Lessons In Courage...

This wonderful post was loaned to me by my new bloggy friend Spuds. Here is the original post.



I'm disgusted with the lack of courage in leadership being exhibited by our elected government officials. Speaking generally and not specifically, I can safely say that the group of "leaders" we currently have on display may very well be the most cowardly; and I fear history will prove this to be true.

But what happens to this group of men and women who, during election season, touted themselves as courageous leaders but end up proving themselves to be boot-licking sycophants once they get into office? Is the political environment in the halls of power so oppressive that we are merely sending our best and brightest as lambs to the slaughter? If so, then we do need to send truly courageous leaders to stand up and fight, caution be damned.


What is courage? What does the average courageous person look like? I can, without reservation, proclaim that I have seen truly courageous people; and that you, Mr. and Mrs. Government Leader, are not even close.

Courage is a 5 year old boy coming to his dad and tearfully explaining that he doesn't want to go to school anymore because a third grader is picking on him. For a five year old, is there anything more frightening than a bully?

When I looked at my young son I wanted to tell him that I wouldn't make him go back and that I would take care of everything, but I didn't. Instead, I explained why he needed to go back to school and face the situation. I told him that bullies are never going to go away and that rather than run from them, we need to be able to stand up to them, no matter how "scary" it may be.

After explaining the "whys" of facing life's bullies, I gave him some rudimentary self defense lessons. I started to see his courage build as I spent the time with him and taught him "how" to be brave. It was difficult not to let my emotions show as I hugged him tight and sent him off to bed. I don't think either of us slept well that night.

The next morning I drove him to school. It was a mostly quiet drive. When we pulled up to the front of the school I turned around in my seat and looked at my little son. His eyes were wide in expectation and I could tell that he wanted me to tell him he didn't have to do this. I smiled and told him that I was proud of him and that I would be there to pick him up right after school. "I love you, son!"

His small voice seemed even smaller that morning as he told me he loved me too, climbed out of the car and, after a moment's pause, stood straight and walked, with his little fists clenched, into the school. I sat there for a few moments watching him walk into school. I was wondering if he would turn around or come back to the car, he didn't. Every part of me wanted to go in with him and take care of the problem for him, I didn't.

Courage took the form a small five year old boy that morning. Courage to walk into school alone, trusting his dad's counsel that it needed to be done. Courage to face up to what scared him most and, no matter the outcome, to make his stand.



We can learn much of courage from our children!

What is stopping us from taking our stand? Everyone of us has that "bully" in our lives. The path of moderation and capitulation is well worn and as a group we have allowed ourselves to be easily herded down this path of compromise. But compromise isn't the hallmark of courage, but it is the justification for the lack of courage.

The Speaker of the House, speaking in frighteningly shrill hyperbole, became emotional when she spoke of her fears regarding the growing discontent with the policies being proposed. Using images of the sporatic violence in San Francisco when the homosexual community was protesting for more rights, she attempted to quell the growing "opposition song" by indirectly portraying them as intolerant and violent fascists. Surely anyone who would rise up in righteous indignation against unconstitutional policies is a homophobic militia member. Standing up and having your motives mis-characterized can be frightening.

Bullies can be women or men and use overtly hostile tactics or cowardly tactics such as the Speaker of the House. Standing up to a crying bully who attacks your character is no less important than standing in the way of a brute who shows up at your house with a stick. The crucial part is that we need to stand up.

The difference we are running into at this point in history is that we have political leaders doing things "for our own good". When asked about the Constitutionality of the new healthcare bill numerous proponents stated that this wasn't "about the Constitution, but had everthing to do with what was right and wrong. "What?" Following the Rule of Law is the first priority when deciding what is best for the country!!

Don't mis-characterize what is happening here! This is not like Robin Hood, taking from the rich and giving to the poor. This is a POWER GRAB... pure and simple! And as long as we let the government do things in such an unchecked fashion we are going to see that rather than a Robin Hood type situation we are going to end up with a King George type situation.

We are soon to find out what happens when no one is allowed to stand up to the "Bully".