A Leader’s Personality

A unit takes on the personality of its commander. This old Army adage describes the relationship between the commander, or leader, and the character of the unit. It is accurate. During my tenure in the Army, I served in many different units under many different commanders. After a change of command, the change in the unit was often striking. A unit takes cues as to what is important and what is acceptable from its commander. These and other aspects of a commander’s persona subtly, and not so subtly, conform a unit to the commander. This is part of the reason why the Army carefully considers who it grants the honor of command. Not every officer enjoys or deserves the privilege of command, and this is how it should be. A commander enjoys great power and with that power comes great responsibility, the responsibility of shaping an organization.

During a political rally on the nineth of March this year, Mr. Trump mocked President Biden’s stutter. This is nothing new for Mr. Trump. Throughout his public life, he’s made it a practice to deride those who disagree with him, particularly though degrading some aspect of their physical make up. His coarseness knows no bounds. He has verbally attacked those with physical disabilities, women for menstruation, other men for stature. He does this to intimidate his opponents and entertain his supporters; all at the expense of those who oppose him, and more importantly, public discourse in the United States.

Such behavior reveals the heart of an insecure and fearful man. Mockery is the retreat of those ill prepared, or equipped, to engage in an intellectually rigorous debate. Faced with an inability to support their position or rebut an opposing proposition, they employ the tactic of ridicule to divert the debate and hide their own inability. This is a favorite tactic of a playground bully.

Such a leader would inexorably bend our national demeanor and conversation in a negative direction. Have we become so coarse and uncaring as a people as to regard ridicule as acceptable public behavior? Do we care so little for others, others that may grapple with a disability or not share what we consider as model physical appearance? While American politics has always been a rough and tumble sport, demeaning others does not well represent a multicultural or pluralistic society. Such ridicule, while entertaining for some, deeply hurts and offends others. And it is not an issue simply waved off by the claim that, “Well, they are just snowflakes.” As a society, we’ve worked hard to improve our national discourse, seeking to provide previously marginalized people with greater access and greater voice. Returning to a public conversational ethic of belittling the weak would stifle much needed intercourse, revealing us as small minded and weak. No matter the party, a leader will shape the country in their image.

Who we choose says something profound about the kind of people we are and what values we hold dear. Is truth important to us? Do we value graciousness and politeness? Perhaps, we like the braggart because we think too highly of ourselves. When we give a leader a pass on bullying, we say that we do not care about the weaker individuals in our society. These negative character traits find expression in equally adverse national and international policies. Other nations understand this as well. They carefully watch who we choose as a leader, knowing that our president directly influences our foreign policy. A brutish bully will always seek to manipulate relationships through threats and intimidation. A habitual liar will always dissemble to obscure intent and avoid responsibility. They evaluate the character of our president, understanding that their character will shape their actions as our foreign policy makers.

Our president represents the entire nation, not just his or her party. When we evaluate a potential president, we must spend time considering their character and what their choice would say about us as a people. In the case of president, the one elected official who represents all of us, we must evaluate how their character would influence our national policy and conversation. Do we want to elevate or demean our national interaction, or are we so wedded to particular party or positions as to overlook the issue of personal character and its effect on our national character. 

A Few Thoughts on Leadership

 

               As our current Presidential campaign gets underway, I’d like to take a few moments to think about leadership. After all, we like to refer to the American President as the most powerful man, perhaps someday woman, in the free world. We want to choose a person with outstanding leadership traits. As a soldier who started out as a private and ended up twenty-seven years later as a lieutenant colonel, I learned what makes a good leader. I served under some of the best leaders in the military, and some of the worst. I also served as a leader in some of the most difficult situations, in peacetime and in combat. After retiring from the Army, I spent eleven years teaching in High School and Junior High, both leadership crucibles. Along the way, I’ve learned a few things about what it takes to be a leader. 

