A634.9.5.RB_LarsonKurt, A Reflection of Our Learning

Reflect on the three key lessons you take away from the course. Reflect on your perceived value of this course. Include both positive and negative aspects of your experience. What might you have done to improve your learning experience? How might the University or your instructor provide additional support for your learning? Were their topics covered that seem particularly relevant or irrelevant to your experiences and to what you expect to come in future courses?

The three key lessons from this course would be: an improved awareness of critical thinking skills, although not specific to the syllabus of the course. Critical thinking is an important cognitive skill, which requires constant maintenance, upkeep and mental agility.

The second would be that religion, morality and ethical behavior might not be seminomas with each other. Their individual and collective contributions toward each other enhance the characteristics and virtues that each have to offer an individual who has the critical thinking skills to understand the value they have individually, and in conjunction with one another. The last take away would be that one must decide for oneself based upon many sources of information, inspiration and influence that is available to persuade one to accept or reject what might be considered as moral or ethical.

In my opinion, for a course of this magnitude to be truly effective, the university might consider a more involved approach to ethics and morality. In other words, more involvement from student to student and student to instructor perspectives, with more team involvement and less discussion questions, team involvement although tricky in the academic world can and does relate to the business world and team dynamics including the amount of contribution team members display.

The topics covered thorough out the course were for the most part spot-on except one, Gun Control.  I thought it in poor taste for a university to consider gun control as a moralistic or ethical issue from the standpoint of a Constitutional right. There are more individuals killed per year due to vehicular manslaughter and drunk drivers combined than from firearms for defense or in-commission of a crime. One is an unalienable God given right, and the other is a privilege, which we all know a special right or advantage available only to a particular person or group of people, such as the privilege of driving.

Privileges and their moral and ethical quandaries are the items that should up for debate in academia and not Constitutional rights. The Constitution doesn't grant or create rights; it recognizes and protects rights that inherently exist. The late Senator Byrd and I may have disagreed on a number of things. One for which we were both in total agreement with is that ALL schools, universities and learning institutions should be required to teach Constitutional law. The same law that most politician’s use against the mindless sheep of society, in a manner to heard the unsuspecting masses. Should we educate a contingency of academic scholars in Constitutional law, there would be less rhetoric and more precision in the manner by which our elected officials approach their constituents.     

A634.8.3.RB_LarsonKurt, Gun Control: What is the Answer?

The discussion of “gun control” is a non issue. I say this from the standpoint of our Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Second Amendment. The Constitution doesn't grant or create rights; it recognizes and protects rights that inherently exist. This is why the Founders used the word "unalienable" previously in the Declaration of Independence; these rights cannot be created or taken away.

The Founding Fathers by way of the Federalist Papers have shown that throughout history the manner and methods from which tyrants and dictators have eliminated a militia. It was not by dissolving the militia, but by taking away the people’s arms and ability to rise-up against tyranny and oppression.

During the ratification of our Constitution, there were genuine fears stemming from past experience with England, which government could become oppressive and/or tyrannical. And out of that fear lead to the possibility (probability) that the federal government would disarm the people in order to impose rule through a standing army or select militia. Much like our current point in history with an overly oppressive federal government, state government and city governments with overtly oppressive and draconian laws counter to our Constitution, that are designed to make common criminals out of ordinary citizens.

The response to that concern was to codify the citizens' militia right to arms in our Constitution:

The Second Amendment codifies a pre-existing right,

The Second Amendment exists to prevent tyranny in government,

The Second Amendment protects the individual right, not collective rights,

Every citizen is the militia,

Personal self-defense or hunting is not the primary purpose of the Second Amendment, like the liberal and democratic politicians would have you believe,

There is not a give and take or interest-balancing approach to the Second Amendment, it is what it is and is non-negotiable,

The Second Amendment was also meant as a provision to repel a foreign army invasion, which proved to be beneficial during WWII.

The Second Amendment protects weapons "in common use at the time.”

The Second Amendment exists to protect the grand American experiment in self-government. The burden-of-proof point was central to a ruling this month by the U.S. Court of Appeals overturning the Illinois ban on concealed carry: “The theoretical and empirical evidence is consistent with concluding that a right to carry firearms in public may promote self-defense. Illinois had failed to provide more than merely a rational basis for believing that its uniquely sweeping ban is justified by an increase in public safety. It has failed to meet this burden.

There are approximately 300 million guns in private hands in the United States, so, even if the government enacted a massive program to confiscate these weapons, the feds would fail in their task, enraging millions of Americans in the process. If the government were to manage confiscation of legal weapons, that would still leave criminals happily armed.

In December 2007, Matthew Murray entered the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., armed with two handguns and an assault rifle (the same arsenal possessed by Adam Lanza). Murray had killed two people in the parking lot before entering the church. Once inside, Murray shot another man in the arm before being shot by Jeanne Assam, a former police officer with a concealed-carry permit.

