First published in 2009 by Ron Drobeck

Posturing

In the animal world, there are leaders, followers and, wanna-bees. These groups are necessary for the survival of their species. If there were not hierarchies, there would be chaos. Posturing in groups of animals that live in packs, herds, flocks and, schools, is the way the followers and wanna-bees know who the leader is. The leaders posture confidence, experience, strength of leadership through intelligence, size or a combination of the two. The followers prostrate themselves and show submissiveness in front of the leaders. The strong followers less so and, the wanna-bees challenge and back off. All occasionally have to be reminded whom the leader is or leaders are.

When leaders lose their confidence due to illness or old age, the others can sense the weakness and either by themselves or as a group. All or one challenge the leader for the leader’s position. If the leader can be driven away or killed, the challenger or challengers become the leader and the cycle starts all over again. This is nature’s way to assure family survival by selecting the strongest to lead. It may be days, weeks, months or years, but sooner or later these new leaders will be challenged and will have to prove their leadership abilities over and over until they fail.

It seems, in the human animal world, we have been cursed with a leader trying to show strength by submissiveness. It appears to the wanna- bees as if there is a void in world leadership. Suddenly, we have mouthy little wanna-bees all over the place. Suddenly, respect is gone and we are starting to hear things from the followers like “Maybe the United States should not try to be a world leader. It’s time for the U.S. to step down and let the new “Big Dogs” run the show.”

For decades, the United States has been a leader. We haven’t always led well, but none the less, we have advanced the world’s technologies for ourselves and other nations as they were able. The disadvantage of being the leader is, the wanna-bees are constantly attempting to take the leadership away from you whether they are capable of leading or not. They come at you from all angles. They attack your integrity, destroy your capital, discount your importance and belittle you in front of the other follower countries.

The United States has been taken over by do gooders that are not strong enough to be true leaders. The leader they have chosen to lead them has no worldly experience but, somewhat charismatic. He is an anomaly that has stirred the imaginations of weaker followers. These kinds of leaders do well until the newness wears off and the lack of experience becomes apparent.

By apologizing for the United States and hesitating with military decisions, by failing to show dynamic leadership in times of natural and man-made crisis, other worldly leaders can see the ignorance and weakness. They know how the human world works and will attempt to take over the leadership roles from the prostrating faux leader. Our flank has been exposed and our resolve is now questioned. The major challengers, along with the lesser wanna-bees, are beginning to nip. Soon they will begin to take large chunks.

Sooner or later, we’re going to have to fight our way back to the top of the pack or run. We are going to have to posture ourselves as leaders and beat back the wanna-bees and their false leader as well as the attackers from the other packs.

Can we meet the challenge of the other packs and hold our ground?

Sophomoric third world countries cannot lead. Sophomoric second or first world leaders cannot lead.

Is it time for the United States to take what has been learned in the past and lead the world with intelligence, finesse and grace?

Thank you