Thursday, May 15, 2008
Top Banana
Lately we have been hearing the word "elitest" bandied about in describing a certain candidate for the presidency of the United States. He was accused of talking down to
blue collar workers in a speech during the Pennsylvania primary. The candidate, Senator Barack Obama to be specific, denies that he intended to 'talk down' to anyone, but admits that he may not have presented himself clearly in this instance. Politicians have often found themselves in the awkward position of trying to portray themselves as being 'one of the people', while at the same time claiming to be the best qualified candidate to lead and govern these same people.. When choosing a captain to be at the helm of the ship of state, we generally look for someone wise enough and strong enough to guide us safely through the turbulant waters of stressful times, such as wars and economic declines. He should, by the very nature of his job, be someone of extreme capability and great forsight. To put it front and center, he should be smarter, wiser, stronger and more trustworthy than most of us. He must be an elitest in all the ways that great leadership requires. He doesn't have to look like me, think like me or vote like me. What I want him (or her) to be, is the best skipper available to be at the helm of that leaky old boat, our ship of state. A great deal of refurbishing is in order.
George Morin
Auburn, Ga.
blue collar workers in a speech during the Pennsylvania primary. The candidate, Senator Barack Obama to be specific, denies that he intended to 'talk down' to anyone, but admits that he may not have presented himself clearly in this instance. Politicians have often found themselves in the awkward position of trying to portray themselves as being 'one of the people', while at the same time claiming to be the best qualified candidate to lead and govern these same people.. When choosing a captain to be at the helm of the ship of state, we generally look for someone wise enough and strong enough to guide us safely through the turbulant waters of stressful times, such as wars and economic declines. He should, by the very nature of his job, be someone of extreme capability and great forsight. To put it front and center, he should be smarter, wiser, stronger and more trustworthy than most of us. He must be an elitest in all the ways that great leadership requires. He doesn't have to look like me, think like me or vote like me. What I want him (or her) to be, is the best skipper available to be at the helm of that leaky old boat, our ship of state. A great deal of refurbishing is in order.
George Morin
Auburn, Ga.
