[July 5, 2019] Army Vet looks at Nike Inc. and that he believes they are circulating the intellectual drain because of a number of poor leadership decisions. The latest is their disgraceful decision to pull a U.S.A.-themed shoe off the market because it might offend someone. Looks like Army Vet is more than offended.
Life is tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid: My friends tell me that I have the patience of Job; you know, the Biblical man who persevered in the face of overwhelming hardships as found in James 5:10-11. What I don’t have the patience for is gross, unrepentant STUPIDITY and then the incessant cowardice not to correct a mistake. John Wayne once said, “Life is tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid.” The senior leaders at Nike Inc. are stupid and I mean really stupid. Who in their right mind would make the decision to pull from the market a pair of sneakers off the market because it had a famous – and I will add, honored – Betsy Ross Flag that was created in the 1790s. Symbols are important! For a commercial entity to make a decision to dishonor a flag that represents freedom, well, we are now treading in the Forrest Gump category; stupid is as stupid does.
If you’re offended, get in line: And the line starts over there; you know the one, the line behind the dead veterans killed in war protecting freedom across the world. The other day, I was watching the 1998 movie, “Saving Private Ryan,” the opening battle scene as soldiers storm the beaches of Normandy, and I thought to myself (just out of nowhere it popped into my consciousness) that I didn’t see a single Allied soldier stop and say he was offended by the Germans trying to kill him. Maybe it was the fact that the bullets and shrapnel whizzing by snapped their attention onto something else. I wasn’t offended either in 2011 when Taliban terrorists were attacking my outpost north of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Actually, I respected their audacity and the fact that this was not a major battle but, alas, they had their butt kicked. I’m just not the kind of guy who gets offended. A MESSAGE for Nike, I don’t get offended but I like to shine a light on stupid behavior; I’m highly entertained by it and I’m shining my light your way.
It’s flattering to see people manufacturing new versions of being ‘offended:’ The newest, snowflake generation is quite creative in finding something that hurts their feelings. Maybe that’s why anti-American (and rich, ex-football quarterback) Colin Kaepernick is employed by Nike, Inc. Brothers cut from the same cloth; bosom buddies who think and act like they are the very first person on Earth to discover that humans have flaws and it’s their job to fix it. I LOVE POPCORN and especially love it while watching a great movie. I also enjoy my popcorn when I hear about stupidity at the senior leadership level and how they twist logic to the point that up is down and left is right. George Orwell, I think, would be especially pleased that his work of fiction is coming to life in Nike and Kaepernick. I might also add that whackos in the mainstream media who are coming out of the woodwork to praise the decision by Nike as another move to earn more money. Yep, that will work.
Never apologize; it shows you are weak: John Wayne said that in the 1949 movie, “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.” Truer, more sage advice has never been given. I don’t apologize for what I do and never will for the simple reason that I go through life with the single purpose of exposing stupidity and that, frankly, is a noble cause. I shook my head when I heard that a Nike, Inc. spokeswoman immediately apologized for ‘possibly offending’ people when they pulled the Betsy Ross flag embossed sneakers. Then they apologized for apologizing. It just doesn’t get better than this. Sure, Nike will make lots more money and I applaud them for it; but just admit that money is the real reason and move on. Here’s some quality advice for Nike; just move on. When your spokeswoman talks, you look that much more stupid. Pass the popcorn
This is one of the best articles in a long time that really tells it like it is. Hard hitting, smart, entertaining, and those qualities I look for in anything that I read. The idea that Nike Inc. would make money for being anti-American (or anti any nation) strikes me as among the dumbest things I’ve heard. Nike should be boycotted. I’ll never buy another shoe or anything from them ever again.
I’m glad I found this article. Army Vet tells it like I’m thinking.
Army Vet is one of my finest friends. I’m happy you find him with reading.
This is a great article. Well written, plenty of entertainment value, and right on target.
You can’t argue with them being greedy capitalists but putting down the USA is unforgivable.
Too much stupidity at Nike Inc.
Another winning theme and spot-on logic.
Great article !!!!!
I really enjoyed this one. I’m sure the snowflakes are melting in the popcorn. Yum!
Good to see you reading Gen. Satterfield’s leadership blog JG. Welcome.
Army Vet, I’m your oldest fan. We all love your writings and analysis. Some one said that it’s hard-hitting stuff. I concur.
He slammed Nike Inc. and their anti-American spokesweenie.
Spokes “weenie”. You are just too funny, Greg. Thanks for helping make my day. This is what you get when you have a has-been quarterback trying to make money of his race. We call that racism. Too bad the whacko liberals cannot see it.
I think most of us are among his biggest fans. I do wish Gen. Satterfield would have more articles from guests like this one.
I agree.
Humorous, entertaining, fabulous article. Nuff said.
While many writers are just young people trying to get name recognition by posting articles out wherever they can find a venue, Army Vet knows that his abilities and credibilities are famous. Thus, he doesn’t use his real name anymore because it doesn’t matter. It’s the ideas that are what is important.
I see you are reading Gen. Satterfield’s blog. We all are wishing you the best on your return to the USA. Please give us your take on what’s happening in the world of leadership. Thank you.
Good to see you on, Edward. I’m looking forward to your next article.
Does this mean Mr. Kennedy will have a guest article soon? I’m one of his biggest fans. 🙂
Yes, that’s what it normally means. When Gen. Satterfield “hints” at an upcoming article, you usually see it within two weeks or so. I am also looking forward to an article by Mr. EKIII.
I’m one of Army Vets fans also and have told all my friends about his sharp analysis. Thanks.
Army Vet never disappoints.
You got that right.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Hey Army Vet, please write more articles. This hard-hitting blog post is what real leaders need to be reading. I enjoyed it, immensely as did a number of my co-workers that I showed it to. I see you’ve branched out from writing only about the Army (and thus improving its prospects of success on the battlefield) to corporate stupidity. The application of your ideas to work and to life is great. Keep ’em coming our way.
Spot-on comment. I love the way Army Vet writes. If only there were more like him.
I would marry him in a second.
More articles by Gen. Satterfield’s regular writers would be great. They are all non politically correct and downright funny.
I like your style of humor and “sage” advice. Keep up the great writing. I know you are a busy man, but we love to see what you are thinking and why.
Yes Tony, I agree with you that Army Vet is one of the best Guest Bloggers Gen. Satterfield has on his leadership website. I’m one of the early fans of Army Vet and wish he would write more for us.
Great article. This is one of your best, Army Vet.
Not just one of his best but one of the better guest articles I’ve read in General Satterfield’s blog. I agree with others who regularly write to say we wish there were more of the writers from the past that helped make this leadership blog so famous.
As always, I agree with you Yusaf. Happy to see you are from the great state of Texas.
I went back and read several of Army Vet’s articles. Being new to this website, I didn’t know he was a contributor who regularly writes for Satterfield’s blog. Thanks for the reminders.
Yes, Xerxes. You can scroll through my website and filter by “guest articles” and look for repeats. Those that write more than two articles are the best.