               A good leader must be compassionate. As a leader, I often made decisions that had profound consequences, good and bad. As a commander of troops, periodically I had to put someone out of the service, a task I never really enjoyed. Once, I had to prosecute and jail a soldier for multiple instances of sex with a minor, and though I was pleased to see him shuffle off in an orange jumpsuit after conviction, I never forgot the pain this caused his family or the indelible pain he visited upon his victims and their families. Even though all the soldiers I lead into combat came back in one piece, the stress involved profoundly changed all those involved. Leaders need to remember that their decisions effect real people in very real ways. A leader without compassion runs over the people in their organization…or country…without compunction. Sometimes leaders must make decisions that cause pain; but, they should never do so casually.

               A good leader understands that they represent and must care for all the people in their organization. Again as a leader of troops, I was responsible for all the members of my organization, not just the ones that pleased me or I felt were like me. It was my job to set the conditions for all of my soldiers to succeed. As a teacher, I needed to give my best, even to those students who actively worked against me and did not want to learn what I had to teach. A president is not just working for those who elected them. They represent and work for the entire country. We do not need leaders who consider those who disagree with them their enemy, for the president represents the entire population Republican, Democrat, Independent, and other alike. They must work for and protect those whose lifestyles they find offensive and do so with the same vigor as they work for those whose lifestyles they find comfortable.

A good leader respects others. In our multicultural society, we must work with others, respecting them despite our differences. When a leader looks down on and ridicules those who are different, they shut the door to cooperation and limit solutions. A good leader eschews making fun of those who may differ. A person who seeks to elevate themselves by putting down others, especially for their disabilities, forfeits the ability to lead the rest of us. Such behavior reveals a timid fearful soul. Ridicule bends any discussion away from the facts at hand and must be avoided.

               A good leader must rightly handle truth. Those who are unable to tell the truth when under pressure show themselves as unfit for any position of public trust. Of course, all of us fail from time to time; however, some public figures consistently prevaricate, and this trait renders them unsuitable for leadership positions. We must be able to trust those who occupy positions of leadership and power and an inability to tell the truth has a corrosive effect on trust. Simply put, a habitual liar is not worthy of our trust, no matter the policies they embrace.

               A good leader respects, works with, and strengthens ties with allies. Despite our preeminence in the community of nations, we need our allies. A good leader works to build up those things that bind us together and understands that in all these relationships there is an element of give and take. We do not always get everything we want. Sometimes we must give to maintain good international order.

               A good leader constantly learns. All leaders come to the job with a skill-set or they would not be leaders; however, true leaders understand that they come to the job with knowledge deficits. As an officer in the Army, I was constantly assigned to positions for which I was manifestly unprepared. I had to identify those with appropriate knowledge and experience and then learn from them. That takes a certain level of humility. A leader unwilling to admit their own ignorance cannot adequately serve the country. The United States is a large country and the problems and challenges we face are complex and multifaceted. No person possesses adequate knowledge to address all the issues, which is why we have a cabinet and the other apparatuses of government. A good leader takes input, and not just from those who agree with him. A good leader understands that even those in the opposition have good ideas and seeks their input. All leaders at all levels need the trait of being a life-long learner.

               A good leader has a strong moral compass. In the often-murky world of governmental affairs, a leader needs a firm grasp of fundamental right and wrong. Might does not make right. A good leader takes the time to discern the right course of action and then summons the moral courage to see it through. Frequently those of their party or other interest groups may urge them to take morally insupportable actions that will forward the party cause; yet, they must possess enough courage to say no. Some of the components of a moral compass a leader needs are: an ability to tell the truth, fidelity to a promise made, compassion for the weak, courage in the face of adversity, and respect for others. These universal moral imperatives, and there may be others, enable a person to lead others.

               A good leader listens to divergent points of view. While in various leadership positions in the Army, I found that often those who viewed things differently than I did contributed key components or ideas to the success of any given operation. I found that I did not understand everything and those with differing points of view often provided key insights. A good leader listens to others, taking in their ideas. Finding the solutions to gordian problems requires a leader to take input from many different quarters.

               A good leader is flexible. A good leader understands that the world is dynamic and solving problems requires a certain amount of give and take. Being too wedded to a policy may lead to serious failure. What may have worked well in the past, may not work well in the present. A willingness to try new strategies, to set off in new directions as it were, helps a leader explore new avenues, perhaps leading to greater success.

