True leader a rare species

It has been proven time and again that survival is an inherent instinct of every animal, including humans, for self- preservation. This is one of the best "gifts" from our Creator to all of us. A person walking serenely along will instinctively stop and cover his or her head by both hands upon hearing a sudden and loud bang. Or will cry "help" when in pain. Our sense of self-preservation is so strong, for example, that if we are in a bad situation -- huge debts, a broken heart, a failed career, no friends, lots of enemies -- we will still seek medicine once we get sick despite of the fact that we can "escape" from that situation when we die.

Unfortunately, most of us are lost or don't know how much we have to protect. We will tell lies, fool or bluff others, use the influence or power we have and not care who gets hurt or suffers, as long as we "protect" our own interests. And we call this an act of love for our loved ones because we want to give them a "good and easy life" and be considered a "loving and responsible" father or mother. How I wish our national leaders had this attitude. But with the "loved ones" being the whole citizenry, not just their own families.

National leadership is a conspiracy of an elected or selected group of people. The leader will develop trust and confidence with a certain individual or group of lucky few where he can confide "dark secrets" to or plans that can provide them a good and easy life, again due to their familial interest and self- preservation.

Corruption has been defined as the use or abuse of public office for private gains. It has been said that to test the true character of a person, give that person power because power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. So when such a leader stays in power longer, you can just imagine his long list of dark secrets. And when this leader is pressured to step down, he may do so if he knew that the next leader is a certain individual or one of the group of lucky few who has the president's trust and confidence. Otherwise, such a leader would condemn certain individuals as unfit to lead.

And when the new leader and group of lucky few are pressured by its citizenry to prey upon the probable dark secrets of its predecessor, you can just imagine that their instinct of self- preservation is at its maximum awareness. You can't blame them dragging their feet or performing mere lip service because if they were willing to do it honestly and in the true spirit of reform, they know it would be political and personal suicide.

True leadership is the burning desire to improve the quality of life of constituents more than their own. And only a few of these have came to this planet earth. Moses, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammad, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Mother Theresa, to name a few. Of course they were "special people". But to be given the chance to lead a platoon, a company, an organization, or a country is, in itself, a special privilege from the Creator. It is unfortunate that only a few which have this special privilege are true leaders. For those who are not, the chance to reform is always there.

I.G. ANACTA

Jakarta