Column by Dr. Ann Hollingsworth
When I was in the Army, we had a common saying about people having a “can-do attitude” – this was a very desirable trait for a military member to have. It basically means that the person is willing to take on new challenges rather than complain or give up. The nature of the military is such that when a person “can do,” he or she probably “will do” To complain or give up just is not in the expected lifestyle of the military.
More and more I see a vast difference in the mindset that is common for us today. I suspect that this mindset has infiltrated the military of today as with the rest of society. While there may be some sense of “Can-do,” the sense of “Will do” seems to be rare. It is politically correct to “Can’t do,” and “Won’t do” because of a victim ideology that has poisoned us. I see this poison among those of us who were raised in the strong work ethic of doing what needed to be done – without complaining. Now there are many older folks who also play victim.
What needs to be done about this? Probably most folks will continue to deteriorate in function, capacity, and productivity to a basic point of robotic uselessness. Those who still believe they can and choose to “will-do” will make it in life okay. The others will wake up one day and find a Chinese, Russian, or perhaps Taliban flag flying at the Clarke County and other courthouses. Because you see, these people still believe that they can and are determined that they will.
