Tuesday, November 3, 2020

We Should All Have the Courage of Our Own Convictions

By Nathan Koslowsky, CLAC Representative

I watched the film Hacksaw Ridge this weekend. What a story! It’s about a country boy named Desmond Doss who won the US Congressional Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism as a medic in the Second World War, despite refusing to use weapons on religious grounds. Doss was drafted and then ostracized by fellow soldiers for his pacifist stance. He ultimately earned their respect and adoration for his bravery, selflessness, and compassion after he risked his life—without firing a shot—to save 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa.

Doss’ commitment to what he believes to be true, even in the face of insurmountable pressure from his peers and leaders, is remarkable. He holds fast. He isn’t a jerk about it. He respectfully maintains his deeply held commitments and suffers physical injury along the way.

It would have been so much easier for him to capitulate to the pressure and go along with everyone else. He chooses the hard way, staring the cost straight in the eye without blinking.

I’ve seen both types of behaviour in our workplaces. Many choose the go-along-to-get-along approach. They look the other way and say nothing—head down, do the work, go home at the end of the day. I don’t blame them. It is scary to speak up and risky to stand up when everyone else is hunkering down. Probationary periods can be that way. The weight of family responsibilities can make it that way. There are all kinds of “reasons” that can be conjured up to justify silence and inaction.

But the other way can be so inspiring. To paraphrase Harry Truman: “Progress occurs when courageous, skillful workers seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”

There are those among us who, like Desmond Doss, have what it takes to see the hard thing through. These are regular women and men whose courage sets them apart. They report for duty, perform safely and with skill, and then have the courage to do the hard thing on top of that. They will stick their necks out even when they’re surrounded by turtles. They will bring attention to something everyone else is quietly sweeping under the rug. But none of us should have to be the lonely hero in the workplace.

Benjamin Disraeli once said that “courage is fire.” Every one of us has the capacity to burn brightly.

So stand up, say something, do the hard thing—and don’t be a jerk about it.

We Should All Have the Courage of Our Own Convictions

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