By Fleming El-Amin
Divisiveness is contagious. When leaders model carelessness with the truth and cruelty toward the vulnerable, those habits spread through the body politic like a fever.
But America's story is bigger than any season of division. Ours is a history of progress overcoming systemic injustice — of ordinary people who refused to accept that things must stay as they are, and who organized, voted, and built until the country moved.
Character matters in leadership. Integrity, accountability, and concern for the public's welfare are not partisan values; they are the minimum qualifications for public trust. When we evaluate those who seek to lead us, we should measure them first by their character and their conduct toward the least powerful among us.
The antidote to what is contagious, careless, and cruel is a citizenry that is engaged, informed, and unwilling to look away.
Adapted from the original article on the ACGG website. Edit this post in the admin to publish the full original text.