I wrote an article a few years ago regarding the growing wave of indifference that seemed to pervade the U.S. election cycle going on at the time, specifically as it pertained to the televised debates. The following contains a few abbreviated thoughts from that particular piece:
We need to stop and take notice of what is being said and done, no matter how distasteful or contrary we may find the message (or the messenger) to be. There is nothing that opportunists love more than a person’s propensity for indifference. Allowing our time to be hijacked by others hell-bent on clouding our beliefs for the purpose of interjecting their own should not be given such free rein unless they can prove that their goals provide a better solution. We live in a world where reason, justice, and fair play should be counted amongst our most prized assets; resources that are in danger of being wiped out because of an unwillingness to strengthen our resolve and demand that our future leaders support an inclusive concept of humanity rather than despotism.
That seems like a lifetime ago. No; more like another century. Those bygone days when human rights were treasured yet still somewhat limited. But there was a large swath of society that fervently believed in its leaders and the Rule of Law. A time when we looked up to those in leadership because of their values and commitment to the people. You know; the 20th century. Yes, many of those in leadership roles back then were flawed and fractured and could (and many would) stumble and fall. But a great majority of them had one thing in common: They would eventually throw in the towel when caught with their hand in the cookie jar. And that was primarily because indifference wasn’t looked upon as a means of subterfuge; it was an act of shameful irresponsibility. Moreover, taking the path of least resistance (or of obvious graft) while under an oath to defend the Constitution could make you a pariah, and place you on a fast track to political oblivion. Ask Nixon.
But in today’s world, indifference has taken a turn towards the inexplicable. I don’t like the fact that many people today are feeling that they should relinquish their freedom to express their thoughts, especially when being persuaded under an implied specter of “if you know what’s good for you.” When we find ourselves polarized into two groups, the concept of a swinging pendulum1 helps to explain how each side takes turns in promoting their agenda. With each push, the one side invariably moves further from the stability of its original messaging or intent. Yet the concept of a pendulum is necessary for engaging in meaningful discourse and doing so without having to emphasize the “mean” in meaningful. It’s how we bring to bear our thoughts and beliefs, but not for the sake of eliminating the opposing side. Rather we do so to lessen that exchange or rhetoric through understanding or compromise so we may slowly bring the pendulum to a stop. That’s where we find the beginnings of equality, compromise, and progressive collaboration.
About Leadership
Leadership used to be a kind of gold standard; a stage indicating that a person had reached the zenith of their professionalism signifying a level of knowledge, understanding and business acumen that confirmed their ability to lead others into a progressive future. That was then; this is not now.
So since I found myself sharing old scribbles in this article, I thought it best to repost an abridged version of something I wrote in 2020 concerning leadership. First and foremost, it must be understood that leadership is not an easy task, and anyone who actively seeks to follow that path is perhaps crazy, courageous, dedicated, a visionary or somewhat narcissistic – or perhaps a little of each. Regardless of what drives a person to be a leader, the primary skill or talent they should possess is that of insight. So here is what this humble writer thought a leader should strive to be:
A leader must be willing to look within before seeking out; to acknowledge that they are not above the struggle, but rather an active agent for its resolution. A leader has to recognize that limitations are not obstacles, but a gauge for measuring their creativity and capability. A leader needs to know how to extend their reach through the art of collaboration, and not through the blind exercise of authority. Leadership should inspire by way of wisdom and courage and wield power through humility and foresight. Leaders are neither saints nor saviors, nor are they a cure for the misfortunes of the world. Any leader who thinks otherwise will most likely be part of the cause rather than an architect for its solution and should never be allowed to persuade or influence. And if you cannot see into the heart of a leader, then there’s a very good chance they cannot see into yours and are therefore not worthy of your faith and commitment.
Proper leadership takes time. It takes a combination of skill, talent, patience, empathy, perseverance and something called moxie. Look it up; it’ll definitely make you do a double-take. Because in the landscape of today’s leadership, some would consider moxie to be a form of raw courage and fearless bravado. But they would be wrong. In the past, a more apropos phrase to express that would be how “fools run in where angels fear to tread.”
I’m not trying to tell anyone from either side of today’s mounting divide what to do in the midst of our current precipitous calamity, especially when it comes to leadership. For the most part, the players all appear to be adults. Many are in positions of great power or influence, so they need to bring their adulthood to bear. That means doing what is best for the whole and not for the few – or the one.
But if I may, I’d like to offer this little exercise that applies to every single person, regardless of who or what they may be:
Take a moment to look deep inside your own heart, soul, or whatever represents that which keeps you tethered to this Earth and ask yourself this one question that you need to answer with absolute honesty:
What do I possess that means everything to me?
Keep in mind that I’m not referring to a career, a life plan, your social status or perceived ability to either influence or diminish others. I’m talking about the one thing that should be the most precious gift you possess.
Take your time.
If you come up with anything other than “my life”, then you’ve hit upon the fundamental problem we’re facing: That the all-consuming spark of life; the one possession we have that should be valued above all others is the one thing you could not bring yourself to acknowledge as having the greatest value. And that’s because we have devalued life. This persistent drive towards indifference occurs because the very ubiquitous nature of life deprives it of any semblance of value. We treat it as a common and meaningless item; as invisible as air and as commonplace as water. Yet in the same way that we cannot live without air or water, we cannot exist without life. It’s the only possession we have upon which all the wealth, love and perceived social acceptance we will ever acquire may exist. And it’s the only possession for which we wouldn’t be able to purchase an additional second’s worth of it using all the wealth and love we might have managed to acquire.
Final Thoughts
Over the years, indifference has mutated into an accumulation of apathetic possessions while unwittingly developing a trivial disregard for the value of life. These days, everything seems to hold more value than that of a single human life. Hell, even a grouping of people can be easily disregarded, demeaned, devalued or even destroyed, and yet no one involved in that wholesale desecration would probably miss even a minute of sleep.
There are many factors facing us today, from the murder of an influential public figure taking center stage to the slow, measured steps for depriving the citizenry of its basic freedoms. Yet these challenges only serve to frame a greater picture of indifference growing right before our eyes, from the further devaluation of the individual to the wholesale abnegation of our humanity. And although we know better than to let such things happen, they continue to appear on our radar because indifference is leading us to ignorance. And the danger in letting ignorance flourish is that it emboldens mediocrity and makes heroes out of fools.
Each of us has the potential to understand – to know – what we value most for ourselves and for the society in which we live. And those items gather their value through an intrinsic set of standards that each needs to possess in order to stand for the rights of every individual. Showing that you still possess a sense of empathy is the first step towards diminishing indifference; a plausible solution for helping to eliminate many of today’s problems. But it takes commitment; it takes time, and it takes moxie. And it starts by getting involved.
So, go ahead; start by lifting the shroud of indifference that others intimidated you into wearing. That single act will do more than just make a difference – it will make you be the difference.
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