Holier-than-thou spokesman is at it again.
My father offered an interesting perspective.... he said that Baby Boomers look for super-human leaders. They believe one person has all the answers and he can lead single-handedly.We certainly don’t believe our leaders are more than human. Just look at our childhoods. We watched high profile leaders cheat on their wives, embezzle money and refuse to take responsibility for terrible decisions.
Ryan, what is you saying? That everyone idolized their leaders before but you and your pals know better?
I've heard that the genius of founders of the United States lay in the fact that they did not idolize human beings but understood that human nature is fallible. So they put checks and balances in place to control it.
Of course, the mass of people were less educated in the past so they were often in awe of those who had some learning. But you and I and even your pappy have had educations. And the leaders we meet are just the guys and girls who sat in class with us so we are less impressed. That’s how Gen Y benefits from being part of ongoing progress.
Of course, you love to whine about the terrible things you’ve seen in your parents’ generation. But that’s so much hogwash.
How does the impeachment of Bill Clinton figure into your thesis on idol worship. Or what about Richard Nixon? I hear that he was forced out of office. LBJ? Didn't he surprise everyone by dropping out of the race before it got started? Jimmy Carter? A one-term wonder. George H Bush, a victorious war president: one term.
Of course, if you associate the 9/11 conspiracy theories with Gen Y, then you might think that you guys have taken the suspicion of leaders a step further -- into The Twilight Zone. But, of course, even there the Kennedy assassination buffs beat you to it.
Listen, Ryan, think about high school. Did you like everyone who went to school with you? Did you trust everyone? Of course not. But you know what? Some of those people or people like them are going to be your leaders in the next few years. So stop painting the immediate past dark and the future, by implication at least, white. It just isn’t so.
PS: Thanks for quoting from your dad. At least now we know where you get your smarts. You grew up with a philosopher.
Reference: Employee Evolution
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