Individualism- Past and Present Leadership

Lately we in class we have discussed the individual in the modern world, the community in the modern world, the individual in the ancient world, and the community in the ancient world. I have some simple comparisons for this. First, let me state that the people of the past and the people of the future are similar. Creon is like many politicians today, thirsty for power. However, I am quite sure that our politicians wouldn’t throw a girl in a cave nor deny burial rights. Civil rights have forced changes among the people of the past and the present. But these changes are nothing compared to the similarities that still exist. In both the modern and past people are power hungry. It is sad to think that we have not changed a little, have not tried harder to become better, and have remained all the things we abhor. Power is something that must be taken with wariness, because if taken with open arms, the best intentions will be ensnared by paranoia and greed. This is a world we live in; this is a world our ancestors lived in. Democracy is the closest we have to fixing this, but it is nowhere near close. I find the best individual as a leader is the person who doesn’t want the power, but who wants to do good in the world. It is somebody who worked their way up the ladder doing the things they felt were right. If you want to find an effective leader, a strong leader, a righteous leader, you look to the person who did the most wanting the least. That is the true quality of the individual leader.