Leadership

James Baker’s article on leadership (Opinion, June 5) adds to the growing body of articles and discussion that all seem to ask where leadership has gone. Leadership in times of crisis or when a clear need to do something is present readily comes forth. One could argue it is relatively easy to lead in such times because the call to action and course of action are supported by the people who want someone else to lead them to the solution. It is in difficult and challenging times in which it’s not clear either what the problem is or how to attack it that leadership does not seem to appear.

The difficulty is defining what is worth sacrificing for. In our current environment in which the forces of greed are overwhelming the forces of sacrifice, it is understandable that leadership may not exist. If we cannot agree what is worth sacrificing for or on which way to go, how can leadership exist?

Perhaps the problem is not leadership, it is followership. As we focus predominantly on fulfilling our own personal needs and desires and do not agree on sacrificing for anything (or anyone else), there is nothing to lead to. When people are led in a direction, they must willingly give something up to “support the cause.” Is anyone willing to give anything up? If not, no direction--no leadership. So perhaps the reason there is no leadership is because there is no one who is willing to sacrifice and be followers.

PETER R. WILKINSON

Mission Viejo