More news from the US. Earlier this month, an appeals court upheld an inferior court's dismissal of an action alleging state suppression of First Amendment rights.
Mary Brooke Oberwetter was arrested with other dancers in April 2008, and had argued that federal regulations did not prohibit silent dance by the memorial. Oberwetter and others claimed they were commemorating Jefferson's 265th birthday. Police claimed they had attempted peaceful intervention during what they classed as a demonstration, and Oberwetter had twice refused to stop dancing. The court ruled that "Although silent, Oberwetter’s dancing was a conspicuous expressive act with a propensity to draw onlookers...” and stood out "...as a type of performance, creating its own center of attention and distracting from the atmosphere of solemn commemoration.” Full ruling.
In protest against the decision, a group of people congregated at the Jefferson memorial yesterday. The group appears to have been led by Adam Kokesh - former marine turned activist and talk radio host. Also present was Medea Benjamin, cofounder of social justice group CODEPINK and human rights group Global Exchange.
Watch what happened...
I'm discussing the police response in my Conflicts blog. In part 1 of that blog I discuss the recent decision in the Oberwetter appeal case (the decision there having led to last night's incident) in slightly more depth. In part 2 I discuss Glasl's 9 stages in conflict escalation with particular reference to what has been regarded by many as an over-reaction on the part of the police. Albeit if it was an over-reaction it was certainly one which for which the protestors were fishing and are no doubt highly delighted about.
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
"Coffee's for closers..." An introduction to Corporate Bullying
Got 10 minutes or so to spare? If you haven't seen it before, the following clip from Glengarry Glen Ross shows Alec Baldwin in full throttle as troubleshooter Blake. The bosses of a real estate company have decided that their salesmen are underperforming. Blake has been drafted in to motivate them, using his finely honed powers of persuasion.
David Mamet's play, on which the film is based, explores the misogyny, homophobia and fear that drive a team of salesmen. Customers and unsuccessful salesmen are "faggots" or "women". The only true men, in that environment, are the ones who close.
The Blake character, who doesn't appear in Mamet's play, was created specifically for Alec Baldwin - a device employed to clarify very quickly for the movie-going audience what the prevailing dynamic in this office environment is.
The deal in this office is that you sell the American dream by participating ruthlessly in its nightmare counterpart. If you fail, you lose your balls and go under. You become the broke salesman in the bar, bitching about sales being a tough gig. Or you're the "weak lead" who can't afford the Dream that's being pitched to him.
The film goes on to demonstrate how the toxicity illustrated by Blake's motivational speech has a knock on effect. How it leads to stressed out salesmen lying, deceiving and stealing in an effort to avoid the humiliating, emasculating fate of failing to cut it.
Just under a decade after Glengarry Glen Ross was released, the Enron scandal broke. As details of that scandal emerged, it became clear that the philosophy driving Enron was similar to the philosophy depicted in Glengarry Glen Ross. Only, the surroundings were plusher - and the unethical tactics employed had wider ranging consequences for society.
Here is a clip where Enron traders talk politics and screwing "Grandmother Millie" over. In an environment like this, being Grandmother Millie is the worst crime anybody can commit.
The aim of this blog is to discuss bullying in the workplace. This opening post is designed to show why society needs to stay alert to, and tackle, the machismo philosophy adopted by both male and female workplace bullies. Because once that philosophy takes over, everybody takes the hit.
David Mamet's play, on which the film is based, explores the misogyny, homophobia and fear that drive a team of salesmen. Customers and unsuccessful salesmen are "faggots" or "women". The only true men, in that environment, are the ones who close.
The Blake character, who doesn't appear in Mamet's play, was created specifically for Alec Baldwin - a device employed to clarify very quickly for the movie-going audience what the prevailing dynamic in this office environment is.
The deal in this office is that you sell the American dream by participating ruthlessly in its nightmare counterpart. If you fail, you lose your balls and go under. You become the broke salesman in the bar, bitching about sales being a tough gig. Or you're the "weak lead" who can't afford the Dream that's being pitched to him.
The film goes on to demonstrate how the toxicity illustrated by Blake's motivational speech has a knock on effect. How it leads to stressed out salesmen lying, deceiving and stealing in an effort to avoid the humiliating, emasculating fate of failing to cut it.
Just under a decade after Glengarry Glen Ross was released, the Enron scandal broke. As details of that scandal emerged, it became clear that the philosophy driving Enron was similar to the philosophy depicted in Glengarry Glen Ross. Only, the surroundings were plusher - and the unethical tactics employed had wider ranging consequences for society.
Here is a clip where Enron traders talk politics and screwing "Grandmother Millie" over. In an environment like this, being Grandmother Millie is the worst crime anybody can commit.
The aim of this blog is to discuss bullying in the workplace. This opening post is designed to show why society needs to stay alert to, and tackle, the machismo philosophy adopted by both male and female workplace bullies. Because once that philosophy takes over, everybody takes the hit.
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