A Kurdish Voice on Power and Humility.
Trevor’s post on Power and Humility asks some important questions, “What will it take for us to not associate power with arrogance?” and “How can we advance to a point where we do not need proof of humility in the powerful before presuming the worst?”
Aland Mizell, a Kurdish legal expert with the University of Texas at Dallas school of Social Science has written an interesting essay titled “Nexus between politics and religion: Who is the companion of the poor?” that was published at the KurdishMedia web site. The essay, which addresses the failure of political and religious leadership to address issues of poverty, particularly with the Kurdish people, is worth reading. In the interest of addressing Trevor’s questions, I pasted a section of the essay below.
“Not everyone can become a leader, because it requires a heavy responsibility. It requires justice, not a thirst for power, fame, or position. Leadership is based on trust and focused on integrity, commitment, and compassion; it is an unwritten contract between a leader and his or her followers to ensure the best guidance, protection, and just and equal treatment of these followers. Also, a true leader must make sure he or she behaves in such a way to deserve trust, following the righteous path, keeping promises, and bringing hope to the people. The real servant leader is one who is modest, humble, and aware of the needs of those he leads. Today those two characteristics of modesty and humility are often absent from current leaders. Human beings have a social window through which they can see others, and others can see them. If leaders have a high social window, then they will think of themselves as superior and attempt to make themselves taller through their pride and vanity.
However, if this social window is set down low, then they may exhibit humility and reach out to help others and to let them see their outstretched hand. Leaders are people’s masters, but ironically are the ones who serve the people, not becoming leaders to be served. People can be led only by serving those in need of guidance. That principle emerges from almost all religions including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Robert K. Greenleaf describes the role of the servant leader as one who makes a conscious choice first to be a servant, thus one who wants to serve. That choice then causes the individual to aspire to lead and to become a leader. If we do not have servant leaders today, how can we solve the common problems like poverty, illiteracy, illnesses, and religious and ethnic conflict?”
As the rest of Mizell’s essay points out, the true power of actions are measured by Greenleaf’s test of servant leadership, namely “what is the effect on the least privileged in society?”
Aland Mizell, a Kurdish legal expert with the University of Texas at Dallas school of Social Science has written an interesting essay titled “Nexus between politics and religion: Who is the companion of the poor?” that was published at the KurdishMedia web site. The essay, which addresses the failure of political and religious leadership to address issues of poverty, particularly with the Kurdish people, is worth reading. In the interest of addressing Trevor’s questions, I pasted a section of the essay below.
“Not everyone can become a leader, because it requires a heavy responsibility. It requires justice, not a thirst for power, fame, or position. Leadership is based on trust and focused on integrity, commitment, and compassion; it is an unwritten contract between a leader and his or her followers to ensure the best guidance, protection, and just and equal treatment of these followers. Also, a true leader must make sure he or she behaves in such a way to deserve trust, following the righteous path, keeping promises, and bringing hope to the people. The real servant leader is one who is modest, humble, and aware of the needs of those he leads. Today those two characteristics of modesty and humility are often absent from current leaders. Human beings have a social window through which they can see others, and others can see them. If leaders have a high social window, then they will think of themselves as superior and attempt to make themselves taller through their pride and vanity.
However, if this social window is set down low, then they may exhibit humility and reach out to help others and to let them see their outstretched hand. Leaders are people’s masters, but ironically are the ones who serve the people, not becoming leaders to be served. People can be led only by serving those in need of guidance. That principle emerges from almost all religions including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Robert K. Greenleaf describes the role of the servant leader as one who makes a conscious choice first to be a servant, thus one who wants to serve. That choice then causes the individual to aspire to lead and to become a leader. If we do not have servant leaders today, how can we solve the common problems like poverty, illiteracy, illnesses, and religious and ethnic conflict?”
As the rest of Mizell’s essay points out, the true power of actions are measured by Greenleaf’s test of servant leadership, namely “what is the effect on the least privileged in society?”
<< Home