Choosing a Leader

As a little girl, my hero was Atticus Finch, the fictional lawyer played by Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird. Most of you know the story. The soft-spoken attorney creates a furor in his small Southern town when he accepts representation of a black man charged with raping a local white woman. For Atticus, the decision is easy. Justice requires it.

That single act changes his children's lives forever. They experience a powerful loss of innocence as the community they love and trust is split by the ensuing tensions. For the first time, Scout and her brother Jem must confront prejudice, racism and the debilitating effects of poverty on the human psyche.

They watch their father refuse to rise to the bait as tempers flare. When Atticus is spit on by the father of the 'victim', he slowly pulls out his handkerchief and wipes his face, without stepping back or breaking his intense stare at the offender. The other man is the first to back away, spewing epithets. Jem is puzzled and somewhat humiliated by his own father's apparent pacifism.

Then one day, a rabid dog comes staggering down the family's street. The housekeeper, Cal, calls frantically for Atticus to come home. Speeding to the house, the lawyer and another man, rifle in hand, exit the vehicle. When it comes time to take the shot at the rapidly approaching, obviously deranged animal, the man thrusts the gun at Atticus. Jem is wide-eyed. This must be a mistake. He watches as his bespectacled father raises the weapon and dispatches the danger with a single shot. Seeing Jim's surprise, the other man responds, "Didn't you know your Daddy is the best shot in the county?"

As the community fractures, Atticus responds calmly with candor and reason. Jem and Scout learn just how much strength their father possesses when compared to the swagger and intimidation around him. He acknowledges the dignity of others despite disagreements and insists his children do the same. "If you just learn a single trick, Scout", he tells his daughter, "you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." Atticus believes in inherent human goodness and in the power of America's system of laws to protect the maligned, yet there is no doubt he has the strength and will to defend his family and client if other options were foreclosed. Critically, he also believes in real justice, a concept that transcends the confines of our rules and courts.

During this contentious political season, we are called upon to judge the character of the candidates. Who should lead the nation, the fighter or the war hero? Who best wears their patriotism on their sleeve (or lapel)? Who can throw or take the biggest punch, swig the strongest shot, or bowl the highest game?

When the American Film Institute took a vote on the greatest American film hero of the last century, the winner was not Rambo, Rocky or a John Wayne cowboy. Instead it was Atticus Finch; gentle, bookish, moral, yet tough to his core. He never proclaimed his authority or postured for effect. He simply acted on his principles, with bravery and integrity, leaving no doubt who the real leader was. This might not be a bad model for the next occupant of the White House.

Comments

[Pammy1151]

Catherine Crier I so miss you on television. I love this analogy. To Kill a Mockingbird has always been my favorite movie even after all these years. Good to hear from you.

[Atticus]

Thanks, Catherine! I am humbled and gratified.

[harriscrl3]

Excellent and insightful piece. Leadership comes with wisdom but wisdom doesnt always come with age.

Carol

[MariaHopeful]

I wish people, even Obama supporters would stop saying that his debate performance was so bad. Yes, he was clearly frustrated but could it be that he was tired of the old politics being played when we all know that there are huge problems to be solved? He performed brilliantly at the "Compassion Forum" when he was being asked substantive questions by intelligent people. To say that HRC won the debate when she showed not one moment of grace or graciousness, when she took every opportunity to send the debate in the gutter, is to miss the bigger question. Obama showed who the real leader, the real winner was when after enduring attacks from all three participants he was then invited to hit back, to kick Clinton after she had admitted that she intentionally lied about her Bosnian trip, and he came to her rescue. Let us not forget that he also graciously came to the rescue of Joe Biden when his campaign could have been derailed by what some deemed to be racially insensitive remarks. He also came to the rescue of Richardson when he was in danger of being embarrassed on national TV. Just on character alone, who would you say is the winner. Who appeals to the superego? Who appeals to the id?

[vernonbc]

Very well said MariaHopeful. I know who appeals to me.

[MariaHopeful]

My goodness! What an insightful piece! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Judge Crier!

[96Bravo]

Wow! I'm in love with this analogy!

[kellygrrrl]

I absolutely love the "To Kill a Mockingbird" analogy.

If that is too intellectual or "elitist" for the American people, then I guess we'll just be ordering up a big ol' heap of More of the Same

[elderly]

In previous posts I have mentioned the kinds of movies and books people of my generation were exposed to such as Atticus Finch, Tom Joad iand his mother in "Grapes of Wrath", the Jimmy Stewart character in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and the Gary Cooper characters in "Meet John Doe" and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town".

Many of us had our values enhanced by seeing such characters at an early age. Today, unfortunately, you neither have books or movies that emphasize such values. Instead you get the characters played by Stephen Siegal, etc.

It is easier to understand how a george w. bush could be elected president and the way that our country has deteriorated when you consider this, among other things.

[davidly]

Atticus Finch is only the ideal created for a world in need of his character--that is virtue, not role. The embodiment of that virtue, while helpful, is merely secondary to its value. It is the belief in those ideals embodied in that character which make the unlikely story of an anti-heroic hero so persuasive.

Considering this, I prefer Harper Lee to Atticus. She was the one who tried to teach us that we should not be afraid of Boo. In other words: We need to embody honor ourselves, before we can expect to be led with virtue.

