Middle Eastern religious views and laws pertain only to those who are of their faith, not outsiders. This is why they don't have a problem when dealing with "western" women. Of course every "group" or has radicals and extremists, but they're usually not in charge of corporations.
Are you aware that "Western" women have to cover themself when visiting Saudi Arabia?
Don't get too distracted Mr. Cook. The world is interested in Apple's amazing products and investors are looking for dividends. I'm glad that you are happy to be gay. Now get back to work.
Actually Steve was a social liberal but pro-business and supported Obama with reservations. Why should Cook have to hide in the closet or make his sexual orientation a secret to avoid offending religious homophobes and bigots?
He also did so quietly. He didn't hold a press conference or publish stories about support. And if you look at his political donations, they were all small, and none happened past 2004. He also donated to a Republican at one point.
Uhhh, no. Remember that he grew up in rural Alabama, not the Castro district. My mother's family is from rural Alabama and we're African-American. Some of the stories Tim Cook has told about watching cross burnings and other acts of violence against blacks hit home to me since this was what my mother and her parents faced daily. As a young gay person growing up there, being open about his sexuality in the 1970's probably would have opened himself up to all kinds of discrimination and possible physical violence. Growing up in this environment is not easy. The fact that he negotiated all of that crap to still get to the top of his profession is indeed, remarkable.
Why didn't he come out 10-15 years ago? Why now when it's about the safest time ever to come out? Most people will see this in their news feed and yawn as everybody is coming out these days. It's not a big deal anymore and most people don't care as evidenced by how many states now support gay marriage.
Yep. He's becoming a bit of a distraction lately, Steve was bigger than Apple because of all the tech stuff he'd done. If he spoke out, it was on a technical issue like Flash or DRM. Tim seems to see Apple as some sort of political engine.
If he's a gay man running the world's most valuable publicly held company, he's obligated to take a stand and speak his mind on an issue that not only affects him but millions of others. Especially if we're talking about human rights of equality. Why? It dismisses misconceptions of what it means to be "gay" and breaks down barriers for others.
And I would hardly call it a "distraction". He's not on tour promoting himself. His public speeches are during moments when he's being honored for his achievements - not for being gay, but for being an accomplished person.
Who cares. Everyone knew he was gay and nobody cared. Tim's sexuality has nothing to do with being CEO of Apple. Coming out is just more of a distraction than anything else.
I found these the most powerful sentences in his essay: "So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy."
This is why I care. This is why Tim Cook coming out is important. It's because of people like him that making coming out in America easier everyday.
If he's a gay man running the world's most valuable publicly held company, he's obligated to take a stand and speak his mind on an issue that not only affects him but millions of others. Especially if we're talking about human rights of equality. Why? It dismisses misconceptions of what it means to be "gay" and breaks down barriers for others.
And I would hardly call it a "distraction". He's not on tour promoting himself. His public speeches are during moments when he's being honored for his achievements - not for being gay, but for being an accomplished person.
Why should he be "obligated"? His obligation is primarily to act in the best interests of Apple. I'm personally indifferent to this bit of non-news, but it just takes the focus away from the company more and more.
We certainly have a lot of arm chair critics in this thread today. Apple is at all time highs, has the best selling phone in the world, coming out with a new watch next year and some of you are telling Tim Cook what he should and shouldn't say? Saying what he should be focused on when you have no idea what his day to day operations are like?
Him coming out will have absolutely not effect on Apple's sales in the Middle East or anywhere religious. Good for him for publicly saying it and I have no doubt there are some gay people out there who are excited to know one of their own runs and operates the world's biggest and most profitable companies.
It's not about "Who cares if he's gay?" The fact is that being gay can get you fired in many places and he wants people to know that it's not ok. I am NOT ok with discrimination based on sexual orientation.
If he's a gay man running the world's most valuable publicly held company, he's obligated to take a stand and speak his mind on an issue that not only affects him but millions of others. Especially if we're talking about human rights of equality. Why? It dismisses misconceptions of what it means to be "gay" and breaks down barriers for others.
And I would hardly call it a "distraction". He's not on tour promoting himself. His public speeches are during moments when he's being honored for his achievements - not for being gay, but for being an accomplished person.
Not when it could potentially affect shareholders. And we're speaking of 'equality', but if, say, Mary Barra came out and said she didn't support the concept of gay marriage, she'd be just evicerated in the media and forced to resign.
Heck, even if you don't make any public statements you'll still be eviscerated, like Brenden Eich, who merely gave $1000 to a cause that a solid majority of Californians supported.
Oh please, it's 2014. Every other day someone is coming out. It's not a big deal anymore. But still it's Apple so it will be a distraction and he can kiss is privacy goodbye,
I really don't know how to respond to this ...
Here's a try:
Apparently it is a big deal to many here, on other tech forums, and the news networks!
I think that being open about being gay will offend some ... but that's just minor, necessary bump in the road.