               As we consider who we want to lead our nation through the next four years, we must take the time to assess candidates on their leadership qualifications. The president is only one part of the government. They are the one official who represents us all and a good, strong leader transcends mere policy considerations. A president must work with congress and within the confines of constitutional law as understood by the Supreme Court. After all, a leader who stokes the fires of division cannot possibly unite the nation no matter their policies.

                

              

The Spoils System

               Various groups, frustrated by their inability to move legislation through congress, seek a return to the spoils system of the nineteenth century. I can understand their desire. Congress is, and always has been, unwieldy and slow. In our two-party system moving legislation through the senate and the house takes tremendous work and the necessary compromise vexes many. In truth, we want things our way, and right now. Some see a resurrected spoils system as a means to work around a slow moving congress.

             The term, dating from Andrew Jackson’s presidency, refers to giving high political appointments to members of one’s own party as a means of reward. While it has obvious benefits, rewarding those who think the way you do and are likely to make decisions you would, it also comes with serious drawbacks. The problem stems from appointing less qualified individuals to positions of great importance. This often-ham-fisted approach to governance results in poor decisions and questionable compliance with laws and the constitution. Additionally, every new president ushers in wholesale change to government and the resulting chaos degrades efficiency. Eventually we severely curtailed the spoils system, replacing it with a more professional civil service system.

               As a career soldier, I encountered this system regularly. It had it pros, professional men and women who knew their job and helped users interface with the system. They also had great institutional knowledge, which helped me navigate the labyrinth of governmental systems. Unfortunately, they also knew that while I was transitory, being stationed in one place for three years or so, they were more or less permanent and could wait me out on a particularly thorny issue. Despite the problems, a professional group of individuals with significant institutional knowledge helps make things work properly.

               Some will say that we will replace entrenched civil servants with equally capable outsiders. But under the spoils system we make party fealty the primary job qualification, we set aside competence and the need for understanding the issues at hand. In our time, governance is complex, interconnected and multifaceted. We need individuals who understand the intricacies and challenges of their given area of responsibility. I understand firsthand the frustration of dealing with recalcitrant public employees; however, our historical experience during the nineteenth century should serve as a brake against the desire to resurrect the spoils-system and its attendant chaos.

               President Benjamin Harrison changed 31,000 postmasters in one year, resulting in great inefficiency in the postal system. A return to the spoils system might make the job of the president easier. After all, he would appoint those who support his policies; however, in a few short years, another president would seek to reward their supporters. Such wholesale turnover would severely hamper government effectiveness. The spoils system also undermines the role of Congress in facilitating good governance.

               Congressional impotence frustrates all of us. We want a legislative system that actually performs its functions. Unfortunately, many of us forget that in a representative republic all legislation requires compromise. Our political culture seems to reject compromise as acceptable. Some sectors of our political landscape would rather accept congressional inaction than compromise. They take the short view, calling for an increase in the power of the executive branch, forgetting that their party will not hold onto the presidency forever. We need to work our constitutional system, embracing the compromise necessary to make it work properly. As with most things in life, shortcuts come with significant disadvantages. The spoils system is a shortcut, and one that leads to governmental chaos and inefficiency. We should reject it and those who would reenact it.

 

Bullies Need Not Apply

“And one of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, well, sir, if we don't pay and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us? I said, you didn't pay. You're delinquent. He said, yes, let's say that happened. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills.” Donald Trump 10 February 2024

               “Mr. Robinson, would you come up to school this afternoon. We need to talk to you about an incident concerning your son.”

               My heart rate picked up, as would any parent. I agreed to their request and shut down my computer and arranged with my commander to leave work early. I was stationed in San Antonio at the time and my son was a junior in High School. I drove over to McArthur High School with a growing sense of dread. Sitting down with the assistant principal in charge of discipline, I found out that my son had been involved in an altercation on the bus. As the details unfolded, I relaxed. My son had stepped in between a bully and his victim. Though there was some shoving and yelling, his boldness had defused the situation. Though the principal appreciated what my son had done, school policy nonetheless required some level of discipline. I told the principal that he should do what he felt necessary; however, I would take no action to discipline my son, since I felt that he’d done the right thing. I tried to teach my children to stand up for weaker individuals, even at some personal cost. I was, and remain, proud of my son for his actions protecting a weaker person from a predatory bully.

