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Fall of Titans

Past Articles May 2001

Feature Article July 18 , 2001

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Fall of Titansby Bill Rowsome

Prime Minister Jean Chretien is surviving, but his lieutenants are nipping at his heels. The official opposition leader is being hounded into oblivion, and the staid Progressive Conservatives are publicly questioning their own leadership. The process of actively governing Canada, on hold for the summer, will not revive with vigor this fall unless our leadership problems are resolved.

What is with the human race? We raise some among us to positions of power, then watch in fascination as they tumble. This is particularly true of political leaders; those who want to lead their fellow man for some reason or another. It is our perception of the reason that makes or breaks a political leader.

There doesn't seem to be the same obsession to haul down other 'heroes'. If a person spends almost every waking hour to perfect running fastest, jumping highest, hitting a ball, imitating life, or producing ear-splitting musical productions, we worship them with few complaints. As long as they perform, we idolize, reward lavishly, and tolerate their idiosyncrasies, bad manners and stupidity. Their public world is the envy of the audience.

Not so with politicians. For some reason we become very dissatisfied when a politician gets too far ahead of the crowd. In that situation, we criticize his or her leadership. We do not like to be told what to do, how to behave, whom to love, or whom to hate unless we are in the throes of war or destruction. We complain bitterly when they fail to resist temptations available through their offices. We denounce their salaries, the perks they get, and the lives they lead. We object when they show human weaknesses that all of us possess.

It is the wise and rare political leader who encourages us by example, who disseminates the feeling that he or she wants to truly better our lot. Few have the stamina not to be beholden to those who placed him in power, and few accept the responsibility to raise the standards of the masses a little bit. It must be difficult to be such a person. During the long apprenticeship to ultimate political power, there are many helping hands that will later be held out for tangible rewards. Our own selfishness is their and our undoing.

History and its debated interpretation eventually determine the great leaders of mankind. We need the perspective of time to truly evaluate our leaders, but then it is too late to appreciate their efforts. A drunken manipulator becomes a revered father of a country. A passionate bachelor raises the conscience of a nation. Even in our relatively short Canadian history, time has classified our leadership.

And of the present? Can we better the process of encouraging hopefuls for the ultimate reward of political power? The past several years have proven that gaining political leadership is a complicated and lengthy process. Many factors, some well concealed, come into play as the jostling progresses.

To a large degree, we ignore local township leadership except to complain about situations under their limited influence. In December, a third of the present municipal mandate will be completed. By September 1, municipalities in Ontario have to complete a 16-point performance report card. How are we doing compared to other townships? This summer, North Frontenac Council is on the road to make attendance at council meetings more convenient for us. We owe our leaders the courtesy of our attendance. We owe ourselves the opportunity to evaluate them. Let us support them and not tear them down, unless necessary!

With the participation of the Government of Canada