Primed to be Outraged
Unless you are living under a rock, you have seen or heard about the Nathan Phillips and Nick Sandmann interaction in Washington, DC.
I did see the first 5 second clip that went viral and I did believe the story about an arrogant kid taunting an Indigenous elder who was a Vietnam veteran.
In reflecting on my own reaction, I am guessing I was triggered. It probably had to do with the hat Nick was wearing, MAGA. For starters, I do believe America is great, so why MAGA? Now that Trump is president, I don’t support the vast majority of his policies. I support a broad amnesty program and some form of national healthcare. In the news clip, I learned Nick was there to support anti-abortion legislation. Well, I support Roe v. Wade.
A day after the viral clip it became apparent that the situation was more complex and had many nuances. It is now clear Nathan Phillips was the one who walked up to Nick. Nick could have walked away, but he decided to stand his ground. The apparent smirk, when looked at in a much longer context, now becomes a nervous reaction to a tense and unfamiliar situation. If I had to make a judgment now, I would say Nick did nothing wrong.
As the days unfold, I am sure more information will surface and we will have a better context as to what really happened. Until then I will withhold judgment as best as possible.
As we address diversity issues in our places of work, this incident will probably never make it to the table where an honest, open conversation is held. It is way too volatile and many are afraid of being called racist, etc.
The irony of the diversity conversation is that there is a clamor for honesty, but it seems the honesty is restricted to certain issues and trigger moments. Currently, most people see diversity education, training, etc. as a check off. If diversity is ever going to become something more than a check off in our places of work, schools, worship, etc. it needs to be the whole gamut, not selected trigger moments where only one side is presented.
Dr. Raj Beekie is an associate professor in the DBA department at Saint Mary’s University, MN. To learn more about our DBA program here is the address https://www.smumn.edu/academics/graduate/business-technology/programs/doctor-of-business-administration-dba
Whether one agrees or disagrees with the thoughts and ideas expressed, he hopes they provide a broader foundation for discussion. Dr. Beekie received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Organizational Communication from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, master's degree in Intercultural Communication from North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, and doctorate in Organization Development from the University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, MN.
Dr. Beekie also consults in the areas of leadership development, diversity, emotional intelligence, and effective communication. To offer your feedback he can be reached at rbeekie@smumn.edu