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INTRODUCTION: Let Them Eat Cake!
“LET THEM EAT CAKE!” is one of history’s most famous quotations, popularly attributed to Queen Marie Antoinette of France.
The story goes that when she was informed that French peasants had no bread to eat, she supposedly responded: “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche!” More accurately translated, this means, “Let them eat brioche!” Brioche is a rich, buttery French bread.
But here’s the interesting historical twist: Marie Antoinette almost certainly never said it! The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau attributed a similar remark to an unnamed “great princess.” The association with Marie Antoinette emerged much later, in 1843, some fifty years after her execution. Historians believe the story became a convenient way of portraying her as an insensitive, extravagant aristocrat, hopelessly detached from the struggles of ordinary people.
The leadership lesson, however, is timeless. Whether or not she actually uttered those words, the phrase has become one of history’s most enduring metaphors for leadership disconnected from the lived realities of the people it governs. Sometimes, a leader’s greatest failure is not necessarily what they say, but how far removed they have become from the realities their people face. And that is a lesson worth remembering!
REFLECTION (or the Lack Thereof) AT THE REFLECTING POOL
This, to me, speaks volumes about Donald Trump and the Republicans heading into the American midterm elections. There is something profoundly ironic about standing at the Reflecting Pool and failing to reflect on the economic suffering of the people. More importantly, failing to craft a message that acknowledges their anxieties and offers reassurance about their economic realities.
Consider Trump’s November 2 address. The irony is hard to miss:
That is precisely the point Barack Obama was making in his October 24 remarks about Trump’s apparent obsession with gold ornaments, White House ballroom decorations and other renovations. Obama’s criticism was essentially that the president seemed more preoccupied with beautifying the White House than addressing the financial pressures confronting American families. And Trump apparently didn’t get it. Neither, it seems, did much of his administration.
The night before the midterms, when the administration had a precious opportunity to make its closing argument to voters, the occasion was squandered on algae, rusted pipes and renovation details! The irony is almost too rich: to stand at a Reflecting Pool and do anything but reflect!
Staying with the water metaphor, perhaps tonight the political descendants of Marie Antoinette will encounter a tidal #wave that jolts them out of their leadership stupor. A blue wave!
A BAD REFLECTION
Perhaps the most extraordinary detail of Trump’s address was that he actually joked about renaming the Reflecting Pool after himself! That is almost too symbolic to ignore.
The tragedy of leadership is not always that leaders fail to see the suffering of the people. Sometimes, they see it but are so preoccupied with their own reflection that they fail to respond.
At the Reflecting Pool, America needed a reflection on the economy, affordability and the anxieties of ordinary families. Instead, it got a presentation on rusty pipes by rusty leadership. Marie Antoinette may never have said, “Let them eat cake.” But the disconnect her alleged words represent remains very real.
Leadership is not about admiring the reflection of power. It is about reflecting on the realities of the people.
And granted, introspection and self-reflection have never exactly been Trump’s strongest attributes. But what about those around him? Where are the advisers and associates with their heads properly screwed on, courageous enough to offer honest feedback? A leader’s blind spots become even more dangerous when surrounded by people who refuse to hold up a mirror.
CONCLUSION: For Offering Cake, You Eat Pie!
Trump and the Republicans may well be in for a trouncing at the polls tonight. For offering cake, they may end up eating humble pie!
The expression “Let them eat cake” has endured as a timeless metaphor for an elite so disconnected from the realities of ordinary people that it cannot even comprehend their suffering. Though the historical accuracy of the quotation remains questionable, its cultural and political significance has endured for centuries.
There is a leadership lesson here that transcends American politics: When leaders become more preoccupied with the appearance of the institution than with the experience of the people it exists to serve, they have a serious leadership problem.
The people are not looking for leaders who merely admire their own reflections. They are looking for leaders who have the humility to look beyond themselves, the empathy to understand their struggles and the courage to do something about them.
Because ultimately, leadership is not about the splendour of the palace, the gold on its walls or the beauty of its reflecting pools. It is about the people!
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76 Comments
Thank you Osofo… This is gold!!!
Thank you too, bro. Hmmm… Eugene, may the Lord ‘engrace’ us. The journey is long, rough and tough. But “we shall overcome.”
Brilliant and spot on. What do we do with decent Christian leaders, some of them personal friends of you and I, who are already caught in the honorific doctorates problem? They are called “doc” and now even the title pastor has been edged out from their designation!
