Following the UN Security Council resolution urging Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities within 30 days or else face further action from the international community, Javad Zarif, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, said: “Iran is a country that is allergic to pressure and threats and intimidation.” Would we not all say this? Are we not all allergic to threats and intimidation – and fear?
If I told a 12-year-old boy at school who insisted on bringing his switchblade to class every day, that if he didn’t stop doing so I would assassinate his parents, I’d probably get the same reaction as the UN received from Javad Zarif.
The more I observe international leaders and their tribal disputes, the more I believe that the reason we have such a mess in the Middle East today is that we lack vision, awareness and strong leadership. I don’t mean just in the Middle East either. And I see this mess as a metaphor for leadership weakness everywhere – in organizations, corporations, governments and countries.
Before venturing into this tricky subject further, let me just mention my credentials: I have a Master’s in International Relations from USC and my Ph.D. thesis is in International Relations from the London School of Economics, earned during three years of shuttling between Israel and Egypt as I interviewed 40 top opinion formers, intellectuals, terrorists and leaders from the national leaders on down, in each country. I have traveled in the Middle East for half my life and still have many friends there.
The truth is that threats, intimidation and fear have never led to the results humans hope for. Inspiration and love are the only way to lead people to higher ground. You may feel that this is a na√?ve view to hold in the current situation and that there is no room anymore for love or inspiration in such desperate situations. But surely, that’s exactly when love and inspiration are required? When everybody is at their wits end, when everybody is desperate, so desperate in fact, that they have nothing to lose – surely this is the exact moment for compassion, listening, understanding, caring and turning the other cheek (isn’t that what Christians are supposed to do?).
About 20 mile south of the Lebanese border and 15 miles from Haifa lies the modern city of Megiddo at the edge of the Valley of Jezreel. The bible has several references to this place where all of the armies of the world, it says, are to gather for a “final battle” – in the bible this place is called Armageddon.
As a student of leadership, I am frequently reminded that a lack of leadership always results in disappointing outcomes – whether it is in a company, a school, a hospital, a not-for-profit, a government or between countries. In our hearts, we all hope that leaders who can make a difference in one of the most fragile places of conflict on Earth, can see the danger of Armageddon and that we will cool our minds, stay our hands and warm our hearts in order to allow a healing dialogue. Like all dialogues that flow from visionary, conscious leadership it will be a dialogue of listening, and compromise, a dialogue that does not stick to principles or draw lines in the sand, but seeks instead to accommodate and live with opposites, making room for differing views and opinions. It will be a conscious leadership that recognizes that in the beginning we were one and that it is the persistent lack of conscious leadership that has led to the current illusion of separation, a condition which we now need to heal.
It is a paradox that the warring parties in the Middle East share the same roots and history. The peoples of Sumeria and Canaan gave birth to modern civilization and their proto-Aramac language gave rise to Arabic and Hebrew – daughters of the same mother, so to speak. So, in reality, this is a family squabble, and when I was a Doctoral student in the 1980’s, I learned from the deep research I conducted, that the conflict was much more about the latest insult than it was about the principles. If this still holds true (and I believe it does), then wisdom suggests that our first step is to refrain from insulting each other, recognizing that, in reality, we are one, and use this awareness to inspire a new future. In fact, if we could make the most recent gesture one of compassion and listening instead of insult and aggression, we might surprise and encourage a movement towards peace.
Are you watching from the sidelines, or are you urging leaders to be conscious and bring about peace in the world in this way?
Lance,
Thank you for your blog today and for your final question, which urges us to action. As I am sure many of us have been, I have been watching from the sidelines in shock, horror and with a sense of helplessness as the world spins into madness.
Your question makes me present to the fact that I am not powerless and that I do have an avenue to help. I have been a letter writer for Amnesty International, and can attest to the effectiveness of letter writing campaigns, and their ability to make a difference in cases of imprisionment, torture and human rights abuses. Lives have been saved by the simple act of putting pen to paper to remind leaders that they are being watched, and at times found wanting in their actions. Leaders will listen if we speak.
I urge all of us in the ONE community to step up and talk with our leaders and international leaders about our desire and need for visionary concious leadership, love, compassion and peace.
Namaste
Dearest Lance,
As usual you are eloquent and inviting–modeling what it is you “preach.” I am reminded that there is more I can do than I have done lately on the external front (contacting my elected officials, using my money in productive ways, etc.). One area I’ve been focusing on lately is my internal leadership, being my own teacher and striving to live the model that I desire others to follow.
One of the things I catch myself doing is judging others–particularly those in seats of political authority–because I see them doing things I believe lead us farther from peaceful ends. However, when I’m awake enough, I notice that in judging them (which my logical mind says I have good reason to do) I am actually NOT practicing what I preach. This awareness is humbling, yet it gives me another chance to behave otherwise.
So, for myself, while I will be taking more external actions, I think one of the most effective things I can do is to LIVE my life in accordance with ONE and the CASTLE Principles at least as often as I “tell” others about these teachings.
May we all be models who others are inspired to follow. Namast√?.
This website is a terrific resource and there is so much truth in what Lance espouses. This world is hungering for servant-leaders. Big-time. And if more of us don’t begin to seek ways to serve, I fear we will end up in situations where we have no option but to die for those we serve. Are we prepared to die in service to others? to give up all rights to “self” so that others may live (and in so doing, we actually live more abundantly)? That is the question that God asks every one of us. Do we trust him enough with our lives to give up self?
Jesus Christ answered that question emphatically for us by going to the cross alone and abandoned in order to show the world how much God loves them. Isn’t that the highest calling we have – to show others how much they are loved by God. Christ literally gave it ALL up to serve others. This is the very reason why he “the way, the truth and the life”. from start to finish, the Bible is a series of stories of Christlike leadership (failures and successes). Moses is another great model of servant-leadership, giving up his position of worldy power to serve his people and lead them out of bondage.
I recently came across a great definition of a HERO – one who is willing to take right action with no regard to the cost to self. That is Jesus Christ. and the only way we can become like Christ and discern what is “right” is through constant prayer. He was always in prayer b/c he understood the spiritual forces at play and how vulnerable we are to the pull of things like culture. I can only imagine how challenging it was for him to keep on track, especially considering his exploding popularity at the tim. But he was obedient to to death… and gave the world the most perfect picture of God and what it means to be a servant-leader. Jesus is our servant-king and we MUST follow him. Now more than ever!
Keep up the good work, Lance. May God continue to shower you with blessings as you faithfully serve Him.