In Wake of USA Today Poll, Obama Administration Would Do Well to Keep an Eye on History

It was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who officially created the Thanksgiving Day holiday in 1936. During a time when the country—indeed the world—was still grappling with the vestiges of what would come to be known as The Great Depression, Thanksgiving created a time of respite and reconnection to family and friends.

To say nothing of the enormous stimulation to the economy.

So, Thanksgiving, in many respects this year, rivals in significance to that time period when it was first created. Now, as then, there is economic and political turmoil everywhere. And now as then also, a charismatic leader is at the helm of the U.S. and domestic problems and international ones constantly compete for center stage attention.

This has been brought even more immediately to the fore today in the wake of the USA Today poll that reports Americans are losing patience with President Barak Obama’s management of the war in Afghanistan, and with the health care plan that is still moving through Congress. Certainly the president himself is nearing an epoch in his leadership dossier; being able to somehow placate the skeptics about his health care plan while also prosecuting a war that increasingly seems to be one the country cannot afford to walk away from.

I like to think that President Obama, like many of his predecessors, is a student of history and recognizes that what he faces has been faced by others in the Oval Office. And that his response needs to be—as with the others—a measured one that will guide the country safely through these turbulent times. This may mean that, despite the detractors about the war, a troop surge may be the expedient thing to do in Afghanistan. Likewise, his health care bill will likely need to be further revised so that the majority of Americans (many of whom already have health care) do not feel they are being excessively taxed. Obviously this will require some modifying on positions he has taken. But the history of leadership is filled with individuals who went on to be icons because they understood the importance of addressing all the nuanced areas concisely in a time of crisis.

So, on this Thanksgiving holiday I offer particularly focused prayers of encouragement and wisdom in the direction of the president and his administration. They need it—we all need it—now more than ever.

Reflections on Track 3

So, since last SaturdayI have been in Devner, Colorado for the last of my colloquiums for my doctoral program with Capella University—a fully online program, by the way. A colloquium is another word for residency; part of obtaining a Ph.D. requires that the student clock in so many hours involving face- to-face weeklong conferences that offer more indepth engagement of the subject matter being studied. For me it is organizational management with a specialization in leadership. And for those who know me, you know that this is a second Ph.D. for me—my first is from Berneli University, a wonderful international graduate school (but having limited accreditation in the U.S. thus prompting me to get a U.S. accredited Ph.D. for professional purposes).

The third colloquium is identified as Track 3 and truly it is a milestone. Track 3 takes place when the student has either completed all course work or is within three to four courses to completing coursework. The next step after the colloquium is comprehensive exams and then writing the dissertation. Though I have experienced this before, it is different in that my previous school focused a lot more on distance learning (independent study) and then some online activity. Capella is exclusively online and the school is a recognized leader in online education.

I am sharing all of this information here in this entry of The Organic Mechanic because I want to encourage those who will read this to keep pursuing education. There is nothing like learning new things and discovering new ways to apply old concepts. For me, I want to keep applying my learning so that I can make the world a better place—not just my world, but the world at large. Only through education can I do this. I learned quite some time ago that one of the bains of moving on in years is having a tendency to stop learning and to somehow take on a sense of not being able to contribute any longer.

As God has blessed me to be in my 54^th year of life now, I can honestly say that throwing off the shackles of such oppressive, limiting thinking has liberated me in a way that I could never imagine.

So this entry is dedicated to my cohort members and instructors at Capella who have been—and continue to be—a most excellent support during this experience.

But most important in this is my wife, Carmela, whose love and support (and being the best [and sexiest!] traveling companion any road warrior could ask for) has kept me focused and on target. I am glad her schedule allowed for her to join me in Denver. There was great weather (60-70 degrees every day!) and some of the tastiest food we’ve had yet. I look forward to returning one day soon…and when I do, it will be as Dr. Dr. McTyre!