Thoughts on Relationships
I was inspired to pen down my thoughts after watching an episode of Commander in Chief; the series starring Geena Davis as the first woman President of the great US of A. The one I caught involves President Mackenzie Allen's first state dinner with the President of Russia. During the press conference, the Russian leader talked about the challenges of running a democracy and insinuated that President Allen should know as several of her Cabinet members had resigned that very day. This was 2 weeks into her presidency, which she took over as Vice President after the elected President died, and she was fighting a belligerent Speaker of the House played by Donald Sutherland.
What I liked about the show is the fact that Allen is a woman with strong moral courage who is not afraid to speak her mind. Of course, there are constraints in doing so in public, and she has to learn to navigate the treacherous waters that is Capitol Hill. While I've my misgivings about the self-righteous, beacon-to-the-world, manifest destiny beliefs of the Americans, I must applaud the fact that they truly believe in a government of, by and for the people. The protagonist engages in delicate horse tradings and dances through an intricate web of interests and agendas to get her job done. If you think she has her job cut out for her as Commander in Chief, you're sorely mistaken. In fact, while she commands respect because of the office she holds, she has to use her acute political acumen and womanly charms to achieve what she sets out to do.
Which brings me to what we do in our own lives. In some ways, we also have to navigate though the various relationships that criss-cross our lives. Family, friends and colleagues are people who define us and whom we depend on for our sense of identity and belonging. And if we treat them well, they're testimony to a life well lived. Of course, we need to do some horse tradings, albeit in more subtle ways, to get what we want by first catering to what they want. We need to play ball with those in the office to ensure that we are not disliked by those we see everyday so that our workplace doesn't become a hell hole. All in all, while we need not be Machiavellian in the way we conduct ourselves, we do need to be savvy around people. Those who think the best or the worst of everyone do themselves a dis-service by giving others an excuse to brand and banish them to the suburb of human relationships. I hope I'm making sense but it is close to midnight after all ; ) Night ...
What I liked about the show is the fact that Allen is a woman with strong moral courage who is not afraid to speak her mind. Of course, there are constraints in doing so in public, and she has to learn to navigate the treacherous waters that is Capitol Hill. While I've my misgivings about the self-righteous, beacon-to-the-world, manifest destiny beliefs of the Americans, I must applaud the fact that they truly believe in a government of, by and for the people. The protagonist engages in delicate horse tradings and dances through an intricate web of interests and agendas to get her job done. If you think she has her job cut out for her as Commander in Chief, you're sorely mistaken. In fact, while she commands respect because of the office she holds, she has to use her acute political acumen and womanly charms to achieve what she sets out to do.
Which brings me to what we do in our own lives. In some ways, we also have to navigate though the various relationships that criss-cross our lives. Family, friends and colleagues are people who define us and whom we depend on for our sense of identity and belonging. And if we treat them well, they're testimony to a life well lived. Of course, we need to do some horse tradings, albeit in more subtle ways, to get what we want by first catering to what they want. We need to play ball with those in the office to ensure that we are not disliked by those we see everyday so that our workplace doesn't become a hell hole. All in all, while we need not be Machiavellian in the way we conduct ourselves, we do need to be savvy around people. Those who think the best or the worst of everyone do themselves a dis-service by giving others an excuse to brand and banish them to the suburb of human relationships. I hope I'm making sense but it is close to midnight after all ; ) Night ...
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