from the NYT:
Senator Barack Obama said that Friday’s presidential debate
should go ahead after Senator John McCain issued a call to
delay the event to return to Washington and deal with the
financial bailout package.
Human beings tend to have at least two different ways of describing a heroic stance:
one is pre-emptive, smart, far-seeing, prescient, responding in the here and now with a view toward the future, often taking the offensive, striking out before matters become worse, taking advantage of opportunities quickly
Another lens sees the heroic stance as a reflective one, often taking longer looks: often preferring to be on defense when needed, responding in the present but not jumping the gun, taking one’s time, being semi-imperturbable, going ahead with a stated solid plan, not being swept off one’s feet by sudden winds
Both are leadership styles in business, in war, in family life, in personal development… and in mythos and ancient sagas and folktales.
There are others. But these two ‘styles’ of thinking and acting are most common– with personal embellishments added, depending on the personality
The question might be for us who are so deeply affected by leaders, what effective actions are right now being taken to further each leader’s true goals, overt AND covert?
We might ask too, How will each style of leadership be seen by detractors, how will each be seen by supporters?
And perhaps, too… what exactly are each leaders’ overt as well as covert goals and what can their actions now tell us about who they really are… as they decide to carry through with a debate, e.g., a twenty step-off duel on the moors? Or not.