When adults behave like children, the children suffer. We need real leadership, not what we have now. We need adults to start behaving like adults. (Day 5 of the 30-Day Writing Challenge)
This morning, I read an article in Politico entitled “Chaos and confusion: Back to school turns ugly as Delta rages.” Superintendents are receiving death threats. One governor is withholding funds if attendance is virtual attendance. Another governor is withholding funds if the district mandates masks. Meanwhile, districts are defying those governors and providing the virtual option and/or mandating masks. Other districts are giving in to the governors, reversing their position.
I decided to write this post based on what I have heard and read over the last two weeks, as my frustration mounts to a level I did not know was possible.
We need adults to take charge because the adults supposedly in charge are behaving like impetuous children. They embrace misinformation and disseminate disinformation. They are making rash, politically motivated decisions. Their reasoning is so flawed, it’s hardly reasoning at all.
- They are risking lives in an effort to get re-elected or to be selected to run for higher office, for example. Real adults would make decisions in the best interest of those who need them.
- They are gambling with lives and hoping they are on the right side of history, and they will be considered brave and bold when history is written. Real leaders focus on the situation at hand and make informed decisions.
- They are listening to, I’m sorry to use the word, stupid people who have more power than they do. They want that power and to be part of the inner circle. Real leaders can identify the difference between charisma and a real power.
We need leaders who consider themselves servant leaders, not authoritarians. We need leaders who aren’t hypocrites and sycophants. We need leaders who are great thinkers. We need leaders who take action to support what is right and logical. We need leaders who won’t only say the words we all need to hear, but also back up the words with action.
Basically, we need a cadre of Kindergarten teachers to confront these power-hungry, illogical individuals with dubious intelligence. Perhaps the cadre could share All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum with them. There’s apparently a poster on Amazon, but I also found this link to the short version of the text. Maybe that would help.
In the meantime, this chaos and confusion must stop.
Thank you for reading my fifth article in the 30-Day Writing Challenge.