False Leaders Vs. Genuine Ones

Well, I am back at APOV, freshly returned from attending a symposium on Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepathology and Nutrition. As I was driving back home (the symposium took place at the Hotel Champlain in Montréal), many a thing whirled in my mind with regards as to what the heck I should blog about today - especially since I haven't blogged anything since last Wednesday.

Then my thoughts wandered on to the subject of the upcoming 2008 elections in the US and how soon I hope we have elections in Canada, in order to throw the neocons incompetents (see previous entries of mine here, here, here and here) out of power in both countries - at last.

However, I remain wary that neocons may yet retain power after such elections, if only because ignorance and fear, as well as lies and the search for instant gratification, appear to rule still the mind-sets of the US and Canadian electorates - in large part due to the disinformation and propaganda dished out by an incompetent MSM - both the American and Canadian ones.

Consequently, these thoughts lead me to wonder: what true leaders make? Here are the resulting musings:

"History dresses an extensive list of charismatic, decisive and righteous Leaders. However, the fact remains that the overwhelming majority of these have consistently proven to be fearful, petty, power-hungry, or violence-prone, authoritarians. To them, the end ever justified the means, as they disguised their incompetence with grandiose ideologies, wrapping themselves in religious, nationalist or racist flags of intractable absolutism, and using their deceitful siren song to stir passion, loyalty and even fanaticism - all in order to gather sizeable followings of narrow-minded, hate-filled, or warmongering, underlings. It is no wonder that people have suffered, one way or another, each time such a Leader rose to prominence.

Hence, never cease questioning those who would conscript you to their cause - if they dismiss, disassemble or scoff at, your questions, then they are being deceptive. Above all, beware the charismatic who speaks to your fears, for he - or she - ultimately seeks to be your Master. Listen instead to those who strive to convince you through honest, open, and patient dialogue, finding common ground while appealing exclusively to your nobler principles - for they indeed truly seek to better the lives of all. Such has ever been the way of genuine Leaders of Humanity."

Having said that, here's my question to all you good folks: who, among the current US candidates and/or Canadian party leaders, best fit into this description of the mark of Genuine Leaders?


(Cross-posted at DKos and at Diatribune, at Suzie-Q, and at Progressive Bloggers)