[ghostwriter5]

Of course, Atticus Finch is a real hero to be emulated, but don't confuse the hero of the movie with the soul of the book, Scout. Scout is the center of the book. The book is her coming of age story. She sufffers in her "pink cotton penitentiary", because as a girl she is barred from many activities and friendships. She is the narrator of the book which was written by a woman and over the three year period of the book she faces mounting pressure to conform and become ladylike. As her Aunt chides her for wearing pants, Scout says, " I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said that I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants"

Things don't change much do they? Holly wood focused on the male hero aspect of the novel and we still have that same tunnel vision, buying the male hero and not giving the woman an equal shot. Read the book and then connect it to the election.

[davidly]

Good point, but their are no parallels to this election.

[ghostwriter5]

Read the book. Jem remeinds Scout that people will hate her for trying to act like a boy--in other words, if she dares to break away from gender stereotypes, she will be villified. I see it everyday in this election.

I

[erykah]

Catherine nailed it. You go girl!

[scepticalobserver]

Great book that inspired when me I was a teenager, great movie that truly brought it to life. I've been impressed with Obama's demeanor and grace, in spite of the hostility that has been directed towards him and those that he holds dear.
I've been saddened to see the vitriol that passes for public discourse these days and often long for those days of yore when Jimmy Stewart or Gregory Peck were revered , not for their swagger and braggadocio, but their humility.
I'm glad that you took the time to remind us to honor those "better angels of our nature".

[dawlishgal]

Speaking of Gregory Peck....we lived in Danbury CT when he was fliming the clinker, "Other People's Money." There was a lot of excitement in neighboring Bethel, where a scene was about to filmed in a church meeting room. My husband, knowing how much I love watching movies being made, found out about it, so we joined a group of people waiting outside the building. It was cold and snowing and we waited for over an hour. When the filming was complete, the other stars (Dean Jones, Piper Laurie and some others) emerged, waved to the crowd, and got into their limos and left. Only Peck stayed behind and chatted with the crowd.

He was a great actor, and from what little I saw of him that day, a generous and decent person. There used to be rumors that he was about to enter politics and run as a Democrat. I wish he had.

[wakeupeverybody]

Ms. Crier, your article is just like the Chicken Soup series, "Good for the Soul". I intend to keep this article and refer to it when I hear the political pundits rip into my candidate because "they" feel that he is not mean enough, or doesn't waddle in the pig sty, or raise his voice in opposition enough.

I often recall a time when an ex-president promised the nation that he would provide us with "A kinder, gentler nation. Ms. Crier, I am still awiating that nation. As long as we continue to practice "politics as usual", I fear that I will not see that new nation in my lifetime. It's time for a change.

That you for sharing your insite and for restoring a almost forgotten childhood memory.

[hopelessobama]

well you just described mccain, so good for you. i know the lawyer theme has some thinking that slimy chicago lawyer obama is atticus, but no. obama is not strong or principled. he lies at will, for selfish reasons. lies about hearing things in wright's church, lies about campaign finance, lies his position on guns and iraq. the choice is clear, the honorable john mccain or the mayor daley clone barry obama.

[Conservativeslayer]

Thanks for the laugh troll, you made my day.

[Aniruddh]

Approving torture and a senseless war, Atticus will be turning in his fictional grave at this comparison. If you don't like Obama, fine, but don't be ridiculous with these assertions.

[davidly]

It's understandable that many will try to apply the literary virtues mentioned in this brief essay to their preferred candidate, even though as you note, hopeless, such allusions aren't actually made. Whether or not one of the current three fits that bill is debatable. What is clear, on the other hand, is that the language in your reply conveys no such virtue.

[jorge999]

An intemporate venomous comment...rather like the man who spit in Atticus Finch's face.
Please be careful, hate can poison you.

[ShamusDaedal]

It seems to me that the folks wondering about who and what Obama is should just read his books. It's all in there, and far more than any of my questions is covered in detail.

Obama reveals with every word and idea that he is the genuine article. If I get my wish we will have (at last) a president that we can view with pride instead of one which must be "viewed with alarm".

The shambles left by this administration is going to need a really exceptional man at the helm. Barack Obama is that man!

[woodchips]

I agree. I have just read is first book, and I came away very impressed. For those that haven't read it, it's not about politics. It is not yet another politician's attempt to rewrite history for their benefit. Far from it. Just the story of a young man finding his place in the world. As I read it, I couldn't help but think that some of what he wrote might be used against him in this election. Although the book was written years before he entered politics, he has never backed away from or refuted anything that he wrote. I'm so sick of having my intelligence insulted by candidates who pretend to be something they are not in order to convince voters that they are "in touch", that they are "one of us". It's refreshing to see a politician who will unapologetically stand by his history.

Obama is as close to being "in touch" as we've had in a very long time. He's been poor. He's been working class. He's worked hard and paid his way to earn a good education and create his own opportunities. In reading the book, you can see the role his family played in shaping his perception of the world and, more importantly, his compassion for others. Ultimately, there is no "us" and "them". There is only us. After years of the politics of division, we need someone to bring everyone together. If anyone can accomplish that, it is Obama.

[Briarcircle]

"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience. " ~ 1962, Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 11, spoken by the character Atticus

All time favorite book. 46 years later, who knows maybe intelligence, dignity and respect are qualities we are now able to appreciate in a US President. Certainly looks like a great wave of our citizens are becoming aware and recognizing it, in spite of the drivel the MSM puts out there.