Leadership and Loftiness – are they compatible? Leaders inspire by example as well as spoken word! Lofty rhetoric can be nice to hear – but – is it always appropriate? A Lofty Manner is interesting to observe – but – is it always the order of the day? Does “Dignity” suffer if “Loftiness” is not always in the forefront? Is a Leader ever permitted to show genuine emotion without it being construed as “unmanly” or inappropriate? How should a Leader respond to a crisis (or crises)? Definitions for Loftiness in The American Heritage Dictionary include: “Elevated in character; exalted; pompous; arrogant; haughty.” A good Leader must display other characteristics and emotions in addition to constant loftiness! He should be angered by atrocities; engaged in a timely way with catastrophes; consoling immediately when carnage occurs; sensitive toward those who are suffering and sorrowing… The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us (3:1-8): “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…a time to be silent and a time to speak…a time for war and a time for peace.”
Commentators and Bloggers are having a “field day” because of the manner in which the President of the US responded to the events that had unfolded at Fort Hood. Two of the comments are: (1) On November 5, Ben Johnson wrote on David Horowitz' Newsreal website that Obama's "shout out" "says it all: Our Commander-In-Chief feels there is no event so serious that it cannot be prefaced by a moment of glib hipness, no solemn loss so sacred he will deny himself a moment of wry self-indulgence. Soldiers were killed? Let's say "hi" to Joe first. An entire theater of war needs a plan to defeat the terrorists who struck America on 9/11? No reason I can't go golfing, shoot some hoops, and hit the town with Michelle. We desperately need an adult in the White House. Sadly, today's press conference proves we do not have one." And (2) Linda Chavez wrote in a November 5 Blog Post for Commentary Magazine that "President Obama's rushed press conference was surprising in its flippancy nonetheless. Before he got to the issue on everyone's mind - namely the deaths of Americans in uniform - the president gave a 'shout-out' to government bureaucrats gathered for a previously scheduled conference at the Interior Department, complete with appreciative chuckles. He treated the event like a pep rally rather than a tragic occasion with a wider audience than those gathered in the room…”
The President should be given some “slack” and the benefit of the doubt. However, it would be nice to see a “human side” to the President – some indignation at this outrage; a tear in the eye over a tragedy that has taken a life of a soldier, a spouse and/or parent; an emotional crack in the voice as comments are made and condolences shared; an awareness that soldiers (warriors) returning from battle zones are killed by a fellow-soldier in a debriefing clinic. Come On, Mr. President – be real, be human, be caring! Come On, Mr. President – we’ve heard your rhetoric! Give it a rest! Just once – Get rid of your robotic facade! Bury your Teleprompter and speak from your heart!
Wednesday marks a special day! It was at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month that an Armistice was signed ending all hostilities in World War I. We now call November 11th Veterans Day to honor those who have died while representing our nation in the military. It’s good of you – Mr. President – to delay a trip to Asia so you can be at the Memorial Service in Fort Hood. Just a word of counsel, Mr. President – don’t speak! Just be there to give a hug; to shed a tear; to show you really care! This should NOT be a “news” event! This is NOT about YOU, Mr. President - It should be a time for the grieving families and hurting individuals! It also needs to be remembered -
*** It's the Military, not the reporter who has given us the Freedom of the Press.
*** It's the Military, not the poet, who has given us the Freedom of Speech.
*** It's the Military, not the politicians that ensures our Right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
*** It's the Military who salutes The Flag, who serves beneath The Flag, and whose coffin is draped by The Flag.
We remain One Nation, under God – because of our brave military! Consider these things with me!
Commentators and Bloggers are having a “field day” because of the manner in which the President of the US responded to the events that had unfolded at Fort Hood. Two of the comments are: (1) On November 5, Ben Johnson wrote on David Horowitz' Newsreal website that Obama's "shout out" "says it all: Our Commander-In-Chief feels there is no event so serious that it cannot be prefaced by a moment of glib hipness, no solemn loss so sacred he will deny himself a moment of wry self-indulgence. Soldiers were killed? Let's say "hi" to Joe first. An entire theater of war needs a plan to defeat the terrorists who struck America on 9/11? No reason I can't go golfing, shoot some hoops, and hit the town with Michelle. We desperately need an adult in the White House. Sadly, today's press conference proves we do not have one." And (2) Linda Chavez wrote in a November 5 Blog Post for Commentary Magazine that "President Obama's rushed press conference was surprising in its flippancy nonetheless. Before he got to the issue on everyone's mind - namely the deaths of Americans in uniform - the president gave a 'shout-out' to government bureaucrats gathered for a previously scheduled conference at the Interior Department, complete with appreciative chuckles. He treated the event like a pep rally rather than a tragic occasion with a wider audience than those gathered in the room…”
The President should be given some “slack” and the benefit of the doubt. However, it would be nice to see a “human side” to the President – some indignation at this outrage; a tear in the eye over a tragedy that has taken a life of a soldier, a spouse and/or parent; an emotional crack in the voice as comments are made and condolences shared; an awareness that soldiers (warriors) returning from battle zones are killed by a fellow-soldier in a debriefing clinic. Come On, Mr. President – be real, be human, be caring! Come On, Mr. President – we’ve heard your rhetoric! Give it a rest! Just once – Get rid of your robotic facade! Bury your Teleprompter and speak from your heart!
Wednesday marks a special day! It was at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month that an Armistice was signed ending all hostilities in World War I. We now call November 11th Veterans Day to honor those who have died while representing our nation in the military. It’s good of you – Mr. President – to delay a trip to Asia so you can be at the Memorial Service in Fort Hood. Just a word of counsel, Mr. President – don’t speak! Just be there to give a hug; to shed a tear; to show you really care! This should NOT be a “news” event! This is NOT about YOU, Mr. President - It should be a time for the grieving families and hurting individuals! It also needs to be remembered -
*** It's the Military, not the reporter who has given us the Freedom of the Press.
*** It's the Military, not the poet, who has given us the Freedom of Speech.
*** It's the Military, not the politicians that ensures our Right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
*** It's the Military who salutes The Flag, who serves beneath The Flag, and whose coffin is draped by The Flag.
We remain One Nation, under God – because of our brave military! Consider these things with me!
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