Extreme Ownership Leads to Honor

What happens when multiple people are to blame, but you, the leader take ownership for failure?

Respect National Customs

General Charles Napier was the British commander-in-chief of colonial India. Hindu priests came to Napier to repeat their objection to the British prohibition of "sati," the practice of widows throwing themselves onto their husbands' funeral pyres (sometimes pushed). The Hindu priests stated that the British had no appreciation for the venerable customs of India.

Napier replied:

"Be it so. The burning of widows is your custom; prepare the funeral pile. But my nation has also a custom. When men burn women alive we hang them, and confiscate all their property. My carpenters shall therefore erect gibbets on which to hang all concerned when the widow is consumed. Let us all act according to national customs."

While our soldiers are ordered to stand down while men rape little boys in Afghanistan and look away when horrible, cultural customs are practiced, let's acknowledge the truth: Multiculturalism, the idea that all cultures are equally good, is a LIE! But nevertheless, if it is so, then why should we stand down? Let us practice our culture, if it is equally good, alongside the cultures with which we must interact.

As the America soldier said, Back where I come from, we beat the snot out of men who rape little boys.