Fort Hood and Chilean Miners: Dark and Light
On the same day that there was riveting, excruciating testimony at the hearing in Texas on the Fort Hood massacre, a miracle was occurring in Chile. On November 4, 2009, at the safest military facility in the U.S., an army psychiatrist went on a shooting rampage, killing 13 and wounding 30. His trial is underway, and eye witnesses are giving wrenching accounts of what happened at his hands. On August 5, 2010, a mine in San Jose, Chile, collapsed, trapping 33 miners. Based on other mining disasters, a lot of people expressed hope, but few expected all — all — of the miners to be rescued.
I’ve written quite a bit about Fort Hood but very little about the Chilean miners. The first represents the worst day for any employer. The second represents the best. It isn’t really a miracle. It’s an example of leadership, expertise, hard work, good management, and cooperation focused on a large scale task. I’m not ruling out luck or the divine, but it mainly shows the best of people — employees of all kinds — and what happens when they place the accomplishment of a goal above ego and self-recognition.
I’m sure that deeper thinkers can make more out of this than I, but it seems pretty simple to me. The jobs of all those involved in the Chilean situation centered on rescuing the miners. It doesn’t seem that they cared about who received credit, how much they were paid, who was the boss, whether they were involved in designing the rescue capsule, or what workers were assigned to stay at the mine site and attend to the trapped miners’ basic needs. It’s the closest thing to perfect teamwork witnessed in a long time.
Today, we return to the real world, a world that will probably be more dark than light but doesn’t have to be. We do have the power to replicate the so-called Chilean miracle. Think about it. Lead it. Do it. “Chi, Chi, Chi, le, le, le . . . . Miners of Chile!”
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About Chris Parker
Chris Parker's practice focuses on the representation and counseling of companies in matters pertaining to the workplace and the protection of their intellectual property and trade secrets. In addition to serving as an advocate for clients, Mr. Parker is also trained as a mediator and frequently serves as a third-party neutral.
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About Jimmy Daniel
Jimmy Daniel provides counseling to businesses of all sizes related to the employment relationship. He assists in the drafting of employment agreements, policies, and handbooks, as well as provides guidance related to compliance with federal, state, and local legislation such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
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About Larry Bridgesmith
While serving in an Of Counsel relationship with the firm, Mr. Bridgesmith also serves as the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Resolution at Lipscomb University and as an officer and principal in Strategic Resolutions Group, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Bridgesmith brings over 30 years of legal experience in dispute resolution and innovative workplace strategies to clients, students and business entities alike.
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Chi, Chi, Chi, le, le, le . . . . Miners of Chile!
Thought you might like it. Thanks for your push to make me finish the one I’d been thinking about.