Rumor Has It

Rumors. We all have been victims of them and we all have helped spread them at one time or another. Spreading unverified information about others can harm their reputations and hurt them psychologically and emotionally. It's like the game of telephone when we were kids. Telling one person a "harmless" tidbit of information leads to more and more people hearing it and the information getting further and further from the truth. It’s an endless cycle that branches out exponentially and is nearly impossible to remedy.

I used to work for Grover Norquist at Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). His wife is one of the genuinely nicest people I have ever met, and she happens to be Muslim. Because of September 11^th and the discrimination against Muslims in this country, Grover’s political opponents use this fact to start rumors about him and get under his skin. Just today, the infamous Glenn Beck said on his radio show that Grover is, “Responsible for a lot of the Muslim Brotherhood stuff that goes on in the White House.” A guest on the show today said he has seen terrorists in Grover’s office space. All of this is false. In the year I was with ATR and in the office daily, I was never given any reason to suspect ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and certainly did not see any “terrorists” in the office.

Even people who are famous and have everything going for them feel the need to spread false information about others. I don’t know if it is to make them feel better about themselves or simply to be hateful, but there is no excuse for it. No matter what you think of Grover Norquist’s political views, spreading lies about sensitive issues is just plain wrong. Shame on you Glenn Beck, for creating a new cycle of rumors, but most of all for damaging Grover’s reputation as well as your own.

The Spirit of Enterprise

The phrase, "The Spirit of Enterprise," in addition to being the title of one of our MSBA curriculum classes this semester, borders the logo of the United States Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has truly captured this spirit on the journey to becoming America's most respected and influential business organizations.

As a researcher for the Emerging Issues division of the U.S. Chamber Foundation, I do not work with the political side of the organization. The Chamber is known for its lobbying activities to support the interests of its members, generally leaning more conservative, but the Foundation is simply a research and educational organization to inform Americans on economic and public affairs. I specifically research issues that will shape the future of free enterprise and entrepreneurship five to ten years from now. While the research itself may be a bit dull at times, it is exciting to think that I am uncovering issues that most people do not even know exist yet. I help plan, manage, and execute events held by the U.S. Chamber Foundation as well as contribute to, compile, and edit the Business Horizon Quarterly, a publication put out by the Emerging Issues program every couple of months.

The opportunity to be a part of an organization that is at the forefront of American business and the entrepreneurial spirit is undoubtedly an honor. I learn a great deal every day from my coworkers and and it is so cool to read newspaper articles and watch television interviews of people who I work with and who are a part of the same organization as me on a daily basis. The Chamber never ceases to provide a voice for those businesses who otherwise would not be heard.

My Story

Most kids do not spend their mornings before school shoveling manure and feeding animals, but I did. I got my first horse, Justin, when I was in the seventh grade. I was a busy kid, playing lacrosse, dancing, and playing the piano, all while maintaining impeccable grades. I now had to find time in my busy schedule to care for my horse and feed him both before school and after my extracurricular activities. My weekends were spent cleaning the barn, going for horseback rides, and brushing Justin until his coat shone. 

Doing all this never felt like a chore to me; I enjoyed the responsibility of caring for another living creature. My family liked seeing Justin from a distance, but he was my responsibility, and I could not depend on anyone else to pick up the slack if I wanted a break from my duties. Having a horse taught me to work hard, to be reliable, and most importantly to teach myself these things. Last year I was able to balance being a dance team member, interning  five days a week, and taking 15 college credits, all because of the self-discipline I possess. 

Owning a horse is the reason why I have a bright future ahead and am able to handle the workload and stress of being in this program. As the old Irish proverb says, "There is no luck except where there is discipline." We get where we are in life by pushing ourselves to work hard.