Week 3

“Character and commitment are played out in the realm of action, not reflection (pg 6).” This is a quote from “Mysteries of Moral Commitment,” the first chapter of a book by Anne Colby and William Damon. It discusses human morals, why we have them, why we stick to them, how to they develop, and ultimately why some people are willing to dedicate and put their lives on the line to uphold them. The chapter cites historical leaders such as Gandhi and Sakharov. In line with these examples, I’d like to connect the reading with the life of Bayard Rustin as well. Without a doubt, he can be connected to the previously mentioned quote – he never spoke about his views of justice without backing them up with extreme, nonviolent action. His commitment to his causes, particularly civil rights and LGBT rights, was clear because his actions matched his claims.

Returning to that first quote, the authors go on to say that “pondering moral problems is not the same as dedicating one’s life to their solution… It may even be that some people who live out strong moral commitments tend at times to be impatient with extensive reflection, as if they instinctively fear that it may lead to hesitation and doubt” (pg 6). While the word ‘leadership’ is not specifically mentioned here, I think that this quote does a lot to define the term. It’s easy to discuss morals and what we think is right and wrong, but it takes a lot more courage to act upon these morals despite whether or not the majority supports you. Words are useless if they are not acted upon, and it is the ability to lead a movement forward that defines leadership. Rustin fits within this definition. As I previously mentioned, he acted in accordance to what he preached.

It is noted that the lives of great moral leaders tend to “demonstrate a combination of great certainty about moral principles…with an open-mindedness about new facts and their implications” (pg 16). I agree that while this combination seems contradictive, both aspects are absolutely necessary. A moral leader and visionary needs to be confident in what they are fighting for, and be able to convince others that it is a cause worth pursuing as well. However, they also need to be able to adapt to what is definitely going to be a changing situation. Keeping “an open-mindedness about new facts and their implications” (pg 16) is just as important as being sure about one’s cause. Rustin was absolutely steadfast in his belief that changes needed to be made for civil rights and LGBT rights in the United States. In the movie about Rustin’s life, “Brother Outsider”, I remember Rustin visiting India. He spoke with Gandhi, listening to his views and seeing where his ideas coincided with what he wanted to do back in the United States. This is a kind of open mindedness, a willingness to figure out how to reach his goals more effectively.

Ultimately, a leader and a visionary is one who leads by example, who is steadfast in their goal while still open minded to change. They live what could be called a “life of moral conviction”, knowing what they believe to be right and wrong, sticking to those beliefs, and ultimately acting upon them. We tend to view these people – Rustin, Gandhi, Sakharov – as superheroes of sorts, though in the end they are simply people with a sense of responsibility to act against injustice. And I think it is important to remember that each of us are just as capable of changing the world around us.