Bully Definition: Noun, a blustering, browbeating person especially : one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable. Marriam-Webster Dictionary

               Sadly, recent remarks by Donald Trump reveal a personal nature given to bullying. During his speech in South Carolina on 10 February of this year, he spoke of threatening another NATO ally by refusing to come to their aid if attacked by Russia for not living up to his perception of their fiscal responsibilities in regards to the rules of the NATO treaty. Aside from his fundamental misunderstanding of how the treaty works, he used the threat of violence to intimidate another country, “I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want,” referring to Putin and Russia.

               It seems to me that such remarks, designed to bully, show that Mr. Trump is fundamentally unsuited to hold high office. Our country needs a leader who knows how to encourage cooperation and trust among allies. No one trusts a bully whether an individual or a collective group such as a nation. While such language might stroke our national ego, making us feel strong and powerful, it clearly displays our inability to bring others over to our ideals.

In our political system we enjoy the privilege of choosing our leaders, and our choice says much about who we are, what we believe, and what is important to us. We must carefully consider what kind of person we want to represent us. These considerations transcend policy issues as many others participate in the policy generation process. Choosing a leader devoted to the tactic of bullying says that we as a nation believe in and support bullying as an acceptable tactic to get the things that we want. We must carefully weigh the ramifications, local, national, and international, of such a choice. Instead of generating and strengthening international bonds, such language, reminiscent of the mob, serves to separate and destroy trust. In the modern complex and interconnected world, we must work to build trust and cooperation.

During twenty-seven years of service in the U.S. Army, I spent over eight of it stationed in Germany. While assigned to U.S. Army South (USARSO) for over three years, I worked in a variety of countries in South America. In multiple deployments to Iraq, I worked with various allies and their contingents, some large and well known and other smaller and less prestigious. In every instance, we needed the help and cooperation of our allies. We could not complete the mission without the soldiers, equipment, and expertise they brought to the table. I count myself privileged to have served with so many fine men and women. During my time of service, the Soviet Union collapsed; consequently, I found myself in the interesting position of working with soldiers I formerly glared at across the divide of the “Iron Curtain.” We enjoyed swapping stories as we quaffed a beer or two after duty hours. I must say that I’m glad that history unfolded without us going at each other hammer and tongs as they say. All this to say, that I enjoyed extensive experience working with numerous allies in a variety of situations, to include armed conflict. In our complex international world, we need each other.

Of course, the leaders of other nations make decisions that forward their own interests; however, we must cooperate with each other. This involves significant give and take. A bully has no place in such convoluted and sensitive operations. Threatening and browbeating will only antagonize and isolate us from others that we very much need. NATO serves an important purpose. When we invaded Afghanistan and then Iraq, we did so as part of a large international coalition. Our Command Post in CJTF-7 included operations officers from all our NATO partners. We worked together to coordinate operations, enjoying the successes of our labors and occasionally mourning together at our losses. We needed one another and learned to shoulder a combined burden. Using threats to bend others to our will destroys the trust to engage in such operations, often fraught with peril. We should not choose a leader who embraces such indefensible tactics. They do not represent tough negotiating. They represent thuggery. They do not represent our best selves and should not find welcome in any public office.

Mountain Musings: Blazing the Trail

 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 Revised Standard Version

               We live on a dirt road in a home surrounded by forest. While I’m not sure exactly where it begins, our home is quite close to the Lincoln National Forest. A short hike down an abandoned forest road brings you into the national forest. While we are not “off the grid,” I enjoy living surrounded by nature. This morning I watched a small herd of elk meander across our yard, foraging in the snow, as they went. Elk are impressive large creatures. While I cannot be sure, they seemed to look through the window at me sipping my coffee. On my hikes I see all manner of tracks in the snow. I cherish the quiet and stillness of the forest blanketed in snow and often hike in the mountains around our home. I particularly enjoy pausing in a clearing and waiting in silence as my pulse and breathing return to normal. Hiking in snow requires great exertion; especially if you’re the first to break a trail.

