http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-06/courage-an-example/ Leadership, followership, and purpose at work Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:54:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-06/courage-an-example/comment-page-1/#comment-1370 Bret L. Simmons Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:15:55 +0000 http://excel.websitewelcome.com/~bretlsim/courage-an-example/2009-06/#comment-1370 Paris, I really appreciate you sharing this! I'm sure that the vast majority of folks like you that have courage never think of themselves that way. They just have it and it is ready to be put to use when they need it. Courage was nothing unique in your experience, just the way things were. Wish that were true for more. Thanks for taking the time to share this! Bret Paris, I really appreciate you sharing this! I’m sure that the vast majority of folks like you that have courage never think of themselves that way. They just have it and it is ready to be put to use when they need it. Courage was nothing unique in your experience, just the way things were. Wish that were true for more. Thanks for taking the time to share this! Bret

]]> http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-06/courage-an-example/comment-page-1/#comment-1369 Paris Romero Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:07:06 +0000 http://excel.websitewelcome.com/~bretlsim/courage-an-example/2009-06/#comment-1369 Bret, I had cause to re-read this today. Something new struck me when I did. That Courage that you speak of - "But it took the collusion of a lot of folks with no courage to let them get away with it. People that should have spoken up did not. Yea, I know they were under pressure, just like Ms. Romero, but that is no excuse." - this caused me to think about the foundation of that courage. My grandfather, (Frank) Leo Bornhoft, who served in the Danish Underground during WWII. I asked him what "the war" was - he drew me a picture of Kilroy and said that's all I needed to know about "the war", but later, he explained to me the danger of keeping silent when you know something is wrong. He explained that to me when I was 5 years old, somehow, I was able to understand it in the content in which he intended. My father was another example of that courage for me. He was in the Air Force - was sent to Alaska for not remaining silent. Later, he was sent to Turkey for the same reason. He did not let the fear of reassignment prevent him for speaking out. My mother raised me during the "woman's revolution" of the 1960's. She taught me that it's ok for me to speak out, even though I am a female. She learned leadership from her mother, who ran a hotel business with my grandfather. She was remarkable. She was way ahead of her generation. She taught the females in our family that we can be strong women without giving up our femininity. These are the people that shaped me. This is the courage that I strive to honor. Thank you again, Bret - your words provide me encouragement. Bret,
I had cause to re-read this today. Something new struck me when I did. That Courage that you speak of – “But it took the collusion of a lot of folks with no courage to let them get away with it. People that should have spoken up did not. Yea, I know they were under pressure, just like Ms. Romero, but that is no excuse.” – this caused me to think about the foundation of that courage. My grandfather, (Frank) Leo Bornhoft, who served in the Danish Underground during WWII. I asked him what “the war” was – he drew me a picture of Kilroy and said that’s all I needed to know about “the war”, but later, he explained to me the danger of keeping silent when you know something is wrong. He explained that to me when I was 5 years old, somehow, I was able to understand it in the content in which he intended.
My father was another example of that courage for me. He was in the Air Force – was sent to Alaska for not remaining silent. Later, he was sent to Turkey for the same reason. He did not let the fear of reassignment prevent him for speaking out.
My mother raised me during the “woman’s revolution” of the 1960’s. She taught me that it’s ok for me to speak out, even though I am a female. She learned leadership from her mother, who ran a hotel business with my grandfather. She was remarkable. She was way ahead of her generation. She taught the females in our family that we can be strong women without giving up our femininity.
These are the people that shaped me. This is the courage that I strive to honor.
Thank you again, Bret – your words provide me encouragement.

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