From: 3fQc4G@BoxQao.com   
      
   Welcome again to PROUT Gems.   
      
   The concept of leadership is now on the world stage. Serious questions are   
   being asked about the calibre of leadership. Tariq Ali outlined some   
   important points on Lateline on ABC TV on 14 September 2002. They were:   
      
   "But no-one, no Western leader, has so far publicly even declared that   
   they're sorry about the innocent Afghan civilians who have been killed,   
   whose numbers are now between 3,000 and 4,000."   
      
   "I would say there's an enormous lack of creativity among the Western   
   leadership. George W Bush as a leader of vision and creativity, give us a   
   break! People all over the world laugh when you say that. One of the most   
   noticeable things is the quality of leadership in the United States at the   
   moment is at a very low level. And having Tony Blair licking up to you   
   doesn't particularly help either. I have to say it, even though I disagree,   
   your PM [John Howard in Australia] is probably the most intelligent of right   
   wing leaders in power today. Mercifully he's completely marginal."   
      
   So what is sort of leadership is required and what are the hallmarks?   
      
   --   
      
   Some issues to consider for leaders   
      
   Human beings are social beings. If they have to live alone for a long time   
   they feel restless and search frantically for the company of others. So   
   human beings should be very careful in selecting the leaders of society.   
   Throughout history it can be noticed that many countries with a demoniacal   
   nature have pushed the entire society to the brink of destruction. Sometimes   
   whole communities have been exterminated, while at other times society has   
   overcome destruction only after coming to the precipice.   
      
   Personality as a trademark of leadership, whether good or bad, has existed   
   since ancient times and will continue to exist in the future. This is why   
   society should be very careful in selecting its leaders. Leaders should only   
   be recognized after considering the extent to which they possess qualities   
   like intelligence, wisdom, integrity, pioneering zeal, readiness to   
   sacrifice, etc.   
      
   The solidarity and unity of a group depends on the strength and   
   determination of the leadership. The leadership must be collective no   
   individualistic. If the leadership is not strong the entire structure --   
   social, economic and political -- becomes weak and ultimately crumbles down.   
   If the social consciousness is such that the moral and ethical standards are   
   not high, it is said that "The nature of people is somewhat like that of a   
   flock of sheep, when one sheep falls into a ditch, the others will follow."   
      
   Democracy compares most favourably with all the systems of government that   
   have so far been evolved. However there is less scope for strong leadership   
   in a democracy than in a dictatorship. In a dictatorship common people are   
   harassed in many ways by the whimsical rule of the dictator, and in a   
   democracy people are equally harassed by the whimsical decisions of   
   political parties and the expedient behaviour of the party or its cadres.   
   Peace-loving citizens are sometimes made to suffer terribly in their hands.   
      
   If the system of individual dictatorship cannot be fully supported, how can   
   we support the system of party dictatorship? The only solution to individual   
   dictatorship, party dictatorship and democratic pandemonium is the concept   
   of leadership by those socially and ethically conscious who have as their   
   goal the self-realisation and self-actualisation of their highest potential   
   and also that of others, and service to society or the world and the well   
   being of the universe as a whole.   
      
   The problem we see with those in power today (as many can hardly be called   
   leaders) is a defect in their objectivated mind and this can cause   
   superiority complex (or inferiority complex). When the objectivated mind   
   becomes large enough to pamper one's ego, one develops a superiority   
   complex. One starts considering oneself to be superior to others in points   
   of knowledge, capacity to act, organizational calibre and other qualities of   
   leadership, and such persons will unnecessarily slight others or nations.   
   Such a person expects preferential treatment and assumes the nation the   
   person represents also requires preferential treatment, VIP status and   
   unquestioning obedience. If by accident the ego is hurt even slightly, they   
   become upset. This gives rise to another kind of mania. This is due to lack   
   of universal or spiritual outlook.   
      
   --   
      
   Leadership and spiritual outlook   
      
   By P.R. Sarkar   
      
   Generally, there are three recognized means to bring about social welfare:   
      
   The rule of brute force   
   The rule of reason   
   Spiritual leadership   
      
   The rule of brute force   
      
   Sometimes the members of a society are made to follow rules in accordance   
   with the dictatorial decrees of their leaders. But these dictating   
   authorities are far from being benevolent, rather they trick the members of   
   society into believing that they are acting for their welfare, while their   
   sole concern is to promote narrow self-interest, power and privileges. Their   
   guidance is not at all helpful for the growth of social welfare. For   
   example, the British government ruled India for two hundred years. But how   
   much real progress has there been in India? In most cases, their rule was   
   based on their own self- aggrandizement. The political leaders of so many   
   countries have led their countries to the brink of war. The political   
   history of Germany, Italy, Spain, Pakistan and China is a clear proof of   
   this truth. Even though thousands of citizens hardly have enough food to   
   fill their bellies, their leaders continue to spend vast amounts of money on   
   arms.   
      
   History does provide some examples of benign, enlightened kings such as   
   Ashok the Great, and Alfred the Great, who did some good for society, but   
   they are few in number. Most were warmongers, such as Ghengis Khan, who were   
   so cruel that they stained the green earth under their feet with blood, and   
   caused the sky to resound with the wails and tears of their innocent   
   victims. The rule of a dictator is no rule at all.   
      
   The rule of reason   
      
   What is reason or logic? There are three aspects of logic: analytical   
   surveillance, substantial formulation and pinpointed presentation. This is   
   the type of leadership that exists today. It is useful in battle. In the   
   battlefield an efficient general does not start the battle without   
   strengthening his army first. First he sends out his intelligence unit to   
   find the weak points of the opposing army. Secondly, he stations his army in   
   such a way that his soldiers can mount a surprise attack on the enemy   
   installations. Thirdly, the moment he gains the advantage he raids the enemy   
   camp and attains complete victory.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)