by Caroline Myss: Well, I am not a happy camper over the mid-term elections but it’s not really about the shift in the House of Representatives and all that nonsense. 
After these past ten years, even I have had to step back and realize that the chaos and crisis in this country has what it takes to wear out the best of us. My exhaustion may be temporary or it may be permanent, but when I look at candidates who, as a part of their platform, have to deny being a witch, I simply mute my television. It’s the only response that all these candidates – regardless of party – deserve. If they lack the courage to tell me what they stand for, as if I would believe much of that, I sure am not going to listen to them substitute their absence of message with a criticism of their opponent. Don’t they realize how that makes them look? If not, I am more than willing to tell the lot of them, “I’m sick to death of all of you. None of you is qualified to lead this nation so far as I am concerned and I would fire the lot of you, if I had the power, as would any conscious American.”
I know that the politics of this nation has taken its toll on me and on many of my friends. But what has inspired me to write this piece is not really my own political sentiments but the dark matter that is the fallout from all the political madness that we breathe in each day, fallout that is so pervasive that unless we stop to take note of what is happening, we may never be able to turn the tide.
This past weekend, for example, I had the pleasure of meeting the CEO of the Girl Scouts of America because she attended my last workshop. I was absolutely delighted to discover that she was one of my participants. I had to admit to her at the onset of our conversation that the Girl Scouts was not an item on my radar. Essentially, I said, I associate the Girl Scouts with cookies. She said, “As does everyone else.”
Turns out the Girl Scouts are involved in far more enterprising activities than cookie sales. For instance, they reach out to girls who have been prostitutes and drug users and introduce them to the values and benefits of joining a Girl Scout troop. The support these girls find from being a part of a Girl Scout troop is astonishing. Then came the other astonishing tidbits, the sort that leaves you breathless for all the wrong reasons.
CEO Tamara Woodbury asked me this question, “What do you think the biggest obstacle is to inspiring girls to becoming leaders in our society?” Having just spoken about the values that the Girl Scouts stand for and consciously make an effort to communicate to their girls – honor, integrity, loyalty, courage, and patriotism – I replied that they must view leadership as a choice that would interfere with other interests.
“No,” she said. “The majority of girls feel that in order to be a leader in today’s society, they have to become liars and they do not want to compromise the values they are learning as Girl Scouts in order to become leaders.”
In the minds of these young women, leadership and lying have become one and the same choice. A leader is a liar – simple as that. Obviously we can find leaders who are not liars – sure we can. But that’s not the point, is it? The point is that these girls now associate the entire call to leadership as a compromise of integrity and honor. And whose fault is that? Surely we must all ask ourselves that question.
As we look upon our society – and others, if you want to open your eyes that wide – who stands out as a statesman or woman, as a worthy leader? How many do we have, given the size of our planetary community and the scope of the crises facing this planet? It’s a grim figure at best. Right now, I can’t think of many in our Congress or Senate who truly impress me as having the courage, stamina, or vision of someone in the league of Roosevelt, JFK, or Lincoln. Sure, they were rare men but the times they lived in were equally rare and demanding, just like now. I had hopes for President Obama and he may yet surprise me. I’ll give him some grace on that front, given the challenges that he walked into. But why are we so tragically, painfully shy of real leadership? Have we just tossed in the towel?
Leaders are a reflection of the times we live in. Chaotic times provide the setting for the rise of barbarians and I think it is fair to say that we have barbarians champing at the political bit. The mad and insane messages pouring out of the mouths of the people who actually believe they qualify to run for office – much less actually win – should have us shaking in our boots. These are not people qualified to lead us through the storms facing our country. These are people whose qualifications guarantee our ship will hit the rocks. (Half of them own the insurance companies, so they have nothing to worry about when the collisions happen.)
But as for the rest of us, well, we do have something to worry about. Like our precious youth, we, too, know we are being lied to. We, too, know we are being assaulted by one negative ad designed to generate fear and hate while never hearing one honest, clear, clean statement from any candidate whatsoever. Like our Girl Scouts and probably our young Boy Scouts, we, should be looking for any evidence of integrity and refusing to settle for anyone who has to rely on negativity and lies in order to qualify to lead. We owe our youth a better example of what we demand from our leaders. When I hear their cheap political ads, which only happens when I can’t get to the Mute button, I am left feeling insulted. I am not inspired; I am not motivated; I am insulted.
Like the young Girl Scouts of America, I, too, believe that these so-called leaders are liars. In fact, I know they are. And I know they are cowards and that they lack the qualities of leadership, integrity, honor, courage, and in some cases, patriotism, to lead this nation. In fact, I bet most of them would not qualify as Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, given the people they are today.
If we ever intend to have a nation of true and honorable leaders again, then it is up to us to lead the way, even in small ways. For example, demand an end to deceitful political ads – alert all political candidates that you are muting the sound when their ad comes on if it’s negative. The message is simple and the same no matter which party: We are not listening to negative lies any longer. Either say something truthful and inspiring, or we will “mute you.”
And enjoy a Girl Scout cookie while the mute button is on.
