We Need A...Gladiator

In the movie, Gladiator, Russell Crowe played a Roman general in the service of the Caesar, Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher Caesar.  He is betrayed by Caesar's son, having his family (his wife and son) murdered and his property vandalized to ruin.  He escapes the same fate, only to be captured and turned into a slave put in the service of entertaining the masses as a gladiator.

In this movie, one of my favorites, I was profoundly struck by the character Crowe brought to the screen.  He was a leader of such unparalleled moral strength, integrity, determination and valor that his men committed their lives to his care without hesitation.  His character so impressed me that I would have gladly given my life over to service under his command!  His men knew their leader would never abandon them, that whatever action he asked of them it was not for ill or a pointless sacrifice, that he would not ask of them anything he himself would not do.  That is the kind of leader that is fit to command men!

I often long for such a leader in today's world, one who would command the allegiance of men based upon the strength of his character and the integrity of his vision. I wish these were characteristics that President Obama were gifted with.  The president (and I hardly follow politics, so take whatever I have to say with a grain of salt) seems to give quarter at every opportunity, scarcely taking the reins of leadership and directing the country.  He seems to capitulate on every issue that is brought before him, the latest being the issue of employees having access to birth control from the insurance provided by their employers. Some of these employers, religious folk being the most vocal, protest providing such care on grounds  that it conflicts with their morality (yeah, I thought that was funny, too!). 

Now, a leader leads.  A leader does not follow.  President Obama, I must confess, has given me a new found respect for George W. Bush!  Yup, I said it.  President Bush, though I cared not for him or his administration, at least led, he did what he wanted and that was it.  President Obama wants to do things but is so disgustingly conciliatory that I believe he is diminishing his value as a leader.  A leader tells you what the plan and the vision is and then bends all resources to that end, whether you like it or not.   You go along or get out of the way.  I worry for President Obama and predicted exactly what he has become:  The David Dinkins of the White House. I  thought it was too early for a black man to appear in the White House and wished he had waited until the country recovered from almost a decade of George W. Bush.  But alas, it was not to be.  I worry about what President Obama's legacy will be precisely because he is a black man and there is so much riding on his presidency as the first black president.

Though, we should stop calling him a black president.  The man is bi-racial.  I sometimes think it a measure of disrespect to his white mother to always call him black instead of bi-racial.    But that is the "one-drop rule" still lurking around in the American consciousness, that if you have even one drop of black blood in your veins you are considered black for all intents and purposes.  This was a law at one time in the early 20th century. Many states passed laws called Racial Integrity Acts, meant to further relegate people of African descent and circumscribe their activity in American society. 

People want to follow a strong leader, they want to know they are in good hands.  If there are sacrifices to be made on his watch, a good leader makes those sacrifices with his subjects, he will not ask of his people what he himself will not do.  Though President Obama has eloquence at his fingertips  (a small accessory to leadership) he needs strength and determination to overcome the obstacles republicans throw his way.  He needs to understand there are times when it is necessary to be unyielding as a leader so the people are able to identify your character and principles.   He does not seem to understand or be in tuned with the people, their needs and prayers, if you will. 

Yes, what we need is NOT a hero, but a Gladiator!