood pressure meds.

The visiting personnel arrived yesterday and the circus began. I have held the belief since I was a junior enlisted man in the service that if the 'boss' wants to see how an organization truly functions, inspections or visits should be unannounced and random. If the leaders of the local level of the organization were doing their jobs, it wouldn't matter when the inspection occurred. Go to work and complete your tasks every day as if you were being inspected. As a police officer, the criminals don't call ahead and schedule when an event is going to take place. As a soldier, the engaging combatant doesn't call ahead and warn that an attack it is eminent. So why do we have 30/60/90 days warnings that 'the brass is coming' for an inspection.

Today's final straw--and it happened at breakfast, so who knows how the rest of the day is going to go--was another instance of arrogance that makes my blood boil. I rise early and on most days am the very first person in the dining room. It gives me a chance to watch a bit of the news and drink a cup of coffee before the day's events begin to unfold. I walked in this morning and noticed that there were 24 seats reserved for the 2 visiting personnel. I asked the kitchen staff about the apparent discrepancy. "That's what we were told to do, sir." Hmmm. Having sat in this very room each morning, I have learned the ebb and flow of the camp life. By reserving 24 seats for the 2 visitors, that only left about 18 seats for the 50-75 people that come in to eat at the early breakfast time. The first wave of diners are the Ghurkas and local police that are coming off post. These are the soldiers that have just stood watch all night so that the rest of us can sleep in peace. They are told that they can't eat in the dining room with the Americans. My dander already up and my blood pressure sky high, I erupted. The hell if I am going to stand by and watch the people putting their lives on the line to protect me be treated like yesterday's trash. I invited the soldiers to sit at one of the reserved tables. The lead Ghurka, who knew full well what was being played out before him, smiled, sat down, and ate his breakfast. His men, following the lead of their commander, joined him and ate before getting some sleep so that they could stand post again in too few hours.

In my 20+ years of wearing a uniform, I have had the privilege of working with some extraordinarily fine leaders and the unfortunate circumstance of working for some very poor "leaders" as well. As time goes by, this company is showing its true colors. RHIP (Rank Has Its Privilege) indeed; it also has its duties and responsibilities and they are being shirked. You should be ashamed.