Joaquim Mohsen

Wish for the success of your nation’s leaders, whether you voted for them or not.

There are some leaders whose election and enacted policies that I believe would spell disaster for the country. Yet if they won, I would root for their success. I want to be proven wrong.  Why would I want any different?

The alternative is to root for their failure. Which would mean I am rooting for my country to fail. For what purpose? To tell people ‘I told you so?’ To protect my pride? Abandon pride. Abandon ego. 

Once leaders hold power, especially in a democratic system, there is only so much we can do. In America, unless they commit an impeachable offense, we are stuck with them until their terms end. People have forgotten that we are one nation. One team. And I am naive enough to believe that at the end of the day, everyone wants the nation to succeed. So if that is the case, don’t root against your country because your guy or gal ain’t in office.

To clarify, I’m not saying to blindly support them in all they do. I’m not saying to cease criticism. What I am saying is lavish praise when earned. If you criticize, do so fairly and constructively, from a genuine desire to see the person grow. If you can’t do that, don’t criticize at all. (That may just be another rule in itself.) Interestingly, when people believe you are rooting for them, they are usually more likely to listen.

Perhaps I am naive. But I just can’t fathom why people would not do this. Well I can. Pride, but pride be damned. I don’t want to spend my days rooting for my country to fail. I want my country, my community, and my fellow citizens to thrive. A lot of this starts with our leaders. Democrat or Republican, Socialist or Capitalist, if duly elected, I will root for your success.