Are You Accountable for What You Say?

So this week there’s been this firestorm.  President Obama fired his top military official in Afganistan Gen. Stanley McChrystal and the press has had a field day. Before you look for me to take sides that’s not what this post is about. I’ll admit I have read all the articles or seen all the news briefs on the incident but one thing has been noticeably missing.  Gen.McChystal and his aids have not said any of the reported comments are untrue or that they didn’t say them. There have been many opportunities for them to deny that they made the comments and they didn’t so that can only mean – they said them.  What they have argued is that all the comments were made “off the record”.  Which means THE COMMENTS WERE SAID AND THE ARTICLE WAS TRUE!!!!  Ok sorry for yelling.

If the comments were said then McChrystal and his aides are really anger because the reporter Michael Hastings snitched.  And we don’t like anyone who snitches. Some parts of the African American community are ravaged by gang violence, drug activity and criminal behavior. It is allowed to flourish because of the code - Don’t Snitch (which means don’t tell) lives. It pervades our community because the consequences can mean death.  The Don’t Snitch code lives in other communities too. We’ve heard it from girlfriends, police departments, the mafia and Italian community, prison community and the military. Even on the latest episode of Donald Trump’s The Ultimate Match with Omarosa where she chides one of the men for not ratting out the others.  The “Don’t Snitch” culture is pervasive. If you think it’s someone think again. When your co-worker brings the gossip to your desk about the supervisor, peer, co-worker, girlfriend, boyfriend whatever. You know when they come by and start the “have you heard…” it’s juicy and interesting gossip. You also know the “Don’t Snitch” code is in force.

But when is it ok to tell?  How do you make it ok, acceptable to tell?  When do we rally around people who report dishonorable, illegal, immoral and unethical activities so that we all can stand in the light of integrity.  Maybe if we did we’d see less Enron’s, financial meltdowns and oil spills.

So in the case of Gen. McChrystal he said it and now is regretting it got out.  Hey Gen. McChrystal set an example: Be accountable for what you say. Accountability means being answerable, libel for your actions. You said it, you meant it now own it and move on.

Just my thoughts.

N Joy

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