After a tragedy like the one in Brussels, you can rely on people to do some awesome things — like opening up their homes to strangers, or giving rides to those in need.
Ann Glorieus, (right) who offered rides to survivors of the explosions in Brussels. Photo by Ann Glorieus, used with permission.
Unfortunately, some people also took the opportunity to say rather rude things in the wake of the attack.
Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images
Like GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz, who said this:
"We will do what we can to help them fight this scourge, and redouble our efforts to make sure it does not happen here. We need to immediately halt the flow of refugees from countries with a significant al Qaida or ISIS presence. We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized." (emphasis mine)
Needless to say, Ted's proposal to patrol Muslim neighborhoods in the U.S. would be about as effective at stopping terrorism as swinging a broom in the general direction of the Middle East.
In fact, even the commissioner for the NYPD said that Ted's plan won't work and didn't work when New York police tried something similar after 9/11.
Besides, what does Cruz think Muslim neighborhoods look like, anyway?
Luckily, Twitter users were on hand to show Cruz just how not-scary Muslim neighborhoods are, using the hashtag #MuslimNeighborhood:
So, Ted, pay attention. Next time you're in a Muslim neighborhood, you might see someone planting trees.
Or just hanging out and goofing around.
Or playing outside with this awesome puppy.
Or purchasing a delicious snack at The Nut House.
If you're hungrier than that, you can always try some of this totally drool-worthy food.
You might see this woman on a walk with her son.
Or these girls who want you to remember that not all Muslims look the same.
In fact, you might not even know you're in a Muslim neighborhood.
But, Senator Cruz, if you ever do find yourself in a Muslim neighborhood, never forget — the only thing they do that should scare you, in particular, is ... vote.
Something tells me their informed decisions don't involve voting for candidates who stereotype and discriminate against their entire religion based on the actions of a radical extremist group.
Besides, Mr. Cruz, patrolling "Muslim neighborhoods" wouldn't do anything besides further ostracize and marginalize millions of American citizens.
The Muslim community has already had a pretty terrible election cycle. The rise in Islamophobia and violence against Muslims and the hateful rhetoric being spouted by those who presumably want their votes is neither encouraging nor welcoming.
But of course, Muslim neighborhoods aren't hotbeds of radicalization or terrorist training grounds. They're our neighborhoods. They're our streets, our schools, our homes.
We should be proud of the diversity in our country, and we should expect a leader to embrace it. Not label it and cast it aside with hateful suspicion.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.