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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (31081)	11/7/2006 2:29:33 PM
From: TimF	Respond to of 541824

I didn't post the link for the Nasrallah quote. To late to edit so I'll put it in a a reply. littlegreenfootballs.com

To: TimF who wrote (31081)	11/7/2006 3:03:11 PM
From: Sun Tzu	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541824

I am finishing up my Executive MBA degree. We have a core program and specialization tracks. Last semester I had a course with one of the program directors and founders of the program. IMO, she knows not what she talks about and I found her course of no value to me. So I asked to switch program tracks. She felt offended that I would not want to be in her class and tried to block my transfer under the excuse that it is too late in the semester to jump courses. I got the approval signature of the associated prof. and got the program chair to approve my transfer with the reasoning that if the instructor is willing to take me in, then it is none of the school's business whether or not I can finish the course. The director was very unhappy. (incidentally, I got an A+ in that course). This semester, I decided to go back to my original program track. The same director jumped on my case adamantly insisting that I should not switch back. I went to the program chair again. I reasoned that since I am paying for the program (and believe me it is not cheap) then it is none of the faculty's business what courses I'd like to take. There is no way they can know what is better for me and there is nothing in the rules that says I have to take certain courses beyond the essentials that I have. I also implied (very politely) that if I would not get my way, I will not pay for the program. The chairman intervened again and I got what I wanted. I personally overheard the director arguing with the chairman. Her exact words were, "This affects my credibility as the director of this program. I've told him 'no' twice and I am overturned each time. This cannot go on." The chairman assuaged her bruised ego and gently pointed out that if she had not been too hasty in saying no when she should have said yes, then her credibility would have been very much in tact. This is a personal life parallel to much of what the US does around the world. We go to places and insist that people should plan their lives and their national interests in ways that we approve of. Every so often we acknowledge that perhaps we went about it the wrong way, but like the director in my program we are too proud to back away. We worry about our "credibility" and "honor" rather than realising both are best served by doing the right thing and that the pain we experience is a worthy teacher. Of course, in the case of the US, there is no higher authority for others to appeal to in order resolve the situation. So bombing, mayhem, and murder go on until we decide it is not worth it and we withdraw with even greater disgrace than if we had just backed out of our mistake from the start. Everyone makes mistakes. Not everyone prolongs their mistakes on grounds of honor and credibility. ST