Thang Nguyen 555

Comedian Joe Wong takes a page from Late Night: he follows Van Halen’s Jump soundtrack to open his acts. “I had a near death experience yesterday. I walked by a graveyard”. Mind you it’s China where smoking is finally banned in public places. Speaking of public space, I too had a near death experience. I visited Ba Chuc, where Pol Pot’s genocidal bones and skulls were on display. That entire village, population 3,150+ was wiped out except for 2 survivors, one of whom was interviewed for a New York Times piece in 2004. To Ba Chuc villagers, it was “apocalypse now”. This event, along with recent atrocities along the Malaysia – Thailand border- is a strong testimony to humanity’s Achilles Heels. We have made progress, only in fits and starts. Can’t catch them all. ( On a brighter note, Holland has tended to the graves of WW II US heroes for 70 years.) Ethics aside, many of these lives could have been put to good use, like Stephen Hawkin’s. What can be more real or lessons hit closer to home, than seeing bones and skulls. I was glad this genocide had been stopped. Part of growing up is not to repeat the same mistake. Humanity – liken to a grown person – is going through a  learning curve. BTW, comedian Joe Wong, before locked into his new vocation, was a Ph. D. in bio chemistry. He admitted to have read the Oxford English Dictionary 8 times ( yet can’t get rid of  his inborn accent ). He went through his own learning curve.

But, you got to give it to the man, who was on Late Night as a guest. With Letterman’s departure, the chair of comedy department was immediately filled, but an entry-level position is now opened. With syndication and translation, maybe Asian American can someday tune in to enjoy Joe Wong’s acts in China. He’d better not lose the English he had worked so hard for. Jokes tend to get lost in translation e.g. “I had a near death experience yesterday”. For me, nothing was lost in Ba Chuc , with bones and skulls up close. For these are grave matters.

A generation has grown up in the shadow of 9/11, two subsequent wars and one huge recession. Graduates face dim job prospects and heavy burden of student loan. Yet Tim Cook of Apple urges them to follow their North Star. It must be you, he said.

He must be kidding!

It’s Washington, where skepticism morphs quickly into cynicism. He mentioned meeting Wallace and Carter, the latter more humane and honest.

Then his meeting with Steve Jobs, a hard-to-work-with 3^rd shift co-worker.

Steve was credited with saving the music industry from Napster.

Tim Cook is still finding his footing in history, still “thinks different”.

Teilhard de Chardin suggested that human had appeared suddenly and “quietly” thousands of years ago. But will together face one end point, the Omega.

Instead of “the mass living in quiet desperation”, Tim Cook suggests “the mass empowered with pocket phones/cameras to be in the arena, not sitting on the bench”.

Graduates want to hear “what’s in it for me”, not “how together we can make a difference” (bring out the guitar and the harmonica, and take a selfie while at it).

At least, his “painted house” Alabama story ( hand-writing his Rural Electrification Contest speech to qualify for the White House tour) speaks volumes. Young Clinton was in one of those tours as well. Good impressions last forever. In Tim Cook’s case, he finally owned his I-phone to take a pic of George Washington University graduates, his commencement audience.

This audience know they cannot allow recent history to repeat itself i.e. One World Trade Center must stand tall and financial instrument crooks must be jailed and stay there.
So ethics and economics can co-exist, doing well and doing good at the same time. Apple has made good on its promises, from improving worker’s conditions in its China factories to doubling down on minorities hiring in Cupertino.

Apple space ship might be unmanned  but will be inclusive.

It starts at the top, not just “think different”,  but “be different”.

The more authentic it allows itself to be, the harder for the likes of Samsung to play catch up. After all, you can copy someone’s invention, but you cannot reproduce his identity. Maybe Chardin was right about combining all the brain powers in the noosphere (collective consciousness) – today’s equivalent of supercomputing power in the cloud – to process information, to do well and to do good. It must be you

If asked, we all say we buy on values.

When not asked, we buy on price ( never mind all the time searching for the bottom price).

