The Role of the Leader by Koang Chol

00:41 AM October, 10 2023

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Koang Chol-USA
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There is an intensive debate around the question of the leader’s role in the modern era. This debate has been intensified especially in the African continent where the role of the leaders has been distorted. Some African intellectuals, historians, writers, and politicians differ in identifying the role of the leader and should be. Therefore, a big difference has been widely deepened in their respective points of view. If we clearly see what historical facts taught us, we would have truly acknowledged that there were great leaders in the world. Those leaders were Martin Luther King, Nilson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, and Abraham Lincoln just to mention a few names. Those great leaders have something in common which they raised in times of crisis.
Some, however, argue that leaders are naturally born leaders with some or possess leadership characteristics. Another school of thought leans toward creating or developing leaders to effectively lead. These two points of view are philologically intended differences in which one side sees itself as right over than other side.
First and foremost, leaders must possess some leadership qualities whether naturally endowed wisdom or developing leadership characteristics. This personal position led me to illustrate some of the leaders I mentioned above:
First, Martin Luther King Jr. of the United States of America became a black leader because of the treatment of Black Americans in the United States. Although Dr. King Jr. was endowed by the Creator with superb qualities of leadership, he was also equipped with knowledge and wisdom. Those principles made him a great leader to lead Black People out of slavery to freedom. To be honest, there is no leadership without sacrificing. King went through various and difficult situations one of which was in New York City when he was stabbed by a black woman. “If I had sneezed”. King said, If I had merely sneezed, I would have died.” This indicated a leadership scarify and commitment. If he died that day, he would not have liberated the black people including the demonic black woman who stabbed King in the chest. Also, there lot of tough situations that King Jr. went through until he died advocating for black people's rights. One of the leadership strategies that was applied by King Jr. was the civil disobedience strategy. This strategy was used by Nelson Mandela against the apartheid government in South Africa.
Second, Nelson Mandela employed civil disobedience against the apartheid government which treated Mr. Mandela ruthlessly in prison. No doubt that Nelson Mandela had a remarkable lift and work that helped change the lives of millions of South African people. Throughout history, lots of people around the world have faced discrimination—where they are treated differently because of their race, skin color, gender, age, and lots of other things, too.
In 1948 the South African government introduced a system called apartheid, which furthered the country’s racial divide even more. Under the new laws, black people and white people were forced to lead separate lives. They weren’t allowed to live in the same areas, share a table in a restaurant, attend school, or even together on the train or bus. Similarly, black people in the United States face the same discrimination identically. However, Mandela accepted the sacrifice to liberate his people from the apartheid system of the white government of South Africa. These two great leaders have used peaceful means with governments to liberate their people in different countries. From these two great leaders to another great leader Gandhi.
Third, Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, an anti-colonial nationalist, and a political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule. Gandhi placed his country and people as a priority. He went through lots of challenges with the British colony, but he did not give up until the independence of his country. Likewise, Gandhi responded to his people's needs and crises such was employed by Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. in their respective countries. Throughout history, crisis-created leaders, however, the great leaders to lead in difficult times as we have seen in the British during the Second World War, with Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Fourth, Winston Churchill was one best-known, and some say one of the greatest, statements of the 20th century. Though he was born into a life of privilege, he dedicated himself to public service. After the Nazis came to power in 1933, Churchill spent a great deal of time warning his countrymen about the perils of German nationalism, but Britons were wary of war and reluctant to get involved in international affairs again.
During World War II, though the future looked grim, Churchill did all he could to keep his people the British spirit high. Through stirring speeches in Parliament and on the Radis. Also, he persuaded U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide suppliers. The role of the leader is to lead equally in times of peace as well as in times of war. A good leader provides security to his people and provides shelter and food to those in need. In war, people die but the leader sacrifices first, and forums before his people. This is a great leadership quality that is lacking in the African continent where tribalism takes a chunk of nationalism out of the equation. However, great leaders work for their people's interest by providing for necessary needs and support. Once gained, in crisis or in difficult times leaders are born. During the U.S. Civil War, a great leader was born. Abraham Lincoln was the president of the United States of America.
Fifth, and lastly not the less, Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer, politician, and statesman who became the 16th president of the United States until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the Union through the American Civil War to defend the nation as a constitutional union and succeeded in defeating the insurgent confederacy, eradicating slavery, strengthening the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy. Similarly, to many great leaders, Lincoln protected and preserved the union of the United States of America which is leading the world today. He went through several assassination attempts until he was killed by a demonic person. However, he did not stop doing the right things for the American people and the unity of America. Many might disagree with his policies but demolished good things for most American people. Despite their backgrounds, he worked for the good of America. Those great leaders have something in common which is willing to lead and die because others might live freely and respectively.
In conclusion, searching for a just leader is easy, but searching for a great leader is difficult. It is true that leaders come and go, but they come and leave at the wrong time. We need effective leaders, but if it happens leader is not leading, but looting killing, and search for a great leader are extremely important. The role of the leader is all about doing the right things for the people he leads. Then, history books will introduce him as an incredible and extraordinary statesman. Many great leaders offered themselves as servants to the people. But this principle is not yet in the African continent’s leaders. The list of great leaders I included in this article are men of principles, visions, and commitments.

 

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