In the long run it will help others -- I believe that is his reason for doing it.
For Apple, he has turned a potential distraction into a non-issue. That's exactly the way we should expect a competent CEO to perform.
Apparently it is a big deal to many here, on other tech forums, and the news networks!
I think that being open about being gay will offend some ... but that's just minor, necessary bump in the road.
In the long run it will help others -- I believe that is his reason for doing it.
For Apple, he has turned a potential distraction into a non-issue. That's exactly the way we should expect a competent CEO to perform.
No one was focused on his personal feelings. There had been what, one story in the past few years? He's created a distraction that will linger now. And I expect more in the future now that he feels free to continue speaking out.
For me it's all about the distraction. Tim needs more laser focus on products and less on social/political issues. Everyone knew he was gay and no one cared so why create the distraction, especially if you value your privacy?
It's nothing to do with a distraction.
It's nothing to do with Apple.
Did you even read what he said? This is him trying to give back, and make change. He understands he has the influence politically and socially to make a change. And he has been silent for his own self interest - his privacy. And he looks back to Dr King and how he made sacrifice for equality, and he wants to do the same.
Seriously, it's not hard to understand from the article.
Comments
Are you aware that "Western" women have to cover themself when visiting Saudi Arabia?
https://www.gov.uk/living-in-saudi-arabia#dress-code-in-saudi-arabia
Don't get too distracted Mr. Cook. The world is interested in Apple's amazing products and investors are looking for dividends. I'm glad that you are happy to be gay. Now get back to work.
He also did so quietly. He didn't hold a press conference or publish stories about support. And if you look at his political donations, they were all small, and none happened past 2004. He also donated to a Republican at one point.
Next week in Korea Times, "I'm gay too" - Samsung
Yep. He's becoming a bit of a distraction lately, Steve was bigger than Apple because of all the tech stuff he'd done. If he spoke out, it was on a technical issue like Flash or DRM. Tim seems to see Apple as some sort of political engine.
If he's a gay man running the world's most valuable publicly held company, he's obligated to take a stand and speak his mind on an issue that not only affects him but millions of others. Especially if we're talking about human rights of equality. Why? It dismisses misconceptions of what it means to be "gay" and breaks down barriers for others.
And I would hardly call it a "distraction". He's not on tour promoting himself. His public speeches are during moments when he's being honored for his achievements - not for being gay, but for being an accomplished person.
Who cares. Everyone knew he was gay and nobody cared. Tim's sexuality has nothing to do with being CEO of Apple. Coming out is just more of a distraction than anything else.
I found these the most powerful sentences in his essay: "So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy."
This is why I care. This is why Tim Cook coming out is important. It's because of people like him that making coming out in America easier everyday.
Why should he be "obligated"? His obligation is primarily to act in the best interests of Apple. I'm personally indifferent to this bit of non-news, but it just takes the focus away from the company more and more.
We certainly have a lot of arm chair critics in this thread today. Apple is at all time highs, has the best selling phone in the world, coming out with a new watch next year and some of you are telling Tim Cook what he should and shouldn't say? Saying what he should be focused on when you have no idea what his day to day operations are like?
Him coming out will have absolutely not effect on Apple's sales in the Middle East or anywhere religious. Good for him for publicly saying it and I have no doubt there are some gay people out there who are excited to know one of their own runs and operates the world's biggest and most profitable companies.
Not when it could potentially affect shareholders. And we're speaking of 'equality', but if, say, Mary Barra came out and said she didn't support the concept of gay marriage, she'd be just evicerated in the media and forced to resign.
Heck, even if you don't make any public statements you'll still be eviscerated, like Brenden Eich, who merely gave $1000 to a cause that a solid majority of Californians supported.
I really don't know how to respond to this ...
Here's a try:
Apparently it is a big deal to many here, on other tech forums, and the news networks!
I think that being open about being gay will offend some ... but that's just minor, necessary bump in the road.
In the long run it will help others -- I believe that is his reason for doing it.
For Apple, he has turned a potential distraction into a non-issue. That's exactly the way we should expect a competent CEO to perform.
Exactly.
In other words you wanna be TC's beech? Is that what you're sayin?
No one was focused on his personal feelings. There had been what, one story in the past few years? He's created a distraction that will linger now. And I expect more in the future now that he feels free to continue speaking out.
For me it's all about the distraction. Tim needs more laser focus on products and less on social/political issues. Everyone knew he was gay and no one cared so why create the distraction, especially if you value your privacy?
It's nothing to do with a distraction.
It's nothing to do with Apple.
Did you even read what he said? This is him trying to give back, and make change. He understands he has the influence politically and socially to make a change. And he has been silent for his own self interest - his privacy. And he looks back to Dr King and how he made sacrifice for equality, and he wants to do the same.
Seriously, it's not hard to understand from the article.
It wasn't a distraction before.