Trade pacts and trade policies. We shifted manufacturing jobs South of the border, only to ship them across the pond. Then what happened? China grows its industrial muscles, and figures, they too can apply the same lesson: shipping the jobs further South to Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. These countries, which have already taken a page from the Filipinos play book, shipped workers to Eastern Europe and Middle East for years. Until now, when jobs are finally coming their way.

Jack Ma of Alibaba even goes on the offensive by recruiting bi-lingual 2nd year US MBA students to rotate in different departments. Mr Tien, another Chinese billionaire, treated his 6,000 workers to France and Macau. In short, Chinese labour market is now overheated, competing for high-valued talent.

Consumers said they wanted more for less.

So it goes. Machine replacing human, cheaper labour replacing more expensive one etc…

In the middle of 19th century, bicycles from France were highly sought after in the US.

(my pre-conception was based on my familiarity with the US Highway system, another copy of German autobahn). No wonder in one fell swoop, Henry Ford built both the automobile and the US highway system (boasted being door-to-door).

Not to mention his pitch  “you can choose – model T – in any color as long as it’s black” and policy to pay workers enough to buy the cars. In today’s environment, both the bikes and the automobiles (or most of them) would be made in China.

Back to our labour lamenting and consumer’s hypocrisy. At the heart of the debate on trade and labour is competitiveness. The US is ranked 5th on road condition (its D.C. and Philie Amtrak line has just killed 8). Someone is paying the price for the value rendered.

So from Portland, Oregon (where Nike is) to Portland, Maine (near where L.L. Bean is), we bought sweatshirts and shoes made from overseas (where factories, workers and environmental effects are expendable). As long as the status quo continues with Black Friday rush and Dads and Grads gifting (which BTW, no one really makes practical use out of those flowery shirts. And where is Mrs Marcos now with her 3,000+ out-of-style pairs of shoes?).

For this Father’s Day, think sustainably and globally. Examine your conscience and question your hypocrisy as a consumer. Am I truly shopping for values or on price. And at what price to the many who helped make those products.

Long ago (during the Clinton years), I read about the proliferation along the Texas border. Then, for a while, the jumping of Apple workers from the Foxconn’s dormitory in China. Now, it’s the Chinese turn to start reading about their Vietnamese sub-contacts getting drunk on cheap vodka and DUI’s at the city’s outskirts. Some day, Nike will learn from Henry Ford to make those shoes affordable even to its workers. Now, that will not be hypocrisy.

Let’s pretend you are invited to give a commencement address to 2015 graduates.

What role models should we recommend to these future leaders? Most subjects have been touched on by earlier speakers like Steve Jobs (get going) and Jill Abramson (get real).

Let’s brainstorm, or SWOT, to find a more realistic leadership model.

First is King David.

Courage in battle and faithful in life.

Yet, on the roof top, he had a momentary lapse of judgment (so was the IMF guy): he wanted another man’s wife (to add to his collection of thousand).

One false start led to another i.e. murder plot (sending Beersheba’s husband to the war front to qualify her as widow).

Lesson: that which gets you there, in this case – courage, won’t keep you there.

Second is Hitler.

Norman Mailer’s A Castle in the Forest explored Hitler’s childhood, surrounded by and observed how bees behaved. Result: an efficient army – killing machine and coding machine (one way or another, a precipice for  our digital world today, with IBM being slightly tainted). 6 failed assassinations, only to succeed at the end: he took his own life.

Lesson: efficiency alone is good only for managerial and logistic layer. Leaders need to place the ladder on the right building, not just climbing efficiently up.

Third is Colin Powell

He distilled war wisdom out of the Vietnam experience. The Powell Doctrine states that one only engages in a conflict when there is 70+ chance of wining it. Once in, one needs to deploy overwhelming force to ensure swift and decisive victory. In short, no quagmire. Sun Tzu knows this well: the best  battle is the one one doesn’t get involved in.

