The Greatest Debate: Chocolate vs. Vanilla

I have to admit I was a bit dumbfounded on my latest read in Travel + Leisure – the most popular ice cream flavor in Texas was Rainbow Sherbet.  I’m not buying it – sherbet is poser wannabe ice cream at best.  Nothing rings more Texan than Homemade Vanilla by Blue Bell.  Period – end of a nonexistent story!  BTW yesterday was National Ice Cream Day and I hope you were fortunate enough to indulge in pure perfection straight from Brenham, TX.

The sherbet debate has never really come up in my household –we like push-ups and pops and everything else frozen and sweet for sure. But when it is time for grown up conversations on ice cream, I am admittedly the only responsible one in the room. Any debate on ice cream that doesn’t recognize Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla as the standard by which all others should be judged is just misinformed (IMHO). Other congregants in my household tend to run wayward and sample just about anything and everything. Blue Bell connoisseurs have restraint; we know what the best tastes like.

And I know it’s a bit of a stretch but I’m actually going to weave in some ethics in this debate as well – who knew sweetened and flavored frozen milk fat could segue so well into our moral fiber (I’m actually taking a graduate course right now and tonight’s zoom call class was on ethics and leadership).  And somewhat comical I suppose, I was chatting with my wife a morning or two ago about how I had let my Texas Monthly subscription lapse; it’s a personal favorite but regardless I somehow have never let my Psychology Today subscription lapse which I’m less invested in hands down.  In one of its latest features, one author journals about The Science of Predicting Unethical and Toxic Work Behaviors.  I’m sharing the article here because it’s one all school leaders should make note of and read. As alluded to I’m back in school myself and while I’m ready to show off all my budget and operations knowledge, I recognize the constant challenges inherent on matters I still need to further understand.  I’m challenged by what we do, what we can do, and what we ultimately end up doing.  The underlying tenet for the article cited and any worth mentioning is the matter of ethics.  Are you an ethical leader?  And why is this a question still worth asking?

So if you happen to prefer chocolate ice cream or any other inferior flavor, I promise not to exclusively judge you on this poor choice alone.  There really is no debate as far as I’m concerned, and therein lies the problem.  I’m actually a fan of bubble gum ice cream and still tell my wife to get me the clown cone at Baskin Robbins (she won’t btw). 

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As two scientists hashed out the so-called Great Debate now over a century ago around the universe and our origins, I’m reminded their discourse did not produce an overall “winner,” but rather a deeper understanding of nature and the universe, and maybe more importantly our place within in it.  As topics become even more sensitive in this day and age, I hope teachers like my 1^st grade teacher wife will maybe consider buying me that clown cone but if not at least continuing to entertain the discussion.