The bully pulpit and other political devices.........

Definition: According to Wikipedia, a “bully pulpit” is defined as a position sufficiently conspicuous to provide an opportunity to speak out and be listened to.

   I recently came across an article about Theodore Roosevelt, one of our more colorful American Presidents and remembered that he had coined the phrase “bully pulpit”, using the White House as his 'pulpit' from which he attempted to generate public support for his political policies and agendas. For sure, being President of the United States, today more commonly referred to as POTUS on most television shows, is certainly a position of power and of potentially significant influence. But along with the advantage of having 'the pulpit' comes the responsibility and a respect for the influence it yields. And let's not forget to include ethical behavior. Perhaps local 'state houses'  also become 'mini-bully pulpits' for governors and wanna be's too.

   Before going on, however, let me add that in the days of President Roosevelt, the word 'bully' had a much different meaning than it does today, a more positive meaning. 'Bully' was an adjective meaning wonderful, superb, outstanding. When somewhat shouted “bully for you” it meant “good for you!” The word bully even meant 'to be a lover.' 

   Today, however, the term 'bully' has transitioned to a different meaning. A 'bully' is someone who uses 'negative tactics' as a way to force, intimidate or dominate others, bullying tactics.

   From a bit of my past, at a fairly young age in grade school, Timmy Barrett would  bully me on the playground after school in an attempt to get me to give him my baseball glove. No way! Of course, my first name often contributed to additional taunts and name-calling as well from some of his friends.... until the day I picked up a stick and whacked Timmy across his forehead. From that point on and after a trip to the principal's office, Timmy never bothered me again. (The fact that he and his family soon moved away didn't hurt either.)

   From the days of Teddy Roosevelt to 2015, being a bully has evolved from being “wonderful and superb” to being someone who uses force and coercion to get what they want or wish to influence. Sound familiar?

   Having been on the side of one who has been bullied, at the time I was too young to really understand the motivation and reasons why someone becomes a bully. Yes, I had a nice baseball glove, lived in a home with a mother and father, did not live on the street or was not allegedly abused as a child.

   I had goals and dreams. True. I came from a middle class family, although some thought my family was rich. I wanted to go  to college, become successful at a job and raise a family. I felt an obligation to give back to my country and community. I wasn't angry, didn't carry a chip on my shoulder because I had been forced out of my house to live with the neighbors  nor did I feel the need to make fun of others  who I perceived as better than I was or who I sometimes even feared because of the color of their skin, the way they dressed or the language they spoke.

   Today a person can not walk through any school hallway at any grade level in Maine without seeing the signs and posters about “bullying'. “Just Say No to Bullying.” "This is a Bully-Free Zone"

   But I have come to the understanding, over time and life experiences, that the key to whether someone becomes a bully or remains  one as an adult is rooted in having both positive role models and a feeling of being in control of one's life. The prerequisite for success is a matter of self perceptions. If a person feels there is an imbalance in social or political status then that person will use the behaviors they feel necessary to either level the playing field in their eyes or in some cases, even gain the upper hand. And often those bullying behaviors learned and practiced as a child will continue into adulthood.

   I often wonder what motivates someone to run for a political office, a position of power and influence. Is it a desire to serve, to give back in some way to those who had been a positive impact on a life or is it driven by the need to gain or regain control over something which there had been little or no control. Is it to gain the advantage of having a 'bully pulpit' in order to finally "be heard and listened to?"

   It was easy for me to pick up the stick and hit Timmy in the forehead. At the moment it felt good! And although I was frustrated  with Timmy's constant bullying, standing up to the bully may have turned out to be a good thing. I proved to myself and others at a young age that I could take on the bully and win (although the meeting with the principal and my parents was not fun).
   In its original T.R. definition, a 'bully pulpit ' was a position of conspicuous opportunity to speak out and be listened to. But over time that definition has changed. What happens when one uses a  'bully pulpit' to become nothing more than a present day 'bully'? Is that an effective leadership style? And  when the bully finally realizes that no one is listening or cares any more............then what?