The Foibles of Leadership: A New York Times editorial holds up to our examination A German Metamorphosis: “Despite the publication of photos of
him beating up a policeman at a 1973
demonstration, Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer of Germany should be
allowed to continue serving his
country.” And a New York Times op-ed piece suggests that Moral Leaders Need Not Be Flawless. “Mr. Jackson’s situation illustrates the need to acknowledge
that our leaders will occasionally disappoint themselves and
us. If we demand that they be perfect, we risk
disillusionment when their shortcomings surface. The
underlying flaw of our unwritten compact with leaders is the
desperate need to believe that they must be pure to be
effective. The best leaders concede their flawed humanity
even as they aspire to lofty goals.

” This does not mean that we should not hold leaders
accountable for their actions. To his credit, Mr. Jackson
acknowledged his failure, sought the forgiveness of his
family and followers, and provided for his infant daughter.
He is willing to practice the same moral accountability he
preaches.” The author, Michael Eric Dyson, a professor of religious studies at
DePaul University, wrote the controversial I May Not Get There With
You: The True Martin Luther King Jr., in which he chose not to shy away from discussing King’s moral flaws.