Aug. 28, 2025

Harden the Targets: Faith, Fraud, and Fighting DEI

“We hardened airplanes after 9/11. If we won’t harden schools and churches after Minneapolis, we’re choosing symbolism over safety.” — Luis Martinez, guest host, The Next Steps Show

Guest host Luis Martinez, filling in for Peter Vazquez: Soft targets invite predators.

After Minneapolis, we say what others won’t: harden schools and churches now. We expose the double standard on mortgages (allegations re: Fed Gov. Lisa Cook), separate real Affirmative Action from DEI coercion, and call for righteous anger that restores justice—not theater. Faith, merit, duty. #NextStepsShow

Keep the conversation going: More episodes · Watch videos · Read commentary · Send a voice message. Live weekdays at noon Eastern on WYSL and WLEA.

Advertising and sponsorship opportunities.

Host (Luis Martinez, for Peter Vazquez):
Today’s show opens with 2 Timothy 4:2—preach the Word, correct, rebuke, and encourage. Our foundation is God, not groupthink. Four topics:

1) Preventable crime & soft targets
Air travel used to be a soft target—9/11 changed that because we hardened planes and processes. Schools, churches, and synagogues must do the same: single controlled entry, multiple exits, cameras, trained security (yes, sometimes armed). DHS has guidance; deterrence saves lives.

2) Mortgages & public trust
Mortgages are public record. Media reports and investigations have raised allegations that Fed Governor Lisa Cook benefited from misrepresentations on multiple properties while voting on the interest rates crushing ordinary borrowers. If true, that’s mortgage fraud and a double standard that erodes trust. Accountability should match the office.

3) DEI vs. Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action (as historically enforced through OFCCP) was a remedial tool tied to documented discrimination, audits, and time-bound plans. DEI as practiced today often coerces decisions by race/sex—outcomes over merit—crossing legal and moral lines. It’s discriminatory and corrosive; reject it.

4) Righteous anger & civic duty
Righteous indignation targets injustice, not vanity. “Noblesse oblige”: those with ability have obligations—confront DEI-style discrimination, illegal-alien sanctuaries, sexual ideology in schools, and medicalized sex “change” claims. Assimilation beats separatism. John the Baptist paid a price for telling the truth; so might we. The aim isn’t outrage theater—it’s restoring justice.

Close:
Harden the targets. Defend merit. Demand integrity. God is love—and He expects us to act.

Luis Martinez

Management Consultant

Luis Martinez has coached and advised professionals for many years, helping leaders strengthen performance, communication, and decision-making under pressure. He has held senior-level assignments at Xerox, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Exide Technologies, and The Hay Group, bringing experience across corporate, healthcare, and consulting environments.

Luis earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of Delaware. He also holds two respected professional credentials: Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), reflecting a career grounded in both people development and organizational discipline.

Born and raised in Cuba, Luis watched his parents, Jose Luis and Zoila, navigate crises with steadiness, faith, and personal responsibility. He credits their example for shaping his optimism and resilience, and for reinforcing a simple conviction that still guides his work: truth matters, character matters, and solutions are built through accountability and courage.