Ten Things to Do

"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so."
--Mark Twain


The following is straight from the inner-sleeve of the film "An Inconvenient Truth"--the documentary that has brought the fight against global warming to the forefront of many Americans' lives. Visit ClimateCrisis.net to find out more on how you can help save the world, and watch "An Inconvenient Truth" for an innovative look into the future of our global environment.

Ten Things to Do
Want to do something to help stop global warming?

Change a Light
Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Drive Less
Walk, bike, carpool or take metro transit more often. You'll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don't drive!

Recycle More
You can save 2400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling just half of your household waste.

Check your Tires
Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere!

Use Less Hot Water
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by installing a low-flow showerhead (350 pounds of CO2 saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year).

Avoid Products with a lot of Packaging
You can save 1200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%.

Adjust Your Thermostat
Moving your thermostat down just 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer could save about 2000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Plant a Tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

Turn off Electronic Devices
Simply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo, and computer when you're not using them will save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Be a part of the Solution
Learn more and get active at ClimateCrisis.net.

Future generations may well have occasion to ask themselves, "What were our parents thinking? Why didn't they wake up when they had a chance?" We have to hear that question from them, now.
--Al Gore

Operation: Vote!

Jimmy V and the 1993 ESPY Awards

"Cancer can take away all my physical ability. It cannot touch my mind; it cannot touch my heart; and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever."
-Jimmy Valvano

Jimmy Valvano is a legendary basketball coach from North Carolina State University, leading the Wolfpack to the national championship in 1983 against all odds. A graduate of Rutgers University, Valvano led a brilliant coaching and broadcasting career.

In the early 1990s, "Jimmy V" contracted a particularly devastating form of cancer. In 1993, ESPN awarded Valvano the "Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award" at their annual ESPY awards. His acceptance speech has become legendary, as he accepted the award, announced the creation of the "V Foundation" for cancer research, and imparted passionate words of wisdom to the audience. Two months after this speech, Valvano lost his battle with cancer--but his spirit lives on today.

You can help the memory of Jimmy V live on by supporting cancer research, appreciating those who have survived the battle, and honoring those who have gone before us. The V Foundation is just one avenue in the road to curing cancer--we hope that you will do what you can to bring that cure closer to reality.

"Don't give up, don't ever give up."
-Jimmy V

Rocking the (Primary) Vote

Ballots are the rightful and peaceful successors to bullets. --Abraham Lincoln

The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. --John F. Kennedy


With the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary just about a month away, it's time to make our first big-time push for voter participation in 2008! As '07 comes to a close, we embark upon one of the most exciting and important election years in the past half-century--an election that will no doubt set the course of the country for years to come.

Shortly, we will post our very own ALO-Election page, but for now, "Connecticut Bob" has a great primary calendar. Also, The Green Papers has excellent resources for everything you ever wanted to know about primaries, caucuses, and how to participate in this important process of selecting a party nominee.

If you're looking for an absentee ballot, visit http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.pdf! And if you have any questions, E-mail us at AmericanLeaders@gmail.com--we've got your answers.

Happy Voting!

Pictures from last year's Poetry Slam!

Here are some pictures from last year's Poetry Slam! hosted by DC SCORES. This year's event is tonight and tomorrow night at Gallaudet University!

E V E N T I N F O R M A T I O N
Event Date	Wed 11/28/07 - Thu 11/29/07
Start Time	5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location	Elstad Auditorium, Gallaudet University
Address	800 Florida Avenue, NE Washington, DC
Cost	Free & Open to the Public
Contact	202-393-6999 x303

Poetry Slam!

Chris McGuire, our friend from popular youth-program DC SCORES, announces the following event:

More than 300 of the District's public elementary and middle school students will take the stage during the 10th annual citywide DC SCORES Poetry competition to vie for the coveted Golden Mic trophy. The Slam! showcases original works of poetry written and performed by students from the DC SCORES after-school program.

The DC SCORES Poetry Slam! funnels the energy and creativity of children into self-expression as a means of improving their literacy rates and raising their self-esteem. The children, ages 8 to 14, represent DC Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The 10th Annual Poetry Slam! is FREE and open to the public.

If you would like to volunteer at the event please contact VolunteerDC@americascores.org.

E V E N T I N F O R M A T I O N
Event Date	Wed 11/28/07 - Thu 11/29/07
Start Time	5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location	Elstad Auditorium, Gallaudet University
Address	800 Florida Avenue, NE Washington, DC
Cost	Free & Open to the Public
Contact	202-393-6999 x303

We hope that you will support the EXCELLENT work that DC SCORES is doing--making a difference in the lives of America's youth. With the help of DC SCORES, we can make the world a better place for our children by giving them options other than gangs, drugs, and violence. With a little help from soccer and creative writing, DC SCORES and you can change the world.

What is Loyalty?

The following is an editorial.

Loyalty is simply defined as devotion to a particular person or cause--and we here in America are all about it. We exercise patronage in our political system, we are die-hard sports fans, and we are fiercely loyal to our freedoms. We remember the Alamo, remember the Maine, (try to) remember our mother's birthdays.

Yet, loyalty has gotten us in quite a fix lately. Loyalty got in the way of doing the right thing in Iraq during Abu Ghraib; it got in the way of effective governance during the scandal at the Attorney General's office; and it is especially being questioned in the political arena after convicted felon Norman Hsu donated large sums of money to the Hillary Clinton campaign. In modern times, "blind loyalty" has gotten such a bad rap that, unless you are the family dog, you don't want to be described as such.

