A Heartbreaking Time for Our Country
I’m sharing a note that I wrote to my Bridgewater colleagues about the tragic events that we’ve all witnessed in recent days. These are difficult times and it’s clear that we as a country have a lot of work to do.
Bridgewater,
I have had discussions with many of you about the horrible incidents of racial bigotry that we’ve seen in America in recent days followed by outcries for justice, and rioting and destruction on city streets across the country.
These events remind us of what is deeply troubling in our country, and I know we all seek to find ways to help heal this very deep wound. My hope is that our hurt and outrage will move us, individually and collectively, to be agents of change within Bridgewater and in our broader community. Racism and discrimination more broadly thrive not just in overt actions, but also in omissions and willful ignorance. Benefiting from a system that quietly discriminates – without acknowledging it and helping to repair it – only propagates that system.
And while we stand in solidarity against any forms of racism, hate, and bigotry, I also recognize that I and others cannot and should not pretend to fully understand the challenges and barriers, both historical and present day, that many of our colleagues face from different races, backgrounds, genders, and experiences. With empathy and genuine conviction, we can and must show this solidarity by denouncing and eradicating structural bigotry around us. Doing so is in keeping with Bridgewater’s values. It’s also aligned with our belief that diversity isn’t just a nice thing to aspire to, it’s an essential condition of our quest for excellence and our idea of true meritocracy.
I’m hopeful that justice will prevail in Minneapolis and elsewhere, but let’s not focus our anger or our sense of justice only on one particular incident or on our deep and painful mourning for one individual. This problem is very big, and this is a moment for us to ask ourselves some very hard and uncomfortable questions about the kind of country we want to be. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions.” There are no easy solutions to the challenges we face today, but a willingness and commitment to do the hard work openly and honestly is the critical first step.
We clearly have much work to do as a nation, and so this is an opportunity to renew our resolve to do so. Together. Meanwhile, I hope that by supporting each other, we can find a way through this difficult time.
Dave
Dorothy Pate Enright Professor and Associate Head for Graduate Education, Materials Science and Engineering | National Academy of Engineering | National Academy of Inventors | Editor-in-Chief, J Am Ceram Soc
2yDavid McCormick, you write "Racism and discrimination more broadly thrive not just in overt actions, but also in omissions and willful ignorance." Why are you running overtly racist, anti-Chinese commercials on television, claiming "We all know that China created the virus" and stirring up anti-Asian hate? This is blatantly racist, in addition to spreading misinformation. Your hypocrisy is shameful. I would have expected better from someone who wrote the letter above.
Partner at Flying V Group and Fahrion Group Investments | Strategic Investor | Revenue Growth Expert
3yYou put it quite excellently David McCormick and I have realised something that helps; basically I have learned that people are thick skinned and always feel threatened when condor-onted with their bias or prejudicial behaviours. They go into defense mode and will likely not listen to a thing. Hence, perhaps we can find a way to communicate to people with these tendencies in a way that doesn't leave them feeling condemned, but enabling them to see the pain they are inflicting, like you've pointed out. Do you think this may be valuable?
verizon
4yWe can continue to plug holes in a collapsing dam; but things will never change until we muster the courage to have an honest conversation of all the underlying problems that contribute to the perceived societal maladies.
Chief Executive Officer at Edgy | Fundraising for European Tech Champions at Seed & Series A/B. 🇪🇺🏢💪
4yIt's amazing how 2 pre-warnings of uncle Ray & Bridgewater in general from last year-an economic crisis & inequality that might lead to a revolution- have arrived now, obviously in different shapes & forms than anyone of us could've ever imagined- but in the direction of those events taking place you guys were 100% right. There is a lot more anger out in the streets than just for the death of George Floyd.
Private Equity Operating Partner, Board Member, HR & Talent Executive
4yDave, thanks for sharing. Its been a long time since Pittsburgh!