               Hiking in freshly fallen snow is hard work. When the snow is deep, breaking the trail raises my heart rate quickly. The snow drags at my feet, forcing me to high step. Even then I must push through the heaps of fluffy white. It looks so soft and gentle; however, all that frozen water weighs a lot and does not give way easily. In the thin air, above eight-thousand feet, I find myself panting very quickly. Additionally, the places I hike go up and down repeatedly and my thighs soon ache with the build up of metabolites produced by the heavy exertion. If possible, I like to hike behind someone who blazed the trail before me. While still difficult, following in their steps is much easier than creating the path. It is the same in our spiritual life.

               Any honest person will tell you about the spiritual challenges of the Christian walk…hike. Many things beset us. Temptations and challenges come our way. Problems, sent by satan, pop up frequently. Peter speaks of satan as being like a devouring lion, looking for someone unawares to waylay, I Peter 5:8. Then there is the simple existential challenge of human existence. We live in a broken and fallen world which does not operate as designed. Often, we must trudge through deep snowdrifts of trouble and turmoil, hearts pounding and lungs heaving; but, we do not have to break the trail.

               Jesus broke the trail before us. The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as the “pioneer and perfector.” He plowed through the deep drifts of temptation and persecution before us. We can walk in His steps. Following someone through the deep snows of life makes things much easier. This is why we need to know and understand how Jesus dealt with the challenges of this existence. Stepping where He stepped, walking as He walked makes the journey much simpler. He battled satan, armed with the same tools available to us. We need not blaze a new path. We should learn, know, and understand how He lived His life and pattern ours similarly. That way we can traverse the turmoil more successfully. Of course, there will be times when our lungs still heave and our pulse still races; but, we will find the trek much more manageable, following the trail He blazed.

              

Christmas Musings #34 The Epilogue

 

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

               The tide of Christmas ebbs slowly around our house. Our tree stays long, and Christmas music lingers. I find it hard to let go of the season. Fortunately, Christy does not hurry Christmas out the door; but, eventually we defrock the tree, putting away the ornaments carefully packing the old and cherished ones. The lights come down. I return to my regular music of jazz mixed with some older rock. Our lives return to a more normal routine. Each season, I pause and ruminate over the figure of the infant Jesus in our nativity set.

               Once the gifts are opened, the holiday feasts consumed, and traditional movies watched, what do we do with Jesus? Do we pack Him away until the next Christmas season? Do we wrap Him up in tissue-paper and stuff Him inside a box with the wise men, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, sheep and angels? Do we find His light a little too stringent for daily consumption? Do we want to keep Him contained, easy to deal with, a small ceramic infant lying on a resin bed of hay? Or perhaps we can choose another course.

               Like the Maji and shepherds from so long ago, we might come to rejoice and worship. We might allow the light of the world to shine into our lives. Of course, letting Immanuel in to shine His light around entails risk. His light illuminates those seedy dark areas of our lives needing attention, and that’s the problem. We cherish the infant Immanuel. After all, what’s threatening about a baby? A baby cannot hurt anyone, and they need us for everything, food, warmth, and shelter. But, babies grow up.

               Immanuel doesn’t stay in the manger. He grows. He learns. He comes into His own. His light shines into our darkness and our darkness cannot overcome it. That’s the challenge of Christmas. The wise-men came, bowed, worshiped, and gave gifts. Herod reacted in alarm and loathing, destroying all the young male children under three in the process. I fear that most of the time we simply pack Jesus away, not wanting to deal with the impact of Imanuel, God with us. Outside of the box, free to roam about and influence our lives, Jesus is too dangerous, His light to intense. A babe inside a box is much easier to contain or ignore. A God standing next to me, rubbing shoulders with me in my messy humanity presents too much of a challenge. The meek and mild infant did not stay that way.

