The U.S. Navy and more recently the main stream media are all abuzz about the (former) female Captain of the US Navy Ticonderoga Class guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens. In January the Navy Times reported that she was relieved of command for “cruelty and maltreatment” of her crew. (see previous post Female Naval Captain Relieved of Command for Cruelty) The issue of racing her Ticonderoga Class guided missile cruiser against the USS John McCain has also been raised. (see photo — the McCain is the lead ship)
On Rush Limbaugh’s website (as well as others such as Stormbringer) Rush comments about Graf, specifically referring to an incident where Graf threw a wadded up piece of paper at one of her crew:
Oh, no! No, no, no. You gotta be kidding! That’s assault. Throwing up some wadded paper at another sailor? What are we becoming? What are we…? What is happening to us? Wadding up a piece of paper and throwing it at a sailor. Do you realize the permanent damage that could be done with that?
Concerning her foul language Rush also says,
What? A sailor using profane language. Nothing against sailors, and nothing against profane language. In the old days, the assumption would have been that the sailors were misbehaving. I mean, sometimes you have to speak with an authoritative way if people are misbehaving.
This is one time where Rush is missing it. Of course throwing a wad of paper in and of itself is not a problem. Of course other Captains use profanity. Also, racing her ship is not the issue. Reading excerpts and comments on the Navy Inspector General’s report on Holly Graf from the Admiralty and Maritime Law blog, it’s easy to see that no one action on the part of Holly Graf is the reason for her loss of command. It’s about the effectiveness of the crew. The Navy is responsible to ensure that each ship in our fleet performs at its best. That was never going to happen under the leadership of Holly Graf. The crew was on pins and needles. They were afraid to take action, paralyzed by their anticipation of public humiliation for any possible mistake.
Without a belief that their Captain was committed to them, there was no hope that the crew would rise to their potential. Graf had time to adapt to her situation (several years) but things were getting progressively worse. It was time for her to go.
On the other hand. Some, such as Time.com, have called her a female Captain Bligh. This is simply hyperbole. Graf was a poor fit for a position as a Captain of a ship in the U.S. Navy, not a Captain Bligh or Captain Queeg as some have called her.
Your Life:
There’s no doubt that Holly Graf’s existence is a brutal one at the moment. C.S. Lewis said that “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Perhaps God is rousing Holly Graf.
Most of us have a boss, a father, a mother, a husband, a teacher, or other person in our lives who may be blowing it. I encourage you to pray for that person. I’ve prayed for the Holly Grafs in my life and have seen God move. He moves in the life of the person I’m praying for but the main thing I notice is how God works in my life as a result of my prayer. I wind up being blessed because as I pray for that difficult person I’m changed for the better.
Pray and watch what God does in their life. Pray and watch what God does in your life. Praying for the Holly Grafs in your life will have an impact on that person, certainly, but perhaps more important will be the impact that praying has on you. Pray for him or her, then watch and see what the Lord will do.
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…
1 Timothy 2:1-3
For more information go to Anchor Watch, Applegate Christian Fellowship, and JonCourson.com
