Zelensky’s Heroism and Contagious Courage
John Dickerson on CBS Sunday Morning
A week ago, I wrote of my thoughts on the attack on Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin. In this post I’ll share links to other takes on the situation that I’ve found useful and insightful.
This video, titled “Why Russia is Invading Ukraine,” provides excellent historical context. David Fuller, a former reporter for the BBC who founded the heterodox Rebel Wisdom platform, points to a wide range of perspectives on the crisis to aid our sense-making amid the confusion and complexity.
In a short, thought-provoking piece by philosopher Lene Rachel Anderson, she argues that there is “a fault line between an old world and a new one running through the war in Ukraine.” In a similar vein, historian Yuval Noah Harari contends in The Economist that one of humanity’s greatest achievements has been the decline of war. This war therefore signifies high stakes: the very direction of human history.
Leadership development author, strategist, and consultant Nick Jankel, whose excellent work on transformative leadership we excerpted on these pages a year ago, explores the leadership styles, emotional intelligence, and mindsets of Putin and Zelensky, emphasizing an imperative of enacting “relational intelligence” as a missing link and necessary supplement.
I ended last week’s essay by pointing to the possibility of what I called a Planetary Age of Freedom. The phrase combines the Context Institute’s founder Robert Gilman’s idea of a coming Planetary Age, above and beyond what he calls the Empire Age, with the “Age of Freedom” that James Arbib and Tony Seba outline in their “Rethinking Humanity” report. Another phrase pointing to this emerging possibility is “the transformation age” as posited by Robb Smith, CEO and co-founder of the Integral Life platform. He argues, in a powerful essay, how and why this crisis is catalyzing this emerging age.
CBS’ John Dickerson on Zelensky’s Heroism
While viewing one of our favorite programs yesterday, CBS Sunday Morning, long-time reporter John Dickerson gave an excellent commentary, from a leadership perspective, on Zelensky’s “contagious courage” and heroism:
Before Volodymyr Zelensky became president of Ukraine, he played one on TV. Since the Russian invasion, Zelensky has become a president whom actors across the world would rush to portray.
Against Russian claims he'd fled his country, Zelensky was defiant:
"We are all here, defending our Independence, our state! It will continue to be so. Glory to our defenders! Glory to Ukraine!"
Targeted for assassination, he refused a U.S. offer of escape. “I need ammunition, not a ride,” he said.
"This may be the last time you see me," he told the leaders of the European Union.
His appeal for support was so moving, they increased their sanctions on Russia significantly.
His commitment to a nation that has been free for just 30 years refreshed the resolution of democracies that as much older.
It is a hero story. But it wouldn't have a very long run without an audience. Leaders are made by followers who get a say in what they are being led to. And Ukrainians echoed the certain trumpet.
Ukrainians stood before tanks.
Ukrainians mobbed Russian vehicles.
Ukrainians returned to their country to take up arms.
We are watching what Viktor Frankl identified the last time evil burned Europe. A Nazi concentration camp survivor, he wrote:
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances. To choose one's own way."
What Vladimir Putin has tried to snuff out, Zelensky has instead illuminated on the world stage.
Ukrainians are not squatters on some stray Soviet scrap. They are human. And we are watching them, and their leader, make the basic choice that defines what it means to be human.
Zelensky and the courageous people of Ukraine who have remained to fight this autocratic incursion are like the David versus Goliath tale in the Book of Samuel in the Old Testament. Recall David’s slingshot victory. For the sake of the world, we hope that this story concludes with yet another underdog on top.