Who will lead us now?
Friends, I’ll be honest. Actually, I think that’s a fairly funny saying. If we say, “I’ll be honest,” does that imply we were always previously dishonest? The Intramuralist will always be honest.
I am concerned at the levels of polarization in this country. I am worried about the increasing intensity. When we spoke Tuesday of the Wisconsin election, we called it “the national hotbed of polarized politics.” That’s not necessarily a good thing. To be polarized means to be divided. And to be divided completely contradicts a united state of America.
So my call is for wisdom. Specifically, my call is for wise leadership.
Who will lead us wisely?
To lead us wisely means to put aside personal pursuits.
To lead us wisely means to forgo ingrained ideology.
To lead us wisely means to cease rhetorical division.
Who will lead us wisely?
To lead us wisely does not necessarily mean compromise.
To lead us wisely does not mean absent of strong opinion.
To lead us wisely does not mean free from all emotion.
Who will lead us wisely?
To lead us wisely means to have a proven economic, social, and moral plan.
To lead us wisely means to communicate that plan respectfully.
To lead us wisely means tirelessly and compassionately working to unify all people through that plan.
The plan of any good leader does not have to be agreed upon by all people. It should always be communicated, however, with respect for all people, and the ways in which the effectiveness of the plan will be measured must be tangible and clear.
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) kept his job Tuesday night. Democrats attempted to recall him because of his desire to limit collective bargaining due his perception that unlimited public contracts negatively affect the state budget. Let’s watch and see what happens to the state budget now that his plan is in effect. At the same time, let’s be sympathetic to those union workers who now have to pay a little more. Let’s work to understand their frustration. Yet again, let’s see if his plan works. Will Gov. Walker lead Wisconsin wisely?
From a national perspective, will Pres. Obama lead us wisely?
I would like to say “yes.” I can’t at this point. Pres. Obama, as much as I respect him, often uses words that feel intentionally divisive to me. Maybe I’m wrong. But I’m uncomfortable with blaming seemingly all failure on the previous administration while attributing all success to self. Economically, especially, that seems illogical to me. And thus, it doesn’t seem like wise nor courageous leadership.
Who will lead us wisely?
The persons who will lead us wisely will be morally-grounded. How they feel will not evolve with the prominence of polling data. They will say what they mean and mean what they say. They won’t say one thing to one audience and something else to another.
Who will lead us wisely?
The one who will lead us wisely will do so with cords of human kindness… with submission and respect… and with a clear recognition that leadership is a humble calling…
There is zero arrogance. There is no use of the pronoun “I.” There exists only the sobering reality recognizing that wisdom evades most who attempt to actually lead.
Respectfully,
AR