Fourth and last. Water Margin (Chinese Confucian Robin Hood)

To lead a band of 108 brothers who curse, drink and have strong disregard for the “corrupted” authority was no easy task. Yet Song Jiang, a filial and moral but defunct officer managed just that. He took humility to heart. Song Jiang bowed and stuck with them more than stuck it to them. Instead of saying “go ahead and make my day”, Song Jiang often untied his captives and recruited them into the fold. To win hearts and minds. To him, it’s easier to destroy than to build, to revenge than to restore.  Lesson: what one believes affects how one leads.

So graduates, from this day on, choose your leadership style. What’s your core belief; self-assessment or self-aggrandizement?

Are people to be manipulated or motivated, humiliated or honored?

What kind of aim and end do you wish? At what costs? According to Mr. Powell’s manual, go ahead and place the ladder on the building even in the thick of smoke, only after you have ascertained and arrived at 70% confidence. Like King David, one wrong can lead to many more down that road. The end never justifies the means: if you can’t be taken down after six attempts, you might end up doing yourself in any way, Queen Bee or worker bees.

Leaders learned what not do to most of the time. You have learned what to do. Now comes the hard part. From here on out, it’s not a case study to be graded. It’s your life-long learning on how to lead.

Mr Ben King has died. From here on out, we are on our own in Spanish Harlem. No one is going to “stand by me”. He described his singing career as “accidental” and that he felt like he’d been cheating (fate?). A lot of great things in life are just that: accidental. Last week, I read a bunch of April 30, 1975 accounts (as if there were an essay contest on victim-hood). Why didn’t you say so? You here means both sides of the Vietnam conflict. One side wants to avoid the fallen dominos (ironically, more Domino’s (Pizza) are now standing, not fallen here in Vietnam). The other just wants arm supplies to fend for itself against aggressors, this time, the very arm supplier of the past up North. No one is going to “stand by me” this time. One can play the victim card for so long. Like a hacked spam mail, asking for money to un-jam the sender who had been robbed in far-away land – sent to a stolen distro list to cry wolf. On other matter, Baltimore reminds me of Watts (and the LA Riot). Both places have fenced off neighborhood, their Spanish Harlem, where at times, police breaks the law to enforce it. What’s so hard to just get along even “accidentally” (to paraphrase Rodney King). We have done well with Native American land, back-breaking contribution of African slaves, Chinese rail-road coolies, all single men (and ironically, Chinese goods in containers that passed through those rail ways), Saudi oil, Mexican muscles, Moore’s Law and Asian savings. In the words of Don Corleone, it’s been “an offer one can’t refuse”. So long as we don’t forget the Golden Rule. It’s a new race (technology such as EV batteries for home, poop but drinkable water) with new rules. But some old rules endure: first dance with the bride was for the groom. But ” Darling save the last dance for me”. RIP Ben King. Good to be “cheated” by you and your Drifters’ friends.

President Ford, before being sworn-in, had been a good team player both on the football field and on the floor of the House. As an unelected President, he pardoned his predecessor and “paroled” 131,000 of us, who quickly were scattered into the four corners. In the process, he “de-obligated” the Treasury from its fiscal nightmare i.e. democracy advocacy was having a diminishing return both in body counts and bomb counts, more destructive than constructive accounting.

Reinhold Niebuhr once said: “despite of it all, we still have to seek justice in a sinful world”. In practical terms, he must have meant when the task lies within our purview or falls on our lapse. Other “none of our business” affairs like genocide and pesticide, we rely mostly on local regimes and tribunal courts.

A 93-year-old Nazi bookkeeper is finally put on trial (hope he wears his hearing-aid). Other massacres e.g. Armenian, Ukrainian, Cambodian and Nanking are still out there – the latest was so atrocious that the author of The Rape of Nanking killed herself.

I am a believer in Common Grace – pray for rain on both the fields of the good and evil. Yet I want to be reminded when it does rain, the hypocrisy of good men or the invincibility of the evil ones are both irrelevant. We cannot allow a repeat of Holodomor or Holocaust. And we know it’s women and children who disproportionately bear the brunt of suffering.

