leaders who love their country

I have something to say.

We are in the midst of an election. The USA is traveling the long, weary road to their election.

But, the sad thing is, there is no one worth voting for. At least not in terms of a leader. Yes, there may be a handful of representatives within the parties who are honest, principled and well-minded people in the running. I’m looking for a leader who loves — and I do mean LOVES — their country. And that is why they are in the election. Not because they want power, but because they genuinely love their country and they want what is best for their country — which is really the people and communities within it. You and I, and them …

I came upon this amazingly worthwhile podcast at The On Being Project. It’s a conversation with the poetic journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates in which he also says, “You have to love your country the way you love your friends, the way your spouse loves you, right? The people who love you don’t blow smoke up your backside.” Man, has he got that right!

Unfortunately politicians have become nothing more than celebrities seeking the spotlight that goes with the power. And we all know the one politician, in particular, who began that trend.

Leaders — true leaders — should brew healing in their communities. Those leaders — the political leaders — should create and facilitate hospitable spaces for tackling solutions to the difficult issues of our times.

How do we get decent people to run? I really do not know. Perhaps we never will get decent people to run for political office again. Perhaps there is no answer. All I know for certain is that I want someone on the ballots to vote for who actually, genuinely loves their country. My country. Your country. Their country …