In the midst of recent health care reform legislative in Washington, DC, some of the highest levels of political leadership have shown some outrageous and unacceptable behavior. It is one thing to disagree about the issues but quite another to become disagreeable. In fact, F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that “The test of first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”
Acts of vandalism and condemnation in the midst of disagreement about the differing opinions on the health care measure have resulted. There have been charges and counter-charges to offenses. There have been insensitive remarks and racial epithets hurled back and forth across the aisle. Social etiquette has completely run amuck! Are you kidding me?
Turn on any major news channel, just witness the nation’s top leaders arguing with slander and fear-mongering rather than debating the merits of the policy issue. Political pundits are juiced over the banter that will surely keep viewers tuned in. Was I just watching the evening news or was that a reality TV show? Never mind. It’s a free country. Instead, I just turned off the “idiot-box” just shaking my head. Now I’ve added to my weekly checklist “Send more national leaders a Leadership 101 Review Course.”
With this recent debate it’s not about the issue, per se, but how the disagreements have unfolded that has been deeply concerning. Rather than listen to veteran politicians or the Washington insiders pontificate about “everything Washington” let’s take a moment to just remember that citizenship and being a good neighbor start with common sense etiquette. How will top leaders respect difference without denigrating each other or inciting violence?
Already this country is divided on various political issues. But will the real leaders please take pause and regroup for the sake of our future leaders? As leaders we must all do a better job because it makes sense and helps restore confidence in our establishments and endeavors. But above all, we have an obligation to those next in line to lead America. They are watching.