That summer of 1975, I learned to wrap my fingers around a football at lunch time (ready to be a Nittany Lion fan) with co-workers who helped place unaccompanied minors into foster homes. I never caught what is now coined “compassion fatigue”.

Perhaps I had already been inoculated with untold and imploded suffering of my own. Helping others was the best cure. Parole did help – not to mention a few hundred bucks to get me started. My Staten Island was Indiantown Gap, once occupied by Native American (for Remarque’s crowd, it’s Brooklyn). Jerry Ford himself got a $600 loan early in life (per A Time to Heal). Go Wolverines (no 48 Center).

They too may be wondering what the fuss with White Men and Yellow Men, Cowboy hat vs Cone hat, Holodomor and Holocaust, a few hundred bucks to spin the wheel or to start a life. In the game of survival, one needs to be a team player. Then say a prayer for rain.

President Ford seemed to know that having kneeled and prayed too many times before each college football game e.g. ” in all your ways, acknowledge Him.” It’s not those winning games that shaped the man. It’s the lost ones that built characters, his, as a congressman and finally as President albeit undeclared candidate, who pulled the plug on the unwinnable war.

Reinhold Niebuhr was better known for his Serenity Prayer – “…the wisdom to see the difference between the changeable and unchangeable nature of man”. For many of us, that wisdom is like a gem hidden at times but is always there.

H for Hillary, or R for Rubio? Huff Post on the go! Twitter and mobile, always on the run. I experienced being “on the run” almost 40 years to date. Ironically, McCartney’s Band On The Run was blasting out from my neighbor’s bunk on Wake Island, in the middle of the Pacific. I was half-way to America, after the footsteps of the Italian and Irish, Polish and Puritan, with student loan awaiting me. I guess it’s the best investment I could ever have: my time and the US government money. It has been a good return for Senator Rubio whose $100,000 in student loan was paid off a few years back (per wikipedia).

Education does open doors , more so than immigration.

For international students, a Harvard degree is the most coveted trophy to bring home where many options awaiting.

Returning (international) students got first-world education while working in first-world wannabe countries. Some found their re-entry a bit frustrating. Others enjoyed it despite the many issues that might raise Amnesty International or Wildlife Fund flags (I wonder sometimes how much money have gone into preserving rare species, as opposed to protecting common people).

These Fulbright talent are coming back in drove, to found companies and formulas for success. I hope similar trends happen for Cuban young who, not by faults of their own, have stuck in a time warp. They will find their ways to Little Havana in Miami, same way our young to Little Saigon in Westminster, an All-American bedroom community. Out of those schools come scientists, dentists, artists and publicists. Most had to borrow from student loan, like myself (and I paid it off), to buy some time.

Burden not your young with fiscal missteps. Instead, plant in them the seeds of greatness, from Lincoln on down ( to our next President). Ask not what they can do for you. They will figure it out all by themselves. BTW, I finally got to Penn State. By then, Band On The Run was not played down the hall. It’s Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run”. A lot of “running” back then, all started with Peter Fonda who was “Born To Be Wild”. I guessed I had missed that era on this side of the war. Back then, we saw a lot of V signs, not H as now.

This generation might learn about Moses, as portrayed by Christian Slater. But previous one, Charlton Heston. “Let my people go”, or else. The blood of the Lamb at the door post (later on, the same Jewish race got hunted down by the Nazis as if history got no other script). It’s Easter. And America 2050 is projected as grayer, more Hispanic and less Christian. As far as cultural history goes, that which made us great will endure in flying colors i.e. equality and justice for ALL. This “ALL” is ever increased due to immigration and organic growth. President Carter was instrumental in Immigration Reform back in his days. (with not much Republican opposition in Post-Watergate Era). Back then, the nation was in a crisis mode. A crisis of confidence. So our President sat in front of a fire-place, looking like Mr Rogers, to save on electricity. Now we got water ration in California. People don’t believe until it’s in their faces. Irrational exuberance. Keep spending (on SUV’s). Keep charging. Let tomorrow worry for itself. The poor will always be with us. Eat, drink and be merry. The same script (Bible) got ripped apart. Those who want to see miracles will see them. Those who want to see ghosts notice them on every tree. But only those who step foot into the cold stream will experience “water parting” miracle. Director Ridley Scott treats this scene skillfully: he uses the sword (which gets thrown and landed at the bottom of the river) as water marker ( before and after miracle). Let my people go, or else. With absolute power comes absolute corruption. Those who are in  power should have learned those lessons long time ago. Or else. This past month, Singapore mourned the passing of its founder-leader. Some resented his heavy-handedness. Others envied. Meanwhile, America (and Europe) get grayer and less Christian. Still it’s Easter. Let’s hope for miracle, and while at it, more waters in California.

