A once respected Army general was denied a promotion because he allegedly called a female congressional staffer “sweetheart” during an October 2016 meeting. The flippant comment cost him his career.
Look, I’m all for treating people with respect. A seasoned military commander should never lord himself over a less experienced staffer. Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves, however, was not guilty of that. Calling someone “sweetheart” is a minor comment that should be glossed over as such.
Equality doesn’t mean special treatment. Ruining a man’s career because he made a dismissive comment that you don’t like is an unreasonable thing to do.
However, it’s the era of the coddled Millennial. Everyone’s feelings must be catered to at all times.
“So far,” writes Stars and Stripes, “the Army declined to detail what the future holds for Gonsalves, who led the 4th Infantry Division until August but is now serving as a special assistant to the commanding general, III Corps at Fort Hood.”
Gonsalves’ career will never recover.
During the heated meeting, the angry female staffer passed a colleague a note reading
“Did this guy really just call me sweetheart?”
If Gonsalves treated her too lightly, she should have stuck up for herself right then, not complain to his boss weeks later.
According to Stars and Stripes: “The IG report cites another allegation that Gonsalves asked the staffer her age. When she responded, Gonsalves spoke about his time as a young Army officer serving along the Fulda Gap during the Cold War. Gonsalves is then accused of telling the staffer to take notes so her ‘Democratic boss’ would understand the military’s needs.”
Gonsalves testified that he didn’t remember saying “sweetheart.”
(Source: Stars and Stripes)