Why 'Bye bye' seems to be the hardest word

With no disrespect to Elton John or Tom Rice 'Sorry' isn't the hardest word... 'bye bye' seems to be.

There has been a lot of the trouble in the middle east since the beginning of the last year – all because the nations' leaders (dictators, actually in democrat clothing) refuse to step down. Countless of people have been killed and countless lives shattered over the years because autocratic leaders cannot see beyond their self-convictions (thanks equally to ego-stroking by corrupt cronies) that they are best for the people they rule.

In fact to find such leaders one would not have to look just at the middle east but all most anywhere in the world where the checks and balances of democracy have not been fully realised (i.e. places where the constitution is as pliable as putty and can be amended or bent at will, thanks to an opposition that is debate-boycotting, in some cases, or impotent or non-existent, in others).

My homeland Bangladesh would be as good an example as any. Currently we have two women leaders at the helm of the two major political parties – both leaders have inherited the post. One after the assassination of her father (perpetuated to be the 'Father of the Nation') and the other after the assassination of her husband (perpetuated to be the 'Declarer of Independence').

It's all about ME!

Now this might seem completely a bizarre outlook and the height of egotism, but sometimes I believe that the world is only at most 100/150 years old and has been developed for my sole entertainment and for the stage that is my life.

In other words my life is nothing short of my life-long movie, brilliantly choreographed by millions of extras who are only on stage and performing their roles when I am around.

Loud and proud

Ever notice the boisterous person in a group? The person who naturally assumes control of a group and tries to bolster authority (albeit all in good humour; at least until someone else in the group tries to assume control as well and then the tempers begin to soar).

I never understood the need to take on such control over a group – in what is guaranteed to be a thankless job, plagued with ego clashes and undue headaches. But then I would be relegated to the shameful (as far as those doing the relegation are concerned) title of 'not a born leader' or, worse still, 'follower.'

Unashamedly, however, I have been known to be good leader (even if I am the only person who knows it), it's just that I do not feel a compulsion to have to take the lead in every single encounter – my ego is not frail like that to only be able to give orders but not take it.

The problem is that when you have too many 'leaders' you have a winning formula... to ultimately lose. Leaders in my mind, look, listen, understand,and then act – most people think that leadership starts with acting first. This sprouts from an unhealthy prostate of the mind – too much ego and too frail a self-worth, where 'taking control' is all too often mistaken to also mean 'getting respect.'