Leadership

[Res Ipsa]

The day that Martin Luther King, Jr. died, candidate Bobby Kennedy was scheduled to speak at the opening of a campaign office in Indianapolis. He tossed aside his planned stump speech and addressed a crowd from the back of a flatbed truck. He first announced that MLK had died and then spoke to the crowd.

Facing the now stunned and disbelieving audience, some of whom were weeping at their loss, Kennedy gave an impassioned approximately six-minute speech on the need for compassion in the face of violence that has gone down in history as one of the great extemporaneous political speeches in the modern era. A New York journalist close to Kennedy observed that the candidate “gave a talk that all his skilled speechwriters working together could not have surpassed.” John Lewis, a seasoned veteran of the civil rights movement who helped organize the rally, and today a congressman from Georgia, recalled that when Kennedy spoke the crowd hung on his every word. “It didn’t matter that he was white or rich or a Kennedy,” said Lewis. “At this moment he was just a human being, just like all of us, and he spoke that way.”

To help try and explain the tragedy, Kennedy recalled the words of Aeschylus, whose words from Agamemnon had comforted him following the assassination of his brother: “He [Aeschylus] once wrote: ‘Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.’” Kennedy went on to attempt to calm the crowd’s growing anger about King’s killing with these words:“What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black. . . .“We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times; we’ve had difficult times in the past; we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; it is not the end of disorder. . . .“But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life, and want justice for all human beings who abide in our land.“Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and to make gentle the life of this world.“Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and for our people.

”The news of King’s violent death at the hands of a white gunman had sparked outrage and violence across the country. Riots exploded in several cities, including the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Regular army troops were called into action by President Johnson to bring the situation under control. But in Indianapolis, the crowd at Seventeenth and Broadway had taken Kennedy’s words to heart and had quietly left the rally and returned home. “We walked away in pain but not with a sense of revenge,” said Crawford.

Both whites and blacks who witnessed the Indianapolis speech described what they experienced in religious terms. Evans, the young high school student, said she has long held an “emotional memory” of Kennedy’s remarks and remembered feeling as if the candidate had “laid his hands upon the audience” and healed them, deflating the powerful anger that surged through the packed audience. “It was worth the wait,” she said.Robinson believed that Kennedy’s speech and temperament changed the minds of those who were angry about King’s death. “I was thinking revenge right away,” Robinson remembered. “But then the words [Kennedy] used and his calmness made me understand the right response in the face of Dr. King’s assassination. His [Kennedy’s] speech made me reflect on what Dr. King stood for and that was peace and getting together and creating change. It made me realize one person could make a difference.”

This is what leadership looks like in the face of tragedy.

[Gunnar]

Thanks for posting that, RI! I can't think of anything more antithetical than that to the actions and rhetoric of Trump's vengeful and cruel approach to anyone who is not obsequiously and unconditionally loyal to him alone. What our nation and the world needs is many more people and, especially leaders, with an attitude like this.

[Whiskey]

The day that Martin Luther King, Jr. died, candidate Bobby Kennedy was scheduled to speak at the opening of a campaign office in Indianapolis. He tossed aside his planned stump speech and addressed a crowd from the back of a flatbed truck. He first announced that MLK had died and then spoke to the crowd.

Facing the now stunned and disbelieving audience, some of whom were weeping at their loss, Kennedy gave an impassioned approximately six-minute speech on the need for compassion in the face of violence that has gone down in history as one of the great extemporaneous political speeches in the modern era. A New York journalist close to Kennedy observed that the candidate “gave a talk that all his skilled speechwriters working together could not have surpassed.” John Lewis, a seasoned veteran of the civil rights movement who helped organize the rally, and today a congressman from Georgia, recalled that when Kennedy spoke the crowd hung on his every word. “It didn’t matter that he was white or rich or a Kennedy,” said Lewis. “At this moment he was just a human being, just like all of us, and he spoke that way.”

To help try and explain the tragedy, Kennedy recalled the words of Aeschylus, whose words from Agamemnon had comforted him following the assassination of his brother: “He [Aeschylus] once wrote: ‘Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.’” Kennedy went on to attempt to calm the crowd’s growing anger about King’s killing with these words:“What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black. . . .“We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times; we’ve had difficult times in the past; we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; it is not the end of disorder. . . .“But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life, and want justice for all human beings who abide in our land.“Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and to make gentle the life of this world.“Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and for our people.

