Apology

If you are just realizing that some of my views are antithetical to yours, that is on me for not being clearer. I apologize. I have always respected your views and tried t stay on point with the message and to find areas of agreement. That may have caused me to be silent on matters that matter.

If I have been silent on some things in the past because of a position held in the community in the past, it may have been out of respect to the opinions of others or out of a sensitivity to not misrepresenting my organization by suggesting that my views were the views of all. Now that I do not represent anyone, my opinions are entirely my own.

My views have been pretty consistent through the years and have developed through much thought and prayer. That does not mean that other thinking and praying people, like you, have not come to other conclusions.

I am not claiming infallible divine inspiration for my opinions.

At any rate, our friendship is not based on total agreement. That's the way it should be. We all need to work together.

For Crying Out Loud, Lead! by Tom Sims

Our Nation Is in Crisis

Wednesday in America

For Crying Out Loud, Lead!

Our Nation Is in Crisis

Tom Sims

Jun 10, 2025

In crisis, leaders must lead, including thought leaders and influencers. So must I. At least, I must try.

What Do You Do When You Must Address the Crisis? What If You Are a Steward of Influence?

It is seldom in your best interest to climb out on a limb when the ground is shaking and someone is sawing on the tree.

To leave one's place of safety in a crisis is frightening. At the least, it may be bad for business.

But, what if you have a following, no matter how strong or large? What if your following considers you, to some extent, an influencer? Isn't that what a leader is?

Isn't a leader a steward of influence?

A steward is entrusted with something and responsible to use it. Popularity and safety can never be the main concern for a leader. A leader must lead.

A thought leader must put thoughts out there and think out loud.

This article has a dual purpose.

The first is to trigger some thinking about how to think about some bad thinking from a leader who is thinking out loud and, in my view, thinking and acting wrongly.

The second is to encourage you, as leaders, to be courageous and to lead in thinking - even if you disagree with me.

If your are a leader, you must lead. You cannot take a poll ahead of time to find out if you will be supported. You must do what is right.

If your are a thinker, you must, not only think, but think out loud and speak out. The people listening to you are a gift and so is your platform. Use it wisely, boldly, and fearlessly.

If you are a thought leader, lead the thinking. Get out of the box.

If you are an influencer, then influence. You probably know what is right. Do it.

So, here is my argument and it is risky.:

There is a SEQUENCE and I am angry about it and want you to be angry too.

•Our President incited a real insurrection after losing an election over four years ago. There was violence and death. There was an attempt to overthrow the government. He encouraged it and, when it got out of hand and was violent, he refused to lift a finger to stop it. He would not engage the National Guard. He would not tell them to stop. He would not call it an insurrection.

He was elected again and we must accept that.

That is democracy. But he was not elected to be a king.

•He beat the rap on the insurrection - by running for President and winning. He pardoned all the insurrectionists. He fired anyone who might threaten him or hold him accountable. He intimidated the rest. If you have a similar view or a different view, be a steward of your influence.

Be a thought leader. Lead!

•He incited riots in L.A. by staging an event in such a way as to trigger anger and resistance. The response has been mostly peaceful protests. Yes, there has been some rioting. But the commando tactics to enforce immigration violations were calculated to escalate violence

This was intentional as I see it. It was designed to give the POTUS an excuse and a legal basis for overreacting, for invoking emergency power, for squashing dissent, and challenging the sovereign governor of a sovereign state.

He is testing the Constitution for weak places to penetrate.

It is dangerous.

Real thought leaders, if they see this and perceive it this way, must risk their influence, popularity, and livelihoods to call it out!

•He called what is happening in L.A.. an insurrection. That is what the President essentially did. He did not do so when his followers stormed the U.S. Capital, destroyed property, threatened lives, and even killed a police officer. In those days he was declaring he had no power or authority to coop the National Guard.

•He bypassed the Governor in accessing the California National Guard while threatening to jail the Governor. He has gone to war with the State of California and with every other state in the process. Where are the states rights conservatives? Why are they not screaming?

Where are all the other Governors of both parties?

Where are the Republicans who are true to their roots, convictions, and heritage? Where? Where are the voices of truth?

Why are conservatives not angry that they have no real voice because Trump has taken over the Grand Old Party?

Why are Democrats not screaming louder?

This is crisis!

There are so many other manifestations of power-grabbing, attempts to silence dissent and the press, moves to control social media, the arts, and every area of American life and it has been less than six months.

So, for that dubious success, I congratulate you, Mr. Trump.

I have no intention of turning this newsletter into a political diatribe. I honor the full spectrum of political and economic views and philosophies.

However, leaders must lead, thinkers must think, and influencers must influence.

I know I am a very small fish in a big pond, but I must do my part and so must you.

We need conservatives, liberals, and moderates in this country.

A plane cannot fly with one wing.

But President Trump is neither conservative, liberal, nor moderate. His category is different and it is time he is reigned in.