Potential massacres were also stopped in 1997 at a Pearl, Miss., school and in 1998 at a school dance in Edinboro, Pa. In both cases, responsible citizens prevented mass bloodshed by drawing their weapons and using them for the public good.

Forty-one states currently have safe and effective concealed-carry permitting systems, and eight other states have more restrictive discretionary permitting laws. Permit holders are not having parking-lot shootouts or brandishing their weapons needlessly. In fact, in the last 20 years, the cases of permit holders using their guns improperly are almost non-existent a less than ½ of 1 percent. They are certainly much rarer than when people used a concealed weapon to successfully defend themselves.

While we should do everything we can to prevent massacres like Newtown, we should also remember what it takes to stop a New Life Church. The following is a letter I drafted to our elected officials from the local Representative, the President of these United States:

“I have decided to address a topic to you that is of great importance to every American who had ever served in the military, or have benefited from those who have served in the military, often giving the ultimate sacrifice in the name of defending the Constitution against all enemies, FOREIGN and DOMESTIC.

With respect to those who have recently lost their lives or loved ones from the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Ct, Aurora and Columbine, Co, the shooting in Tucson where Representative Gifford’s, among others were shot (as examples). There is common denominator… Gun Free Zones, where the law-abiding citizen must not only surrender their Constitutional Rights, but also become potential targets’ who if armed would be able to react and possibly save the lives of the innocent and possibly the perpetrator?

We all know that necessity is the mother of invention, and those who have a mind to do harm have never and will never follow the law. The unfortunate weapon of choice as reported by the media these days is the firearm. What the media does not report is that overall; more lives are saved annually by the use of a firearm from a law-abiding citizen and not law enforcement, from those who are hell bent to do harm. Law enforcement is to protect society as a whole with no mandate to protect the individual, possibly the reason for bodyguards?

Annually there are more homicides through vehicular manslaughter and by hammers than by firearms. In fact FBI statistics show that violent crime is down because of citizens applying for Concealed Weapons Permits and taking-up arms. Florida recently reported there are now one million CWP holders. An impressive number certain to be modeled in other states, making criminals think twice before committing a crime against a citizen. The Firearm is an inanimate object, just like the hammer, car or any other piece of machined tool. They all have a legitimate purpose and were created for that purpose. They lack the ability to reason, think, react, influence or operate without human intervention. It is the human who takes the inanimate object and determines how to use that object.

In the January Edition of Forbes Magazine, Steve Forbes, Editor-in-Chief discusses what he calls an American Disgrace. The shutting down of most institutions that treat severe mental illness, have left an estimated 3.5 million people who have serious mental diseases with no capacity for treatment. Since the 1960’s 90% of the public psychiatric beds have declined and the growth of massacres have increased since the deinstitutionalization movement commenced.    

Another item of concern is certain politicians are using massacres as a sounding board to further their agenda of Gun Control… and the eventual control of the citizenry. They have become so bold to openly admitting their agenda in a public forum, agitating further those who would wear their emotions on their wrists, go on a witch hunt to lay blame and make death threats against the President of the National Rifle Association and its 4 million plus members including myself as an Endowment member.

 

It is high time that elected officials are held accountable for their breech of contract to the American people. By that I mean simply their oath of office, swearing and affirming to uphold the Constitution to the best of their ability against all enemies, FOREIGN and DOMESTIC. Any elected official or public servant who works in collusion or conflict to diminish any part of our Constitution should be removed from office and charged with treason”.

Sincerely,

Kurt E. Larson, USAF (Ret.)

References:

Shapiro, I. (2013). Why I still support the right to bear arms. The Star-Ledger, Retrieved from www.catoinstitute.com

Burrus, T. (2013). Face it: Guns are here to stay. New York Daily News, Retrieved from www.catoinstitute.com

Levy, R. (2012). Homicide rate was already declining. USA Today, Retrieved from www.catoinstitute.com

A634.7.4.RB_LarsonKurt, Ethics and Behaviors

Watch the two videos from business ethics speakers and discuss how your organization portrays its values. Share any examples where behaviors were portrayed positively by your leaders or an instance where someone was unethical in your work environment.

The organization portrays its core values through its Strategic Plan and Mission Statement. Which include the organization plan for the future with associated goals, milestones and timelines. The one critical and common denominator identified are its people, and the inability to complete its critical mission for the nation with state of the art equipment and national assets without the dedication, experience, and can-do mindset of the whole organization.

Through respect, good moral, working in unison (not stove piping) and mutual understanding by management to provide the tools equipment and resources necessary that allow individuals the ability to preform all aspects of their professions in the least intrusive manner, and to complete these duties in a most safe and efficient manner possible.