Google has just made an offer to pay its new CFO 70 Million USD, thus making Silicon Valley the new “Wall Street” – albeit with relaxed rules on dress code and corporate behavior.

Speaking of corporate mis-behavior, an extreme case came to mind, that of Fox and Fidelity. In the early 90’s Fox ex-President Stephen Chao almost drowned Rupert Murdoch’s dog at a corporate pool party (besides ordering in a stripper – male one). Then, a decade later, Fidelity settled a law suit concerning a Miami yacht party – strippers and dwarf-tossing – all client’s write-offs. Most recent, a bunch of federal agents themselves were prosecuted for taking bribes (pre-paid prostitutes) down in Colombia.

When it comes to “play” in a “work” environment, oil and water don’t mix.

Corporate recruiters are tasked with “best bang for the buck” i.e. graduates who wanted to pursue “plastics” as the next big thing (after The Graduate). Their GPA’s might reflect their academic ambition – but not their ethical conduct on the weekend – these days, at Penn State, the news was about “don’t go upstairs” at a frat party.

After some initial career successes, these frats-and-grads – now mid-managers, could do no wrong ( the Wolf of Wall Street adrenaline).

Until…..disaster struck.

No colleges or corporate can predict or prevent these missteps. After all, it’s not their role to equip these youngsters with social intelligence i.e. how to behave off-hours (while parents had thought they could just outsource it to colleges).

Mid managers are on auto-pilot (some on steroid) when it comes to behaving at corporate parties: hold their drinks and smile a lot. Old-boy network under alcohol reflexes, like at the golf course and hunting ranch, kick in ( no tie, but still looking dressed-casual, whatever that means). A form of “promoted beyond their level of competency” that Peter Drucker was referring to.

Publicly traded companies like Fidelity Investments finally learned to pay special attention to their public image . After all, investors might include Sovereign funds in the Middle East (no drinks) or the Far East ( no beef).

Imagine you can’t spit in Singapore, but you are encouraged to turn on your Bachelor Party switch at corporate events.

Back to Rupert Murdoch firing of Fox President (reminds me of Sixteen Candles – “what automobile?” the scene where toilet papers wrapped around upscale neighborhood trees).

Conduct unbecoming is certainly punishable. But as a society, we need to deal with this social-skills gap, from high school to frat house. Why wait to settle million-dollar law suits and suffer brand reputation for years just because today’s corporate officers don’t know how to socialize (always on-stage, especially in the age of social media and selfie). For more, consult “Welcome to New York”.

Silicon Valley, by design or default, advocates fun-filled workplace to foster creativity and attract talent (Like our Idea Man, Paul Allen, whose post-success life involved a yacht with a music studio worthy of the Rolling Stones). Paying Ruth Porat $70 Million to keep Google “Do no Evil” might be a good investment. Those amounts could easily be wasted on arbitrage for excluding female participation at corporate outings (strip clubs).

No wonder IT companies just focus on efficiency and outsourcing where possible e.g. Amazon’s “two pizzas” teams. It keeps the machine humming, corporate proper and predictable. Human, as it seems, is an asset corporate can and can’t do without. The irony of all this was when Stephen Chao went from being a president of Fox to flipping burgers at McDonald’s: a move that still kept him corporate-confined but demanded few human initiatives: no stripping, just flipping.