By Nancy Cruse
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
With all the political campaigning and primaries going on I’ve been thinking a lot about the qualifications of a good leader.
St. Patrick himself had a bit of a rocky youth but through the trials in his life – minor things like being kidnapped and forced into slavery – he ultimately became a man of character and a great leader in the Catholic Faith.
Another of my favorite Irishmen, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was not a perfect man but was an inspiring leader. JFK’s legacy includes accusations of involvement with organized crime and numerous extramarital affairs. Despite his personal flaws he established the Peace Corps, furthered developments in the Space Race, signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963, and was a Civil Rights activist.
Two men, not perfect, yet they accomplished great things.
As I voted on Tuesday, I lacked my normal confidence in my choice of candidate. Despite that I am hopeful and you should be too.
I believe that whoever is elected as our President, despite any character flaws or lack of skill, will ultimately be able to accomplish some good things without causing irreparable harm to our country in the process. No matter who gets elected president, they are surrounded by talented people with expertise who advise them, guide them, and collaborate with them.
I may be naïve and I know I’m an optimist, but in 240 years of presidents, despite not always being the candidate of my choice and often flawed human beings, our country has continued to move forward, not always at the speed we desire, but definitely in things that matter.
Overall, we are becoming a nation that recognizes the worth and value of each human being. More and more citizens are color blind. Wars will come and go, the economy will go up and down. As long as our leaders continue to lead us forward in our humanity, things will be ok.
May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind always be at your back, and may God hold our nation gently in the palm of His hand.
Nancy Cruse has been part of the Bloomington/Normal community for the past almost 30 years. A widow, with five children, along with her late husband was a small business owner in downtown Bloomington. Now employed by State Farm, Nancy is active in the community, writing the Clare House newsletter and maintaining their Facebook page, hosting an annual Fourth of July Food Drive, a team leader and fundraiser for the Pat Nohl Lupus Walk, and a member of Toastmasters International, as well as volunteering in various capacities at Holy Trinity Church and schools. In her spare time, Nancy likes to run, bike, hike, read, sew, and be a vegetarian who occasionally indulges in a Schooners Tenderloin.
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