Osofo, hmmm. Something’s gone wrong with our discipleship. Really wrong. Have we believed a different Gospel?
Hmmm, I’ve always wondered why the urgent desire for this. I once listen to an old American pastor who insisted on being called brother xxx simply because the title “pastor” was too big for him. Very nice piece…
Amen. Call me “brother.” If we can’t take that then we’re in real trouble. It amazes me that the titles and accolades Paul had earned and was now calling “dung” in the light of the Gospel there has arisen another generation that are rather ‘dunging’ the Gospel for these things that don’t last. God forbid any further such!
I’m really inspired
HIS – Humility, Integrity, and Simplicity 😎
Thank you boss
May we be HIS people; nothing more, nothing less, Solomon.
Thanks Doc. You have said it all. Thanks very much
Thanks Richmond. Now that we know these things, blessed are we if we do them, right?
Powerful, really a lot to learn. This needs to be reposted over and over again till it sinks deep
Even I need a constant reminder, I agree. The ego is strong but the cross is stronger!
Absolutely
Thanks Doc for sharing. This is a wake up call for us all. It is not the degrees that make us fulfil our God given purpose.
God help us to major on the majors.
If you still think Dr Jill Biden shouldn’t be called a ‘Dr’ because hers was a PhD, then Sir, how different are you from others who take fake degrees??
Dear David, I’m not saying she shouldn’t be called ‘Dr.’ I’m saying her (or my) identity shouldn’t be rooted in a title.
What a fine read! Love the end! “the thing about titles is that if you’re good you don’t need them; if you’re not they won’t help you.”
God help us, Evangeline!
May I be H.I.S person. Word! Thank you for this reminder.
Fantastic piece. Our real identity should not be rooted in titles but whose own we are. We are for Christ, purchased by His own precious blood. If we come to appreciate this , there will not be a grudge when when we are addressed without our titles (even if we have genuinely earned them).
God bless you Sir for coming up with this write-up.
Yes, yes and yes! We are who God says we are, irrespective of what we have/don’t have, irrespective of what we do/don’t do. That’s something I have written in my personal mission statement to keep me grounded.God ‘engrave’ us!
HIS people. That really got me. God bless you, Sir. I do remember your piece on the least spoken about “C” when it comes to marriage. It has blessed me tremendously. This piece is blessing me greatly.
Wow, great read! Indeed, we need this reminder, that our lives don’t consist of the abundance of the things we possess, but the essence of life is one in which our Father is well pleased.
Interesting read!
God bless you.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Let us all Christian strife to be H.I.S wherever we are. Even in our home environment. That’s where it actually begins!
Well said Doc.
Favorite line sums it all for me:
“The the thing about titles is that if you’re good you don’t need them; if you’re not they won’t help you.” Heaven help us!
Thanks for this Dr Perbi
An excellent piece. God Bless you.
We are HIS people.
The self life is opposed to the Christ life. God bless you man of God.
These are very serious thoughts we as youth need to consider as the world gets more and more materialistic. I’ll add degrees to the materials. I’ve been disgusted by the pride people exhibit after obtaining a degree or promotion: that feeling of importance or “better than everyone else”. This even affected my pursuit for further education. I’ve told myself I prefer Mrs to Dr anyday anywhere. God help us to let this mind be in us that is also in Christ Jesus…
Amen to your prayer that “God help us to let this mind be in us that is also in Christ Jesus!” ‘Mrs’ is a serious title too oo, Seryda. 🙂
The ego is obviously very strong; ego to prove that you’re not a failure, that you’re also enjoying life. It’s become a bait for caging most great talents. Ego to prove their ‘supposed’ success and buy fame and recognition. God be our reminder and humbler always
So sad yet so true, Joseph!
Great piece…God bless you
We are indeed salt and light of the world Dr. But when we have misplaced identity and purpose we will fall prey to these things. The Good Lord be our helper. “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. Mt.5:13
Sad,I didn’t want this article to end. God bless you Sir
Great piece. I pray we’ll read and heed. Jesus Christ is our mentor, He never cared about titles. May we be His followers indeed.
The best way to paint a picture of Humility Integrity and Simplicity with words. Beautiful write up, and I am ministered to. God bless you.
