What you say and believe has a huge impact. Here’s a choice to think about in light of the recent holiday. The University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point has just posted a list of things we say, like “Everyone can succeed in this society if they work hard enough.” Phrases such as these may be platitudes but contain so much truth that they are often repeated. The University has declared these seemingly nondescript comments as “racial microaggressions,” to be shunned. They say this innocuous phrase’s actual message is that “people of color are lazy and/or incompetent and need to work harder.”
Simultaneously, as the University posted these, Staff Sergeant Travis Mills published his second book, “Tough as They Come.” The cover has a picture of Travis, who lost both legs and both arms in Afghanistan. His determination to function with artificial legs and arms has been the subject of a documentary and many articles for his inspiring message of personal commitment – “Never give up. Never quit.” – coupled with American technology, innovation and caring.
Travis says, “The reason I wrote this book is because I want people to know that no matter what struggle they go through or what obstacle they are facing, they can always overcome it.”
Now, patently, that’s also an overstatement. But which attitude sets someone up for success? Taking offense as a “racial microaggression” to a statement like the one above or Travis’s comment that he doesn’t want to be thought of as wounded? “I’m just a man with scars, living life to the fullest the best I know how.”
Travis is the true spirit of American independence we celebrate on the Fourth. Check out Travis’ website. And send links to anyone you know who’s a Badger.
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