Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wanted: Nobility
We long for nobility! Leadership that would risk everything in order to secure freedom and prosperity for our nation, like our forefathers. It seems now sometimes our leaders pursue public office in order to secure prosperity and power for themselves risking only the millions of the lobbyists and donors they are obliged to. Cynicism gives way to reality when the evidence is apparent. On Interstate ten a new multi-million dollar overpass is being built for the few hundred residences that live in an exclusive subdivision. The project was tagged at the end of a bill in the Texas legislature by a senior legislator who happens to live in that subdivision. Meanwhile, loop 1604 is a parking lot from Braun to Hwy 90--apparently no wealthy legislator lives over there. Justice and nobility go together, and leaders who lead out of self-interest are devoid of both.
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3 comments:
Nobility is a good word. There are a few leaders I can think of I have worked/served with where that concept was associated with them. It usually came about when an accomplished, authorized and otherwise entitled person chose to step down and go to bat for me or someone when they didn't "have to." They made the cause of someone elses well-being their cause and risked their own soft sail in the process. The nobility that resonates from such character and acts of substance proves to actually elevate the potency of leadership...perhaps because it is then legitimized?
But how do you guard against cynicism, while promoting and spurring towards wholesome idealism?
I'm not sure I think I should guard against cynicism. If by cynicism you mean a disposition then yes, but if you mean to guard against virtue that holds in contempt lesser pursuits then no! I believe historically cynicism is the very seedbed of wholesome idealism... If we leave the realm of philosophical handles and grab hold of biblical ethos then I would say that the Holy Discontent that causes me 'disdain for convention' is the flip side of my Godward Kingdom passion to see His Kingdom come...Cynicism in our day is word that is synonymous with doubt, negativity, and surliness but I would harken back to the foundations of cynicism and and hold to the virtue of idealistic disdain for empty convention.
Would it be cynical to say, "there is nothing new under the sun"? In America, the carpet baggers have always taken an opportunistic advantage of the passivity of the masses. Sometimes you just need to build a bridge and get over it.
As far as, "hold(ing) to the virtue of idealistic disdain for empty convention"... I'm struggling with the concept of holding on to anything negative being a virtue. But then, maybe I just need to be looking through the eyes of a dung beetle.
On second thought, maybe it is just too early and I've had too much coffee. :)
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