An example of positive portrayal of behavior would be when an individual was being treated most unfairly, simply for accomplishing the duties of his position by auditing and recommending a change to past practices that were shown to be outdated and in some cases against policy. The leader prepared an email citing the negligent and hurtful out lashes that were directed toward the individual and the consequences of continuing in an unprofessional and inappropriate manner.

An instance of unethical behavior in the work place would be by an officer, who will stop at nothing to further his career at the expense of others. One might say he has a narcissistic version of the Neapolitan complex. The methods employed are from “his way or the highway” to always being correct and if nobody argues or debates with him, he is then in his mind “RIGHT”. His bias toward pilots and against mechanics is astounding. Pilots can do no wrong, whereby mechanics that may have made an error are judged, tried and hung by him before an investigation has been completed.

The display of bravado and arrogance this officer displays to dare anybody to ever find he has made a mistake while flying is to say the very least unethical, unsafe and unprofessional, especially from the position as a manager and supposed leader.

In 1977 the worst disaster involving aircraft on the ground occurred when a KLM jumbo preparing for take-off is understood to have clipped the Pan-Am plane, which was taxiing, across the runway. In total 583 people died in the blaze that followed the collision and the incident remains the world's worst aviation accident in history.

Ultimately, the crash was blamed on the KLM pilot who had not checked if he was clear for take-off and sped down the foggy runway. The KLM pilot was the company poster child and chief pilot who could do no wrong.

Junior officers would not dare to challenge his bravado or arrogance to the point of witnessing the impending disaster that would take their very lives vs. speaking-up and possibly saving the 583 people and themselves.

Why address the worst air disaster in history, simply because it is unprofessional, unethical and immoral to not address an unknown or impending problem that can affect those who have entrusted their lives in the air and on the ground to seasoned, professionally licensed and trained pilots. And the organization that accepts and declines to not address this level of bravado, arrogance and unprofessional conduct is guilty of unethical and immoral behavior itself.   

A634.6.3.RB_LarsonKurt, What are Virtues?

Benjamin Franklin's self-improvement program included 13 virtues that he felt were important guides for living along with principles for each that would, in his opinion, define a person of good character. He developed a scorecard for evaluating how well he measured up to his own ideals. Throughout his life, Franklin tried to live by these virtues though not always successfully.

The results of the Virtue Quiz are as follows:

How you measure up:

You made some very virtuous choices. You chose the answers that closely reflected Ben's own self-improvement plan. Although Franklin gave up on his formal effort to be more virtuous, he devoted much of his life to self-improvement. You've made a good start on that yourself.

You might want to think about how you approach:

Tranquility:

Ben didn't sweat the small stuff. Think about what's REALLY important to you in life, and worry less about the smaller annoyances.

Select three of Franklin's virtues and reflect upon them in your blog. Ask yourself, how can I include them in my daily life?

Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

There is a time and place for everything; these things must be accomplished in a precedential order with allowances for multi tasking and shifting paradigms and priorities.

Family, vocation, academics and home are all priorities that occasionally shift in the order they need to be addressed and with respect to the necessity of the situation.

The amount of individual attention one gives each priority is directly proportional to the individual need at a given time and individuals that are directly effected by those shifting priority and decision making processes.

As a Master Mason I am taught to devote eight hours for vocation, eight hours for sleep and eight hours for family. 

Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

This is where Ben and I part company, as a retired military member there is a defined need “to sweat the small stuff”. As a matter of fact most CEO’s and persons of influence and great responsibility such as a surgeon do in-fact sweat the small stuff, as it inattention to detail that can get you into trouble, your objective not being met or a life hanging in the balance may be lost. Also it is possible to loose a trust or confidence that was afforded to you by an inattention to detail. 

Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes, or habitation.

As the saying goes… cleanliness is next to Godliness. That said and realizing we, as mortals will never be able to fill Gods shoes while here on earth, we can emulate him to be clean in mind, body and soul. As a member of society we owe it to our fellow man to also be clean in our daily interactions with individuals in our vocations, lifestyle and household. After all, do we as a person really trust the individual to preform a duty or service who is unkempt in his or her vocation, lifestyle or household?

Additional information:

I have had the pleasure of reading several books by William Bennett. I find them clear concise and to the point, without sugarcoating or attempting to lessen the reality of a particular topic. As the saying goes “birds of a feather, flock together”.

Other good books about virtues are books by William Bennett, including virtues for children. And the classic “The Death of Outrage: Bill Clinton and the Assault on American Ideals” also by William J. Bennett.

Biography: William J. Bennett served as Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George H. W. Bush and as Secretary of Education and Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities under President Reagan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Williams College, a doctorate in political philosophy from the University of Texas, and a law degree from Harvard.