O.k…I have a question. Since when…did “Ass Kissing” become such a normal & pervasive way of interacting in the workplace??? I’m COMPLETELY serious. Now, don’t misunderstand…I’m sure it has existed almost since the beginning of time. Really. I know in my heart…there has always been “Ass Kissers” just around the corner… meditating on the next ass they were planning to kiss…to get ahead. And, in the process… “pissing off” straight-up kind of folk who try to succeed simply by working hard. Novel idea…huh??? To advance…in the workplace… by working hard. Doing the damn job…& doing it well.
Mmmhhh. I must tell you the truth and shame the devil. I have always…ALWAYS…hated working with people who tried to advance themselves on the job by brown nosing & kissing up to the people they saw as in charge. It has always disgusted me. Now, this is how it would normally break out. Let’s call the “Ass Kisser”…Tom. In advance, I apologize to all the “Toms” in the world who have never been “Ass Kissers” but…I need a name to use & Tom is as good as any. O.k. Anyway…
Now…when Tom is working with the crew (the non-supervisory people), he pretends to be as disgruntled as the next person… in terms of the bullshit going down in the work place. However, when “Tom” gets alone with the employer…it’s a WHOLE different story. Oh Yeah. You know what I’m talking about. Tom’s lips are spread so far across that person’s ass you would think his lips are super glued to it. No joke. In these meetings & interactions…what does Tom do? Tom’s two-faced ass goes along with everything the supervisor says & does. Why? So, Tom…can try to advance his position on the job. What makes it so bad is this…Tom, in his heart, might not agree with even 10% of what that supervisor is putting down. But, again, he goes along…to get along. O.k.
I was in a meeting… just last night. There was a woman in the meeting who started talking about how she got shut down on a job because she complained about some things that just weren’t right. Now…her response to being shut down was this & I quote, “I guess I won’t do that again. I have learned that I need to keep my mouth shut & just go along with the program.” I just stared at her…thinking to myself…”Why would you do that? Why would you stop…speaking the truth…regardless? Why do you think the solution is that you need to just shut-up… even though you raised legitimate problems with an employer?” DAMN…where is the HEART to stand-up for what is right?
God knows…I’ve lost or quit many jobs because my spirit will not allow me to be quiet when shit ain’t right. I’m telling you the God in Heaven’s truth. I have went to many employers/supervisors & complained about there mistreatment of others. Oh yeah. These bastards had the audacity to look me square in my face & say stuff like this, “Well Iris, we don’t understand what your fussing about because we love you. Why are you so angry with us?” I looked at them…I was ALL FROWNED UP & I said, “How can you love anybody if you treat others so foul.” They didn’t get it. They…just…didn’t… get it.
You know what? There was a time when principles really meant something. Meaning? Meaning…You stood for something that counts for something. Meaning…You challenged insanity…to the death. WHAT IN THE HELL HAS HAPPENED??? Where did it get lost? And…Why??? Why have we become oh…so…powerless, where we feel oh…so…helpless? When did we let it all slip…down down… down…???
And…More importantly…How do we get back the self-respect that has been just handed away? I know you know what I’m talking about. O.k. We know that in a capitalistic society…it takes money to make the world go around. And…around it goes… We have to work to make ends meet. I get all of that. I really do. However, we do not…& I repeat…we do not have to sell our souls to the devil to survive. HELL NO! So…I don’t buy that trifling ass excuse given to justify….going along…to get along. Jesus says & I quote, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (MATTHEW 16:26)
And….I’ll tell you another thing. For the record…I’m going down with my boots on…fighting for what is right…come hell or high water. I don’t give a damn about trying to please man about anything. Let alone…trying to kiss up to some employer to keep a job. My real job is… as God’s Ambassador. And… that job requires me to please him… & him alone. We must stand up, as the people of God, for what his will dictates…not our own. If we would remember this…it will be easier to stand your ground & fight for what is right…even if your job is on the line. Know… it is ultimately God who really takes care of you…not some no good employer who treats people like shit.
Iris Whiting ©