Quote
“Our American values are not luxuries but necessities, not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself. Our common vision of a free and just society is our greatest source of cohesion at home and strength abroad, greater than the bounty of our material blessings.” Jimmy Carter, former US President.
“Our American values are not luxuries but necessities, not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself. Our common vision of a free and just society is our greatest source of cohesion at home and strength abroad, greater than the bounty of our material blessings.” Jimmy Carter, former US President.
News
President Obama’s state visit to Britain this week has been hailed as a resounding success. Winston Churchill coined the phrase ‘special relationship’ to describe the mutual regard between Britain and the United States following the second world war. This week the rather jaded expression was recast as an ‘essential relationship’ – more practical, less sentimental, but still vitally important for both countries.
The heart of the relationship, according to President Obama, is the “values and beliefs that have united our people through the ages,” especially democratic freedom and human dignity. Out of this flows the present joint commitment to cooperating on Afghanistan, the war on Al Qaeda and supporting the Arab spring uprisings.
It was fitting, then, that the president and the prime minister, together with their wives, personally served the grilled meat and salad to the British and American servicemen and women who were the guests at Wednesday’s barbeque in Downing Street. In an age of spin and political insincerity, the gesture was genuinely well-received.
These two leaders sign the orders which commit their military personnel into combat around the world, sending them to injury perhaps, or death; yet the gesture of serving some of these ordinary servicemen and women a meal demonstrates the very values which President Obama was citing earlier.
The head of state is not superior in worth to the soldier who defends its liberty, despite the power and privilege which comes with political leadership. The human dignity of all is best ensured in a society by reducing the relational distance between prime ministers and privates from time to time. Eating together, talking face to face and serving each other as happened on Wednesday celebrates another ‘essential relationship’ – our equality and brotherhood as men and women before God.
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Robert Greenleaf has promoted the concept of servant leadership widely in the business world for 40 years, although it is far older than that (see the Last Word). For a 3 page article summarising seven practices of servant leaders, click here.
Walk the talk
How easily do we allow power and its associated trappings to increase the relational distance between us and the most junior members of an organisation or institution we are part of? Do you need to do something to redress the balance, such as making an opportunity to serve authentically, or taking time for conversation outside your normal roles?
The last word
From the Bible, Mark chapter 10, verses 42-44: “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.’ ”
From the Bible, Mark chapter 10, verses 42-44: “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.’ ”
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