IT seems that our current leaders are too busy engaging in playground politics to get around to dealing with some rather important issues. This is ironic when one considers this week’s celebration of Independence Day—a time when we not only cherish our freedoms but also remember the wisdom and foresight of our founding fathers and mothers, whether they be national or local. I doubt that the framers of the U.S. Constitution intended our government to be one of bickering partisan politics. I doubt that the framers of our Commonwealth Constitution and Covenant had that in mind either.
Our lives are our responsibilities that we should not run away from by passing them off to the government’s care. However, our leaders have their responsibilities as well. And since they chose to run for office in the first place, they should not run away from their responsibilities either.
In other words, each of our leaders should lead…not whine, bicker, complain, pass the buck, or point to the splinter in their neighbor’s (or opponent’s) eye, only to ignore the log in his own eye.
To that effect, I humbly offer this call for leadership from one of my favorite authors, John C. Maxwell:
This world needs leaders…
Who use their influence at the right times for the right reasons;
Who take a little greater share of the blame and a little smaller share of the credit;
Who lead themselves successfully before attempting to lead others;
Who continue to search for the best answer, not the familiar one;
Who add value to the people and organization they lead;
Who work for the benefit of others and not for personal gain;
Who handle themselves with their heads, and handle others with their hearts;
Who know the way, go the way, and show the way;
Who inspire and motivate rather than intimidate and manipulate;
Who live with people to know their problems and live with God in order to solve them;
Who realize that their dispositions are more important than their positions;
Who mold opinions instead of following opinion polls;
Who understand that an institution is the reflection of their character;
Who never place themselves above others except in carrying responsibilities;
Who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
Who discipline themselves so they will not be disciplined by others;
Who encounter setbacks and turn them into comebacks;
Who follow a moral compass that points in the right direction regardless of the trends. GALVIN DELEON GUERRERO
Garapan, Saipan