”The news of King’s violent death at the hands of a white gunman had sparked outrage and violence across the country. Riots exploded in several cities, including the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Regular army troops were called into action by President Johnson to bring the situation under control. But in Indianapolis, the crowd at Seventeenth and Broadway had taken Kennedy’s words to heart and had quietly left the rally and returned home. “We walked away in pain but not with a sense of revenge,” said Crawford.

Both whites and blacks who witnessed the Indianapolis speech described what they experienced in religious terms. Evans, the young high school student, said she has long held an “emotional memory” of Kennedy’s remarks and remembered feeling as if the candidate had “laid his hands upon the audience” and healed them, deflating the powerful anger that surged through the packed audience. “It was worth the wait,” she said.Robinson believed that Kennedy’s speech and temperament changed the minds of those who were angry about King’s death. “I was thinking revenge right away,” Robinson remembered. “But then the words [Kennedy] used and his calmness made me understand the right response in the face of Dr. King’s assassination. His [Kennedy’s] speech made me reflect on what Dr. King stood for and that was peace and getting together and creating change. It made me realize one person could make a difference.”

This is what leadership looks like in the face of tragedy.

Fani Willis agrees. Great post.

[Whiskey]

Dude keeps poop and porn in his pocket. Won’t be taking advice from him.

This was said by one governor, about another governor. Is the author or the subject a better leader?

Don't believe it?

[Hound of Heaven]

This is what leadership looks like in the face of tragedy

When Donald Trump boarded Air Force One to visit Americans in North Carolina who lost everything in the hurricane, marking his first official trip on the aircraft as the 47th President, do you view that as a demonstration of leadership, Captain Progressive?

[canpakes]

This is what leadership looks like in the face of tragedy

When Donald Trump boarded Air Force One to visit Americans in North Carolina who lost everything in the hurricane, marking his first official trip on the aircraft as the 47th President, do you view that as a demonstration of leadership, Captain Progressive?

No; he had to be told which plane to board.

[Kishkumen]

This is what leadership looks like in the face of tragedy.

Indeed. How far we have devolved from that level of humanity, leadership, and civilization.

[Hound of Heaven]

This is what leadership looks like in the face of tragedy.

Indeed. How far we have devolved from that level of humanity, leadership, and civilization.

Well, that's the outcome when a political party permits a Marxist ideology to dominate their longstanding platform advocating for the average American. Currently, average Americans are opposing the party that permitted the Marxists to seize control, which is enabling the Republicans to attract millions of new voters, voters who have no interest in being governed by Marxist progressives like those who comment here.

Trump's straightforward leadership will restore America's greatness because he prioritizes results over ideological sentiments. He shows no concern for how Canpakes the main stooge, feels, he disregards Captain Progressive's feelings, he doesn't care about to Marcus the Carcass's emotions. His sole focus is on overcoming the Marxist ideology that you and the other individuals here hold in such high regard. That's true leadership!

[Kishkumen]

Well, that's the outcome when a political party permits a Marxist ideology to dominate their longstanding platform advocating for the average American. Currently, average Americans are opposing the party that permitted the Marxists to seize control, which is enabling the Republicans to attract millions of new voters, voters who have no interest in being governed by Marxist progressives like those who comment here.

Trump's straightforward leadership will restore America's greatness because he prioritizes results over ideological sentiments. He shows no concern for how Canpakes the main stooge, feels, he disregards Captain Progressive's feelings, he doesn't care about to Marcus the Carcass's emotions. His sole focus is on overcoming the Marxist ideology that you and the other individuals here hold in such high regard. That's true leadership!

What a bunch of groveling drivel. You can send Trump your love letter directly. We don't want to watch you gratify your desires.

[Hound of Heaven]

What a bunch of groveling drivel. You can send Trump your love letter directly. WE don't want to watch you gratify your desires.

We? Do you mean you and Professor Severus Snape when you say "we"? Or all the Marxists progressives who post here? I'm not sure what's going on!

You do realize Trump is an Alpha leader? Does that bother you?

Alpha Leader
1. Dominance and Control
2. Confidence and Assertiveness
3. Decisivness
4. Competitive