The Face of Creation
October 16, 2008
I watch ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’. It’s a light-hearted commentary on US politics and in recent months has focused heavily on this year’s presidential campaign.
Last night’s show contained a stunning example of adverse reality creation. John McCain, the Republican runner for president, was addressing a crowd of his supporters when a lady in the audience stood up and damned Barack Obama as an Arab, saying that she feared him. The mood of the audience was already stirred up in resentment against Obama before she spoke and this provoked further outcry. The camera showed the distress on McCain’s face as he (hopefully) had a moment of realisation, that he had helped create a situation of contempt for (and hatred of) his opponent, that was clearly not what he wanted.
I’m making some political commentary here but I’m also using this situation to illustrate other points.
- That in order to be authentic, and well received for what we truly stand for, we must be clear about what we seek to achieve for the good of all people. This sets the stage for our audience to be connected to our intent, understand where we are coming, and realise how that affects them.
- That in order to truly understand what we are seeking to achieve, we must be conscious of the forces that move us. It’s important to see how our energies are being shaped and directed, and whether we have a clear, conscious voice that is independent of others.
- That in order to be conscious of our actions we must create ourselves to be in total integrity with our potential for expansive visionary leadership.
I use the term ‘expansive visionary leadership’ to illustrate the difference not only between Obama’s and McCain’s respective campaigns, but also to emphasise that what is real and of lasting value is generally transitory in nature. This sounds like a riddle, I know, but let’s put it like this – it’s not the political record of achievements that’s important or the promises of what actions will be taken: it’s how we conduct ourselves in every moment; it’s what we have to say about others; and it’s our understanding of what they epitomise and seek to create.
Let’s assess these two leaders in terms of their potential for creating visionary leadership in others.
Obama has expansive visionary oratory suited to global leadership. He focuses on vision and seeks to establish practical steps that lead to the implementation of that vision.
McCain has a style of leadership that is bravery in the face of adversity. There is courage and determination for extraordinary change, yet the fire of passion and the eloquence to have people trust in themselves is missing. His is the ‘follow me approach, for I have the answers’.
Now who has the vision to inspire and promote greatness in people? That should be the question facing the US right now. A question that aptly applies to anybody in a position of leadership. We are looking at these two men to assess what they can create for this world. We are wanting them to demonstrate that they have the special quality that brings people to own their greatness.
Will John McCain realise that his candidacy is dependent on providing courageous change in the face of adversity, to lead the US into prosperous times? Or will he continue to allow the creation of fear-mongering to continue in his name?
There are just a few days left before we see the outcome. Whoever is elected will need more than ideals and values in their term of office. They will need to bring about a resurgence of self-empowerment in the American people, not unlike the spirit that moved the founding fathers themselves. And that will take tremendous courage and vision indeed!