Topic: Dailies

by

Leo Crocker Rogers

"Don’t tell me. I do not want to know." Why?" Because I won’t get what I want if I know. Sometimes this is a "Don’t confuse me with the facts." Or "It could be that what is correct could be wrong, and if wrong then the wrong is correct." Or "Sir, I am never wrong. I may not always be right. But I am never wrong."

Ego. Pure and simple.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Southwest Airlines pilots received conflicting reports on runway conditions as they approached Chicago's Midway airport where their jet skidded off the runway and killed a 6-year-old boy. As the pilots prepared to land, the snow got worse and they were told at various points on their way to Chicago that the runway conditions were good, fair and poor. They knew they couldn't land safely if the conditions were poor because there was an 8-knot tailwind, and they calculated the distance they needed to land assuming poor conditions, and there was not enough runway.

So what happened? From the on-deck voice recorder it was heard. "If it's poor, we don't want to hear it," said co-pilot Steven Oliver. The pilot's eagerness to land may have affected their decision making, said the after accident report.

You think?

People in powerful positions. Politicians, doctors, lawyers, generals, mothers and dads have to make quick decisions, decisions with but 20% of the needed information they would like. That comes with the territory. But for sure, they need to listen and to respect not only other’s thoughts, but the still small voice that comes from the gut up saying, "Silence the ego and think."

Long story shortened. Admiral of ship is told by radio officer. "We have been told to turn to heading 150." "Nonsense." says the Admiral. Minutes later. "Sir, we have been sternly advised to alter our course." "Radio officer, tell whoever it is that we are a Nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, the largest warship in the world. Even though it is night, we will not change our course. No one tells me what course to take." Radio officer. "We are most urgently being told to change course." "Never. We will go where I have ordered." Radio man, fearing for his career is afraid to tell the old man, "It is a light house that is making the suggestion." We will be on the rocks in ½ hour.

Ego. You think?

There is another example of the might to do whatever. Note that in all these cases, the person making the decision is an individual of considerable stature.

Sir, I see an iceberg ahead. Son, look at the size of this ship. Now look at the size of that iceberg. Not to worry. We are mightier than any hunk of ice.

At nearly 11 pm, the California was somewhere between 10 and 19 miles north of the Titanic and had stopped in an ice field. The California began transmitting warning on its wireless, but Titanic’s radio operator signaled back: "Keep out! Shut up! You’re jamming my signal. I’m working Cape Race..." The Titanic was moving at over 22 knots. Again, the "Don’t confuse me with facts." At 11:40 pm, on 14 April 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg which had been sighted moments before impact.

Let us sing: "Near my God to Thee." (Not actually sung as the Titanic sunk.)

I want what I want when I want it – Killing a boy (true), running into the rocks on the shore (story only); sinking the unsinkable (true).

Ego. You think?