               He grew into a man who challenged all our preconceived ideas of what right looks like. He refused to conform to what we thought our religion ought to look like. In fact, like Herod and the other beautiful people of the first century, we often do not recognize Him. We want to wrap Him in tissue paper and keep Him in a box until next year. We may not understand or even recognize Him, but He remains. His light shines into the darkness. The darkness cannot quench or understand Him. The only question is, will we let Him out of Christmas into the rest of our year. Will we let Him have His way with us?

Some Thoughts Concerning Pornography

                I grew up in the age of paper porn. We either had an uncle or older brother with a questionable subscription, or we had to summon the courage to go into a convenience store to purchase one, hoping that the clerk did not care about the laws regarding age…or that they were not a woman. That alone kept most of us from imbibing in large amounts of porn. Then came the internet and things changed. Suddenly porn became something accessed from the privacy of your own dark bedroom. Many of us, self-included, fell into a deep dark depraved pornnado. We whiled away hours degrading ourselves and our ability to engage in Godly sex, and all in relative anonymity with no monetary cost. Sadly, the cost comes in marital relationships bereft of one of God’s greatest gifts, true intimacy. Here are some thoughts regarding the effects of pornography and how to fight the temptation:

1.      I share these as struggler who’s currently enjoying victory over porn. Please remember that this victory comes from the Lord and not my own strength, which is manifestly unequal to the task. Unfortunately, in the past these periods of victory have been all too fleeting, vaporous, and ephemeral. So, I write as a fellow struggler, and this current season of victory is from the Lord not my own abilities. Romans 6:4

2.      Porn takes an event God designed to express intimacy and union on the deepest level and turns it into a solitary act of self-gratification. The longer we stay ensnared in the grips of porn, the harder it is to enjoy healthy sexual relations with our spouses. Instead of giving ourselves, in love, to our partner, we ingrain the thought-pattern of sex as a self-gratifying “taking” act into our psyche. The longer we engage in porn, the deeper we drive the habit of “taking sex” into our behaviors. This self-centered focus makes meaningful sex nearly impossible since we approach the sex act as simple self-gratification instead of the giving unifying act God intended. Ephesians 5:29-33

3.      We mistakenly own the thoughts and impulses that lead to pornography. Not every thought that crosses our minds comes from us. I believe that many of the thoughts that lead to pornography are planted by satan. We assume they come from our hearts and minds and fail to engage in the spiritual warfare needed to combat them. Our inaction cedes the spiritual landscape of our minds to the enemy. We need to fight back, employing the powerful name of Jesus to help us in those dark hours of desperate need. II Corinthians 10:3-5

4.      We often miss the subtle attacks delivered through our casual consumption of modern media. Advertisers and merchants have long known that “sex sells,” and exploit this fact. We need to exercise discernment concerning what we consume. Movies that feature risqué scenes titillate and those thoughts and images often linger and later lead us into darker moments. In effect, these images pave the way for darker impulses later. We need to carefully select those images and stories that we let into our minds and not underestimate the effects of what we consume. Job 31:1

5.      All our lives, all our marriages have seasons. When we face trouble or turmoil in our lives we often turn to the trap of self-gratification through pornography. When those rough patches come our way, engage them in prayer and consultation with friends who are fellow believers. We should not attempt to struggle through them alone! We were not meant to battle in solitude. Seeking the Lord’s help in prayer and the support of brothers in Christ helps to fortify us against the attacks from the evil one. Godly marriage counseling may be in order. Ecclesiastes 4:12

The true battlefield for our souls is in the heart and mind of men. In our current age, satan has exploited the easy anonymous nature of the internet to attack us at our weakest. But we need not succumb to his attacks. God has provided us the weapons of spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:10-18, and we need not battle alone. I suppose that as long as we draw breath as men, satan will seek to attack in this area, and while I currently enjoy a period of victory in this, I also know that satan will not give up. I also know that God is greater and has designed and destined me for something better than what the world accepts. I hope these words help you in some small way.