Essay Sample on Nancy Pelosi: A Model of Courageous Leadership

Introduction

Courage is a crucial character of a leader. The ability to take calculated moves that others may consider risky determines who a true leader is. In leadership, being able to stand ground and express opinions without fear of opponents determines how much the people being led believe in their leader. The US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has exhibited political courage in her role, which has been more evident since she is a woman. The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation noted her effort and awarded their 2019 courage award. According to APNews, Pelosi has risen above her political alignment to place national interest first and demand quality healthcare for all Americans ("Nancy Pelosi to be awarded JFK Profile in Courage Award"). She survived a wave of political attacks in May this year by leading with integrity and strength, yet with grace.

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Pelosi is the first female speaker to the house, and her actions were often linked to her gender, which made the political attacks fiercer. She, however, did not relent but remained focused on using her power to serve her people, not considering her political interests. Her decision made her lose people who were once friends through her political party, but healthcare was more important to her than political allies. The JKLF awarded noted her courage and congratulated her for presenting a new wave in pure patriotism and philanthropy despite challenges when holding public office, mainly because the actions were at a time that corruption and embezzlement of public funds are among top court cases for holders of public office.

Pelosi's demand for quality healthcare for all Americans has progressed through the years, and she is remembered for spearheading the Affordable Care Act has enabled millions of Americans to access affordable medical care. She was mainly attacked by affiliates of the GOP, referring to her effort as being controlling and pushing for national issues to favor her thinking. Pelosi did, however, not relent and kept demanding for the establishment of Medicaid and Medicare, which came to pass ("Nancy Pelosi to be awarded JFK Profile in Courage Award"). In 2018, she disappeared from public light to follow up on the efficiency of the system, doing so until 2019 when the JKLF noted her acts of courage and awarded her. The winner of the award must have demonstrated a consistent persistence in leadership despite opposition.

The end of her tenure as the speaker did not take away her zeal to ensure that Americans have access to quality and affordable healthcare. Her desire to create affordable medication was not politically driven; neither did she aim at using it to gain popularity. She did not intend to vie for any political seat. More Americans now enjoy the medical cover and more freedom on choosing which facilities to be treated from. Unlike many political leaders in the US who use public office to serve their interests, Pelosi is an illustration of a servant-leader. Due to the fear of political contradiction or desire to please their bosses, elected leaders often choose to forego the promises that made to the people they lead.

Attorney General William Barr has also been a subject of discussion as a leader in the US but a different light. He is deemed controversial over his sediments on liberalism. The attorney general has been quoted in various settings since he took office in February, speaking in strong terms to condemn or explain his stand (Douthat). Of particular interest was his speech at Notre Dame Law School, where he warned against the increased liberalism in religion. The speech was perceived as fiery, and was viewed as an attack against liberalists whom he referred to as "militant secularists" (Douthat). Barr revealed that his faith and religious beliefs could not be separated from him, so he carries them to work, and they influence his decisions as to the nation's chief law enforcement officer. Political analysts perceived the sediments as a threat to American democracy.

Barr's denominational orientation, notwithstanding, is an illustration of a leader who is not swayed by popular opinion. Even fellow workers in the Department of Justice distanced themselves from his opinions, viewing them as radical. For instance, Anderson Colt, a theologian of the Roman Catholic Church, said he was unaware that Barr was a fellow Catholic until he made the speech. The theologian agreed that the speech was an extreme expression of Barr's religious beliefs. He said that Barr's statements were breaking the link between the State and the church.

It is not the first time that Barr is choosing to air his unpopular opinion fearlessly. He has, in other instances, remained unshaken by harsh reception from the public but upheld his views. His words might be radical or imbalanced considering his position as the attorney general, but his courage speaks of a leader. Such a character is especially crucial at a time that the US is experiencing numerous cases of corruption among leaders. Those in the justice department failed to deal fairly with corruption suspects due to fear. The officials are either bribed or threatened with a loss of their jobs or physical harm. Being the attorney general and with the ability to stand firm is when others oppose his stand is an essential tool in dealing with corruption. Barr does not refrain from expressing his thoughts with the fear of ruining his reputation.

Barr linked his religious beliefs with his work, which sparked controversy. According to an article written by Arkes in the The American Mind, a publication of the Claremont Institute, the one who takes moral truths seriously is likely to sound like "a crank haranguing the bus queue with the demented certitude of one possessed of privileged information" practicing virtues requires courage, which Barr has shown (Arkes). His religious alignment should not form a barrier to Americans seeing his strength as a representation of the direction that Justice is supposed to take. He has also expressed other opinions on the functioning of the constitution, which more Americans agreed with. His choice of words in the Notre Dame speech did not please a significant number of citizens, which has sparked considerable debate (Arkes). When politicians express their opinions genuinely or using strong words, their supports agree because of their political orientation, considering what their rivals think about it. In the same way, Barr represents a leader who is likely to bow down to public pressure.

Conclusion

Different virtues and skills characterize leadership, some that are inborn and others instilled through experience. Courage is one of them; the ability to rise above discouragement and hostility to make decisions that benefit the people they lead. Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker and William Barr, the current Attorney general, have demonstrated the ability to remain steadfast and express their opinions without the fear of political contradiction or losing allies. Although working in different capacities and different departments, they have demonstrated the courage to stand political and public pressure.

Works Cited

Arkes, Hadley. "Bill Barr Gives a Speech: Appraising Attorney General Barr and His Critics." The American Mind, 24 Oct. 2019, https://americanmind.org/essays/bill-barr-gives-a-speech/.

Douthat, Ross. "Bill Barr, the Man From 1980." The New York Times, 19 Nov. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/19/opinion/bill-barr-federalist.html"Nancy Pelosi to Be Awarded JFK Profile in Courage Award." AP NEWS, Associated Press, 7 Apr. 2019, https://apnews.com/262594f1de234b1989fa2a15745579de.