For Whom the Bell Tolls

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

~John Donne

Today, amidst tears of grief, celebration, and apathy, Slobo Milosevic was laid to rest in his hometown on his family's estate in Serbia.


No man is an island...

The history of this man's actions, and their consequences, is no secret from the world. Responsible for some of the most violent ethnic cleansing initiatives since WWII, many wonder how he still managed to acquire the tens of thousands of supporters at his funeral this morning.

The concept, though, is understandable. People relate to those most like them, or those who represent something to be attained. As the face of the Socialist Party, Milosevic represented the common good, or the good of society and he held the values of an atheist. The people were tired of dry religion, and they were ready to see someone in office who truly cared for the people.


Any man's death diminishes me ...

After eleven long years ending in a "revolution" of sorts, it seems impossible to think that such a man still has supporters. I wonder, though, if people really know what it is to be a leader anymore?

Should a leader simply express concern for the people? Does a leader seek positions of power? How should a leader behave when confronted with things like slander or libel? Does a leader seek his own gain? A general consensus of current quotations on leadership reveal an interesting fact:

Precious few mention that he who leads must serve.

They mention things like inspiration, influence, teamwork, responsibility. All good qualities, certainly. But how do those things happen? Why is a leader inspirational? How does he/she
obtain influence? Why would a leader be involved in teamwork? How should a leader be responsible?

If these are the only qualifications for leadership, Milosevic had it all. He inspired those under him to deeds that even now, face the scrutiny of the UN for genocide crimes. He influenced those around him to hold certain standards of ethics; that one type of man is better than another type. He encouraged teamwork; working together as a unit gets more done than just one man. And he was ultimately held responsible before the world for his actions.

I am involved in mankind...

But surely, surely, there is something more? It used to be taught that before a leader is looked up to, he is first looked down on. When a man can prove himself a servant, only then, can he be trusted as a leader. Why? It's true that a leader must uphold the best interests of the people he leads. That concept has almost become cliche through over-use and generalization.
What does that mean?

A leader does not need to have experienced every situation that each of his people have been through in order to know the best interests of the people. He serves them best by finding where their values lie and enacting policies that reflect that.

Milosevic was not a leader by that definition. The people valued life, standard of living, and a government that was open to the people. Milosevic valued selected life, standards of living for the few, and a government that governed the people with an iron rod of authority.

There is nothing to admire about a man who did his best to see his own gain rather than the gain of the people he served, and it is sad to see a people deceived into thinking that a great man ignores the values of the people.


It tolls for thee...

What is worth mourning, however, is our lost concept of what a leader truly is. When the people ignore the servant's aspect of leadership, then that man is nothing more than a benevolent dictator; he uses his office to serve himself rather than to serve others.

Even though Slobo Milosevic was "just one man," his burial symbolizes something greater. The people who came to respect him and ignore his faults, who proudly carried his portrait, who chanted his name in real grief...This is the tragedy.

Yes, the death of a man, and especially one such as Milosevic, affects everyone, but the slow death of the value of leadership should surely sound the death knoll for all.