In what ways do the lives of great leaders show a mixture of achievements and setbacks? Do you think less of leaders who show weakness or encounter failure? Think of one or two great leaders, either living or dead, and free write about triumph and tragedy in their lives.
Several of history’s most influential leaders have achieved great success and enacted change in the world. While considering the contributions made by these individuals we must also remember that they are human just as we all are. Therefore, our great leaders are not without their faults. Should we look at them as any less important when considering their weaknesses? To me this is relative to one’s own moral compass. Honestly it is within our nature to judge one another and come to positive or negative conclusions based on our observations. This happens among neighbors, classmates, and co-workers so why shouldn’t we judge important public figures? What makes the entire issue relative is whether the negative actions of the individual in question trump their positive actions.
Let us take the great Doctor Martin Luther King Junior for instance. Few can deny the great strides he made during the Civil Rights movement. It is one of his most well known achievements and he remains a prominent figure in history because of it. However, many people are also familiar with Dr. King’s adulterous behavior. You decide, does this cause you to think less of Dr. King? For me, I still appreciate the contributions of everyone involved in the Civil Rights movement, but I feel knowing that Dr. King was not perfect humanizes him and puts things into perspective. Overall, it is something I do not forget simply because he had done a great deal of good but at the same time I do not find him unworthy of any admiration.
