Several years ago, I was given a sweet book entitled \u201cThe Valley of Vision.\u201d\u00a0 Truth be told, I didn\u2019t totally \u2018get it\u2019 right then.\u00a0 Nice alliteration.\u00a0 Neat looking book.\u00a0 But I stumbled at the simple thought of how one was supposed to see from a low lying level of the land.<\/p>\n
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Down at the lowest point?\u00a0 Seeing life from there?\u00a0 And then it dawned on me…<\/p>\n
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Only from the bottom are we forced to look up.\u00a0 Only from the lowest levels do we put other people above ourselves, crafting a humble yet healthy respect for other people.\u00a0 We were created to respect one another \u2014 without allowing differing opinion or perspective to justify arrogance.<\/p>\n
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Where does arrogance come from?\u00a0 The person who never looks at life through the valley of vision.\u00a0 Arrogance evolves in the person who must always stand on top, so-to-speak \u2014 thus justifying looking down on those below, thinking they always know best.<\/p>\n
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As I\u2019ve watched the events of the last few days unfold, I\u2019m unsettled by what\u2019s happening…\u00a0 something less than transparency in Benghazi, something conflicting with impartiality by the IRS, and something obviously not just in the actual Justice Department.\u00a0 An accurate account wasn\u2019t shared about Benghazi; the IRS targeted conservative groups leading up to the last presidential election; and the Justice Dept. has been secretly stealing the press\u2019s information.\u00a0 Hence, there are continued reasons for distrust in a growing American government, and those reasons are not rooted in extremism.<\/p>\n
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When the reputations of solid establishments are pierced by corruption, we crave<\/em> wisdom; we long for<\/em> leadership.\u00a0 We long for men and women of integrity to point us to prudent perspective and encourage accountability.\u00a0 We thus long for leaders who humbly exercise the vision gleaned from the valley.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This week concern by the Intramuralist has significantly increased.\u00a0 Similar to the 2 most recent White House occupiers, soon into a second term, a credibility crisis has arisen.\u00a0 The crisis is evident via the questioning and criticism by seemingly likeminded partisans.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pres. Clinton\u2019s credibility began to crumble with his perceived dishonest response to involvement with Monica Lewinsky.\u00a0 Pres. Bush\u2019s credibility was pierced by his perceived too stoic response to Hurricane Katrina.\u00a0 I say that with no disdain for either leader.\u00a0 The reality is that once a leader\u2019s credibility is damaged, their influence also dissipates.\u00a0 From my limited perspective, the influence of presidents Clinton and Bush began to wane due to their chosen responses.\u00a0 This week we\u2019ve noted the response from Pres. Obama.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Typically, when the events receiving increased publicity are obviously good (i.e. the capture of Bin Laden),<\/em> we hear a lot of \u201cI\u201d…\u00a0 I<\/em><\/strong> did it.\u00a0 <\/em>I<\/em><\/strong> promised.\u00a0 <\/em>I<\/em><\/strong> am responsible.<\/em>\u00a0 When the events are negative (i.e. the fragile economy),<\/em> there\u2019s blame casting, distancing, and absolving of individual accountability.\u00a0 When it was unveiled Friday that the IRS has been intentionally targeting<\/em> groups based on their beliefs,<\/em> Pres. Obama waited the weekend, then hedged his initial comments on whether or not this was true (even though the IRS had already publicly apologized); <\/em>and then, while calling the if-true acts \u201coutrageous,\u201d he referred to the IRS as an \u201cindependent agency.\u201d\u00a0 The IRS is a bureau of the Treasury Dept., which in turn reports to the Executive Branch; they are not independent.\u00a0 Thus, it appears an attempt to put distance between the agency and administration. \u00a0Obama is beginning to respond differently, but who will forget Clinton’s wagging finger regarding Lewinsky and Bush’s fly-by pic over New Orleans? \u00a0The first response is always remembered, for it’s typically not as calculated as the impression management tactics political advisors later recommend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Friends, I am not suggesting Pres. Obama was personally involved. \u00a0My point is this…\u00a0 With the not-so-perfect storm of altered Benghazi accounts, biased IRS auditing, and an unjust Justice Dept., we need<\/em> wise leadership…\u00a0 to take responsibility…\u00a0 to be accountable… to adopt Truman\u2019s bold mantra of \u201cthe buck stopping here.\u201d\u00a0 Every CEO is accountable for his business.\u00a0 We thus need leadership that looks at the storm from the valley of vision \u2014 meaning instead of finding ways to deflect blame and diffuse controversy, look up; lead us out of this; respect other people as you are motivated only by integrity and truth.\u00a0 Let there be no distancing, hidden political motive, or continued blame.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Only an accountability-accepting response \u2014 for both the good and<\/em> the bad \u2014 regardless of direct involvement \u2014 demonstrates the humble, effective leadership that keeps one\u2019s credibility from crumbling.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n Several years ago, I was given a sweet book entitled \u201cThe Valley of Vision.\u201d\u00a0 Truth be told, I didn\u2019t totally \u2018get it\u2019 right then.\u00a0 Nice alliteration.\u00a0 Neat looking book.\u00a0 But I stumbled at the simple thought of how one was supposed to see from a low lying level of the land. Down at the … <\/p>\n