Contrary to popular belief, humility is a sign of strength, not weakness. This is something our national leaders need more of and the candidates for president should strongly embrace.
Last week, President Bush summoned a handful of conservative columnists to the Oval Office for a mostly off-the-record briefing. We discussed a range of topics, including gas prices, FISA and Iraq.
On this day, Mr. Bush (who at many times has shown acts of humility) seemed particularly feisty and had a lot to say.
Thompson, who now works as a motivational trainer for individuals and corporations, but still speaks about his athletic career in the present tense, doesn't need reminding what "it" might be. "Every day. Not a day goes by when I don't wish I was still doing it. Being selfish, training, no responsibilities. To be honest" – this last phrase is one that Thompson uses frequently – "all I ever wanted to be was the best. I don't enjoy fame."
"Didn't you once talk enviously about 'those 100-metre guys; they're so glamorous...'?"
"That was before I knew what fame was like.
"I’m aware of it and I realise it’s important to work on that aspect of my game, but I enjoy working hard and I have no problem putting the hours in. It takes an elephant time to turn round, too."
For every detractor, there are dozens of fans, many wearing a homemade patka (the proper name for the small turban Panesar wears) and cheering on "the Montster", another of his many nicknames. On YouTube, the video-sharing website, fans have posted a song about "the man with enormous hands".
Air France received the rather unenviable distinction from the editors of Emerging Horizons, for the unwillingness of one of its senior captains to allow a prominent, disabled passenger to board a flight. Michelle Daly, an advisor working for the French government, had a ticket to fly from Paris to London-Heathrow in order to serve as a participant at a conference on disabilities. Daly's plans, however, were nixed, when the captain came out of the cockpit and cast doubt on whether the government advisor had the ability to walk. Daly pointed out that she could not, in fact, walk on her own, and shortly after hearing this, the captain asked her to leave the plane, noting that the advisor posed a "safety and health risk to everyone on the plane."
Air France publicly stood by its captain and argued that it was not safe for Daly to fly, because the aircraft in question was not equipped to handle passengers with disabilities.
As this election year unfolds, it's helpful to separate myth from fact. Much of what we think we know — and that which gets repeated as gospel in explaining election results — turns out to be apocryphal.
Those are the main conclusions from an insightful new book titled, "Unconventional Wisdom — Facts and Myths About AmericanVoters," by political scientists Karen M. Kaufman, John R. Petrocik and Daron R. Shaw. Reading this book will help anyone interested in understanding the 2008 election, avoid common pitfalls in political interpretation that are perpetuated by the absence of rigorous analysis.
