Thoughts on Leadership

Many of the Crossroads participants were involved actively in the most recent Bi-state campaign, on both sides. The realization dawned on them, I think, that if they had had these discussions before the campaign began, it might have turned out altogether differently.

At Ingram’s Magazine, we find ourselves in an increasingly good position both to observe leadership in action and to help nurture it through programs like our “40 Under Forty,” featured in this month’s issue.

Given our perspective, and having seen what difference good leadership can make, we were dismayed to note the absence of either perspective or leadership in the Terri Schiavo tragedy that unfolded under all our eyes in the last sad weeks. More on that later.

Closer to home, we hosted the second in our Kansas City @ the Crossroads series and the first to be televised by our partner in this project, KCPT-TV. The Crossroads series is designed to engage area leaders in serious debates over contentious issues. Last time, the panelists discussed public school funding in Kansas. This time, they discussed the past and future of Bi-state legislation.

At the end of the often-spirited session, the proponents and opponents looked across the table at each other and realized they were not all that far apart in their perspectives. Many of these participants were involved actively in the most recent Bi-state campaign, on both sides. The realization dawned on them, I think, that if they had had these discussions before the campaign began, it might have turned out altogether differently. Most likely, the proponents would have avoided the bombast of a “Think Big” slogan that aggravated many Kansans especially and squeezed most of the rational give-and-take out of the campaign.

Indeed, the very phrase “campaign” is borrowed from the military. It makes some sense in politics, where the electorate is divided largely into rival “camps,” another military phrase. But in an issue that involves all residents of the area, an issue that all but demands consensus, why polarize the population? The Downtown Arena campaign did the same, but in a much more unseemly fashion still, creating “enemies” where none existed and gloating when reconciliation was in order.

The Terri Schiavo case displayed many of the same unfortunate characteristics. When pro-life advocates rushed naturally to Terri’s defense, those in the other camp presumed that they would take the other side of the issue—even if it did not really have another side. When they withheld their support for Terri, their friends in the media went along, and so did those who watch TV for advice. The judges in this case—another issue altogether—are like refs in a basketball game. They hear the crowd, whether they admit or not, and when they do, close calls go to the home team.

With the possible exception of Michael Schiavo’s oily, hemlock-happy attorney, I do not think anyone in America would have voted to starve Terri to death. So while the two sides remained deadlocked and at odds, and the judges played God, Terri withered away and died. Kudos to people like Jesse Jackson and the Village Voice’s Nat Hentoff, who realized that the protection of human life is worth crossing political barriers. Shame on all others who could have taken a stance, but chose to sit and observed.

On a more positive note, Kansas City is raising a wonderful class of young leaders, and we are blessed to be able to honor and encourage them through our “40 under Forty” program. After eigtht years and seven classes, we’ve now identified 280 such individuals. In a decade, they will dominate our “Power Elite,” also featured this month. We hope they learn by the mistakes of their seniors, pick up wisdom where they can and move us all forward into the future.

Regards,

Editor-In-Chief & Publisher

Editorial@IngramsOnLine.com