Last week I wrote about how good people often don’t seek out leadership positions, but how questionable people with terrible values do.
As the election results were trickling in, I noticed some politicians poking fun at their opponents and how poorly they were performing.
It’s the kind of thing that belongs more on a school playground than in the supposedly intellectual arena of politics.
I was especially disappointed, since character-bashing electioneering was essentially over and I had expected the madness to fade and common sense to kick in.
So here’s something for us voters to consider when it comes to the politicians who represent us on a municipal, provincial and national level.
If they are going to represent us, we should demand that they show some character.
It could have started immediately after last week’s elections, with a show of sportsmanship.
Instead of stomping on a falling opponent, they should be helping them up to stand side-by-side for the benefit of admiring masses; the way boxers do.
This is true character that strengthens the moral fibre of the individual, and society.
And then there’s a learning curve for those of us who go on the attack, choosing insults and confrontation over the opportunity to guide and teach.
If these traits are lacking in our leaders (and they definitely are, for the most part), then we should make it our duty to teach our leaders about the qualities we would like to see in them.
And our leaders must be open to it, because part of being a good leader is the ability and willingness to learn and grow.