Big Bro, I think you couldn’t have said it better. In my Church, Pentecost, we know our humble beginnings and where God has brought us now. So those titles and accolades are not part of us, Humility and quest to be like Jesus Christ is our goal. Said for today’s Christians
Namesake, this is an urgent matter and may we be HIS people. I beg to differ that the Church of Pentecost doesn’t have this challenge. I see the scramble to be Evangelist, Deacon(ess), Apostle etc. and how some people can’t even say/write their name without the title. The flesh is strong everywhere; but the cross is stronger! I agree with you: “Jesus Christ is our goal.” CHRIST IS ENOUGH!
You are always a blessing, even from afar. Thanks for this important lesson. Regards to the family.
Thanks for the encouragement, Emmanuel. You know Luke 17:10 always.
Amazing and thought provoking. Enjoyed every bit of it. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Roland. Grace for the doing!
HIS indeed! By our works, not by their titles.
Thank you Yaw.
Yes and amen, boss lady 🙂 Impact, not accolades!
Thanks Yaw for this excellent write up. Take home for me was the part on Authentic leadership: Humility, Integrity and Simplicity. This canker must be nipped in the bud ASAP!
There is an older generation that fell for this. Franklin, we shouldn’t let it happen to this and the following ones, God being our help.
Thanks Dr, CEO, Chairman, Evangelist, Rabbi Y. Perby 🙂
Time to put a red light to our crazy obsession to titles. From one-man CEOs to Senior Apostle-Generals and focus on the job, as meek Moses did, amd as Jesus did.
Hahahaa! This is the first time I’ve been called a Rabbi. See how the stroking and stoking of the ego goes? Lol! I love your expressions: “put a red light to our crazy obsession” and “focus on the job.” Heaven help us!
Brilliant write-up. Thanks for sharing it. A lot of people in recent times are just so crazily obsessed with titles.
Amen, great and wonderful write up.
If only we will “shut up” and concentrate on to fulfill our God given assignments here on earth.
This is a spot on write up worth reading over and over again.👏🏼👏🏼 God bless you Dr..Yaw Perbi
You aptly captured it! The truth of the matter is that these degrees and titles are but a pale shadow of one’s real self. The acquisition of degrees and insistence of being addressed in a particular manner don’t change a man nor will it contribute to earning a place God’s kingdom. May the Lord help us to remain humble and sober minded.
Well articulated truth. Thank you Yaw Perbi.
A large dose of HIS will help us to go very far in almost every part of our lives individually and as a Nation.
This is a very thought provoking post. It’s all a game of power play and ego stroking. A game that sadly even men of God are not above.
http://www.madelinewilsonojo.com
Sad but true, Madeline.
“HIS people of humility, integrity and simplicity”. God rich bless you. The article was very insightful
Well articulated. Succinct and straight to the point
Great piece. I can’t agree with you more. God bless you
Well said Osofo. But don’t be surprised. In Isaiah 14:12-15, Satan did the same thing. Now we have become so interested in titles and positions, we don’t want to be servants and shepherds as Jesus said we should be.
PRIDE!
One of Satan’s strategy.
God richly bless you Dr. More grace to be HIS🙏
…Let those who have ears hear what the Lord has laid through you. This is very insightful. Not just for those in the vineyard; but for every one of us. God Bless You
Thank you Yaw; even with your full plate of international student ministry, you have invested in sharing a critical
warning about a tempting lure and reminder of one of the enemy’s strategies to go after a prideful lust
Great Write Up. Self worth is not embedded in “Titles”
Very insightful.. I’ve shared a quote on my WhatsApp status and Facebook wall.
Thank you for this piece
Thanks my brother, we spuring each other unto good works as we see the day approaching. For it is not with so and must not be so with us. Shalom
Not so with us Seth, not so!
Spot on, my brother. The identity crisis is deep and Christian leaders should lead the way to emancipation. Thanks for the piece.
Spot on, my brother. The identity crisis is deep and Christian leaders should lead the way to emancipation. Thanks for the write up.
Humility, Integrity, Simplicity!
My ego is strong but the cross is stronger.
Selah
Thought provoking piece
Amen!
Thank you!
You’ve said it all, Nana Yaw. Ayekoo.
“ Have we believed a different gospel?”, you aptly asked.
Thanks dad. I learnt from the best-YOU!
I agree with the previous comment. You said it all. Great write-up. God bless!