“It’s not that I always feel the courage to stand up for what’s right when I believe something is wrong; I am simply more afraid of the consequences of the situation if I keep quiet or do nothing.”

This is my own version of what I heard Jordan Peterson saying this morning in a podcast on my way to the office. I am aware that Jordan is viewed by some as controversial, but no one can accuse him of being afraid of speaking out against the status quo or far-left views.

Throughout recorded history, individuals who have stood up for their principles and gone against the prevailing tide or mainstream opinion have faced criticism and ostracism. This phenomenon is especially evident when fear is employed to shape public opinion and create a culture of conformity. I’m thinking of Martin Luther King Jnr, Nelson Mandela, and more recently Margaret Atwood and others; willing to die for what they believed to be right, outspoken against what they believe are wrong.

In today’s society though, it appears that the ‘tail is wagging the dog’. Over the past three decades, leaders have become increasingly concerned with maintaining popularity and political correctness, than speaking out against injustice. One example is the woke movement which initially aimed to address the legitimate grievances of minority groups, led by courageous leaders who stood up for what was right. However, it has now devolved into a force that harms society as a whole. Individuals who hold conservative beliefs, grounded in principles, are growing increasingly fearful of expressing their views, lest they face attack or persecution. This fear is even more pronounced among conservative leaders, who are reluctant to uphold their convictions due to the prevailing climate of intimidation.

During Covid, many fearful leaders misled the public, exaggerating the virus’s severity to justify extreme measures. Others suppressed alternative views, dissenting voices, like scientists, experts, and healthcare professionals who questioned the information. Powers that be prioritised control and profit over individual rights and effective treatments and many were censored or ostracised.

Like the classic tale of The Emperor’s New Clothes, where two cunning weavers convinced the king that their invisible fabric was only visible to those that are worthy of their positions. The king, desperate to be admired, proudly paraded in his ‘invisible’ attire in public. His courtiers and subjects, fearful of appearing unworthy, pretended to see and admire the non-existent clothes. It took a child in the crowd to tell the truth, declaring that the king had no clothes on. This timeless story highlights how fear and groupthink can lead to collective delusion until someone brave enough dares to challenge it.

We need leaders who think independently, question the narrative, and prioritise truth over peer approval. Leaders who pay close attention to the consequences of certain opinions and navigate based on principles. Principles that exist regardless of people’s opinions. Principles that cannot be ignored. Principles that are needed for healthy living – healthy relationships, healthy families, healthy businesses, and healthy countries. One doesn’t have to be a genius to realise that something is foundationally wrong with the social fabric of the world today.

We need leaders who will tell those who need to hear, that the king is indeed naked, even though the mob managed to convince him and his followers that his clothes are made of the finest linen. Leaders who are authentically guided by principles. Leaders who have courage to say and do the things needed to create a better world. Transformative leaders, who know what they believe, but also know that what they believe is only a part of the whole truth. Leaders that are open but secure. Leaders in search of THE TRUTH. Leaders that listen to understand. Leaders that care more about those who follow them than the legacy they hope to leave behind.

I believe we can still turn this ship around, but not in the absence of courageous leaders, that are willing to stand up and speak up, because it is the right thing to do.

Love and respect
Stefan Lessing