Comments on: Et Tu, Brute?: Lessons on Loyalty and Leadership http://www.strangelegacy.com/2008/05/27/et-tu-brute-lessons-on-loyalty-and-leadership/ A blog of my thoughts regarding humanity and the nature of choice. Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:53:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Larry Turner http://www.strangelegacy.com/2008/05/27/et-tu-brute-lessons-on-loyalty-and-leadership/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Larry Turner Thu, 29 May 2008 15:44:38 +0000 http://www.strangelegacy.com/?p=78#comment-115 Upon careful reading, I find that this article does not mention GWB or HRC or BHO. This article makes an example of Brutus as a desperate and failed leader because he ultimately didn't trust in the principles and strength of a republic... the people he professed to love and lead. Instead he turned to lying, subterfuge and murder, which ultimately resulted in the loss and destruction of whatever noble principles Rome's failed leaders purported to save and protect. In point of fact, every leader fails or appears to fail our expectations and becomes infected with a case of "Brutitus," to one degree or another. Nixon met some of our expectations and failed miserably in other ways. JFK inspired a nation and a generation to service, but failed terribly at the Vienna Summit where Khrushchev for good reasons took him to be weak, which very nearly got us all killed during the Cuban missile crisis. Clinton made some marvelous progress and had the good sense to ignore those who would have destroyed the ongoing benefits of the achievements of previous administrations. And yet, he failed in so many other personal and professional ways. GWB is by most evidence a moral and conscientious man who in dealing with crises has not been served well by those in his administration, but the ultimate responsibility for failures must rest with him. Washington and Jefferson were slave owners who developed a conscience once having publicly and militarily made know their beliefs in the "inalienable rights" of the individual. Franklin as a womanizer made Clinton look like a school boy dealing with raging hormones. Lincoln during his terms was one of the most vilified Presidents ever. History has proven time and time again that the most productive national environment exists when the majority leads with courage and respect for their followers and the minority, and the minority adopts a resolute, but respectful course and discourse to protect and preserve the one true necessity... our liberty. Yes... we need leadership... always... and it is us as American citizens who must responsibly and faithfully identify those of reasonable courage, conscience and ability to do so. However, when the selection has been made, it is every citizen's first responsibility to assume their mantle of the majority or the loyal opposition. Disagreement tempered with respect is productive. Name calling has no place in human discourse because to disrespect another is to disrespect ourselves. May I recommend a more cooperative position... "He is a blankety-blank, but he is my blankety-blank." We have to seek common ground... to give respect and acknowledge good deeds and accomplishments as well as making our objections know. We should focus on the fact that every 2, 4 and 6 years we get the chance to throw the "blankety-blanks" out! With all due respect, it is this right of the American citizenry that has made "confused dictators, puppets and puppetmasters" extinct in America. Upon careful reading, I find that this article does not mention GWB or HRC or BHO. This article makes an example of Brutus as a desperate and failed leader because he ultimately didn’t trust in the principles and strength of a republic… the people he professed to love and lead. Instead he turned to lying, subterfuge and murder, which ultimately resulted in the loss and destruction of whatever noble principles Rome’s failed leaders purported to save and protect.

In point of fact, every leader fails or appears to fail our expectations and becomes infected with a case of “Brutitus,” to one degree or another. Nixon met some of our expectations and failed miserably in other ways. JFK inspired a nation and a generation to service, but failed terribly at the Vienna Summit where Khrushchev for good reasons took him to be weak, which very nearly got us all killed during the Cuban missile crisis.

Clinton made some marvelous progress and had the good sense to ignore those who would have destroyed the ongoing benefits of the achievements of previous administrations. And yet, he failed in so many other personal and professional ways. GWB is by most evidence a moral and conscientious man who in dealing with crises has not been served well by those in his administration, but the ultimate responsibility for failures must rest with him.

Washington and Jefferson were slave owners who developed a conscience once having publicly and militarily made know their beliefs in the “inalienable rights” of the individual. Franklin as a womanizer made Clinton look like a school boy dealing with raging hormones. Lincoln during his terms was one of the most vilified Presidents ever.

History has proven time and time again that the most productive national environment exists when the majority leads with courage and respect for their followers and the minority, and the minority adopts a resolute, but respectful course and discourse to protect and preserve the one true necessity… our liberty.

Yes… we need leadership… always… and it is us as American citizens who must responsibly and faithfully identify those of reasonable courage, conscience and ability to do so. However, when the selection has been made, it is every citizen’s first responsibility to assume their mantle of the majority or the loyal opposition. Disagreement tempered with respect is productive. Name calling has no place in human discourse because to disrespect another is to disrespect ourselves.

May I recommend a more cooperative position… “He is a blankety-blank, but he is my blankety-blank.” We have to seek common ground… to give respect and acknowledge good deeds and accomplishments as well as making our objections know. We should focus on the fact that every 2, 4 and 6 years we get the chance to throw the “blankety-blanks” out! With all due respect, it is this right of the American citizenry that has made “confused dictators, puppets and puppetmasters” extinct in America.

]]> By: Garry W. Brinkley http://www.strangelegacy.com/2008/05/27/et-tu-brute-lessons-on-loyalty-and-leadership/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Garry W. Brinkley Thu, 29 May 2008 14:24:54 +0000 http://www.strangelegacy.com/?p=78#comment-114 Your article is dead on point! Brutus probably did more by killing Caesar than McClellan did by exposing the deception of the Bush administartion. As many Americans have concluded, we were mislead and fear was replaced with principle............... Garry Your article is dead on point! Brutus probably did more by killing Caesar than McClellan did by exposing the deception of the Bush administartion.

As many Americans have concluded, we were mislead and fear was replaced with principle……………

Garry

]]> By: Bill Porter http://www.strangelegacy.com/2008/05/27/et-tu-brute-lessons-on-loyalty-and-leadership/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Bill Porter Wed, 28 May 2008 16:26:18 +0000 http://www.strangelegacy.com/?p=78#comment-111 This article spells out clearly why GWB is not a real leader. As a leader, the will of the people should be what you listen for, not the will of the powerful and connected. We now have a chance to move away from that with either HRC or BHO. We need leadership, not a confused dictator/puppet(see puppetmaster Dick Cheney). This article spells out clearly why GWB is not a real leader. As a leader, the will of the people should be what you listen for, not the will of the powerful and connected. We now have a chance to move away from that with either HRC or BHO. We need leadership, not a confused dictator/puppet(see puppetmaster Dick Cheney).

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