"Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will." ~ Jawaharlal Nehru
Much has been said about Meryl Streep's Golden Globe address. There are people who agree with her. There are those who are opposed. Suffice to say many of the opposition comments are spiteful and cruel.
Despite the fact she has been dismissed as a leftie by many, as a conservative, I thought her address was brilliant. Voicing that earlier today attracted the usual shaming attempts. They failed.
The point she made about a powerful and privileged person belittling a disabled man is 100% correct. It has nothing to do with politics per se. It was a comment on the lack of leadership integrity.
Her key message was. When you do that you give others permission to behave in the same fashion. I have blogged about that on a number of occasions with respect to the President-elect. His personal and graceless attacks on others are legendary. The fact that he fails to recognise the message it sends, I believe highlights a deep flaw in his make-up.
If we care about salvaging and protecting our freedom and our humanity, we need to go back to first principles. The most important of those principles are human dignity and free will. We need to revisit those things that make us who we are. Hopefully responsible, caring and free-willed people.
A large part of free will is our right to form our opinions. And, to voice those opinions politely and constructively. To do so without being judged, belittled, slandered or ridiculed. But sadly, we are losing this battle and it's time to take it back.
Some will say that is exactly what Donald Trump is doing. Voicing his opinions. Exercising his free will. The missing element is voicing his opinions responsibly and constructively. He fails to do that time and again. That is not the sign of a good leader. As a leadership coach I'd be fired on the spot if I encouraged my young charges to behave like that.
You can voice opinions extremely effectively without getting personal or indeed lowering yourself petty sniping. The iron fist in a velvet glove will win more battles.
I hope someone can find a way to help Trump modify his communication. Ditch the nasty stuff. We need him to be successful and to be a POSITIVE role-model for others to follow.
