People In Love with Themselves

What is forgiveness and what is a gift? I have been watching the Democratic debates. In the most recent one, the candidates reached new lows in attacking one other.

The last question came from Judy Woodruff and it was meant to embrace the Holiday season: “Name a candidate from whom you would ask forgiveness for something—maybe that was said tonight—or a candidate to whom you’d like to give a gift.” This question was first directed to Andrew Yang. It caught him off-guard. He stared into space, befuddled, not knowing what to say. Finally he said,  “I don’t think I have much to ask forgiveness for—you all can correct me on this.” Then he opted for a gift. “I would love to give each of you a copy of my book. If you like data, this book is for you.”

I always like the idea of a book, but a book about himself? The other candidates followed with gifts of “our vision rather than theirs,” “one of us winning” and — most cringe-worthy of all — Joe Biden’s wish that the other candidates might experience a sense of “compassion” as great as his own. Is this what it takes to be a leader today? The gift of narcissism and the gift of only one’s own self-importance?

Both of the women — Warren and Klobuchar — did take a crack at forgiveness, but this was forgiveness for “being too strong” and “being too blunt.” I don’t think either of them meant it. After all, we all know that these are qualities that are valued in men. I don’t think that is what we truly ask for when we ask for forgiveness. Try forgiveness for vengeance, envy, lying, and greed. Perhaps we have lost our way on the road and no longer see ourselves when we ignore the poor, trumpet our compassion and wisdom, and politely pay lip service to anyone who mentions the planet in need.

I don’t know too many great leaders, but the ones I have known have been humble and acted more as servants and less like people in love with themselves.