But I look around and ask, where has loyalty gotten us today? What do we have to show for it?

Well, the answer is simple: a nation. The loyalty of our founding fathers to that idea of independence, their loyalty to each other, and their loyalty to generations of Americans yet unborn allows us to sit in comfort and exercise freedoms unmatched elsewhere in the world.

Not all loyalty is created equal, however, and it should never be used to excuse or rationalize a course of action that you know is wrong. No one needs a lecture on the difference between right and wrong, but we all must look deep into our hearts to find where our true loyalties lie.

We should never be afraid to question our loyalties, and if need be, to change them. There are certain loyalties that will never change--for our President and military members, their loyalties always lie in the Constitution of the United States. However, as Mark Twain once said, "Loyalty to petrified opinions never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world--and never will." If our loyalties get in the way of progress, of justice, of equality, of peace, or of human life--it is time to rethink where our efforts truly belong.

There are loyalties that I think we can all agree on: loyalty to the future of our nation; loyalty to the children of the world--their education, their well-being, and their continued safety; loyalty to end the unnecessary deaths of innocent men, women, and children everywhere; loyalty to our men and women serving in combat; loyalty to the prospects of peace above all; loyalty to a better world for us all.

For, if we are not committed to these principles, what are we doing here on Earth? Progress, justice, equality, peace, and life. Made strong by our loyalty, these principles will bring us all to a better day.

Micro-Lend a Hand

"It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it." --Albert Einstein

In the 1970s, a few bold business executives left the private sector to take the biggest financial risk of their lives--give loans to third-world entrepreneurs in places like Colombia, Ecuador, and Nigeria who were either unemployed or had no reliable credit history. This practice of giving small loans to those otherwise unable to procure capital has become known as microcredit, or microlending.

Today, microlending has grown like never before--and YOU have the opportunity to be a microlender. Kiva.org allows anyone with a credit card to lend money to those in need in countries across the world, in amounts starting as low as $25. The website has a whole list of individuals seeking loans, with descriptions of their ventures and desired loan amount.

In the coming weeks and months, we will be giving you more on Kiva.org, but for now--visit their website! You can have a serious impact on the lives of others, even halfway across the world.

James Kotecki: Internet Renaissance Man?

James Kotecki is a recent graduate of Georgetown University (magna cum laude, at that) who has pioneered the video-blogging (Vlogging) movement. Starting with a simple camera in his dorm room in January 2007, Kotecki has made countless nonpartisan videos documenting the American political landscape and, more recently, the 2008 Election cycle.

In April of 2007, James made history by hosting the first ever dorm-room interview of a Presidential candidate (Ron Paul). Since then, he has interviewed numerous candidates, including John Edwards, Chris Dodd, and Mike Huckabee.

Kotecki's videos are hilarious--frequently using "pencil puppets" of the presidential candidates--combining an exuberant knack for journalism and interviewing. The amazing part of it all? Kotecki put this all together on a college-student budget, with a cheap camera from Best Buy, common computer software, and most importantly, a lot of "hustle" and hard work. He has been the subject of countless interviews from every major media outlet--from CNN to FoxNews to Al Jazeera English.

You can find his videos, updated daily, on his website. Read this as: we highly encourage you to visit his website--bookmark it and visit it every day!!!

From his website

"However, my goal is not necessarily to “be a journalist.” Instead, my goals are:

1. to encourage politicians to converse with voters directly on YouTube
2. to talk about political personalities, issues, and trends that don’t get a lot of coverage in the mainstream media, and
3. to have fun making funny, entertaining videos. I’m most like a typical journalist when I’m focused on goal number 2, and less like a typical journalist when I focus on goals 1 and 3.

Since I usually pursue all three goals at once, I’ll let you decide whether, on balance, I’m an actual journalist."

“. . .the unofficial political consultant of the Internet generation . . .” - Yahoo! News

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell. ~Lance Armstrong

There is good news--breast cancer is not the killer it used to be.

This does not mean that the fight is over--in fact, far from it. Over 40,000 women will lose their fight to breast cancer this year. Putting that into perspective, 110 women will die each day--or 4 each hour--from some form of this cancer. Men aren't immune from this type of ailment, either, as over 2,000 male breast cancer patients will be diagnosed this year alone.

In order to fight it, you must know it. Here some brief, essential facts on breast cancer:

There are two main categories of breast cancer--non-invasive and invasive. Non-invasive are confined to the ducts and lobules of the breast, while invasive spreads throughout the tissue of the breast and is thus much more dangerous. The two types of non-invasive breast cancer are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). There are many types of invasive breast cancer (many are not known), but the most common is invasive ductal carcinoma, which accounts for 80% of all cases.

The following are the stages of cancer:

Stage 0 - Stage 0 is carcinoma in situ, early stage cancer that is confined to the ducts or the lobules, depending on where it started. It has not gone into the tissues in the breast nor spread to other organs in the body.

Stage I - Stage I is an early stage of invasive breast cancer. In Stage I, cancer cells have not spread beyond the breast and the tumor is no more than 2 centimeters (three-quarters of an inch) across.

Stage II - Stage II is one of the following:

• The tumor in the breast is no more than 2 centimeters (three-quarters of an inch) across. The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.
• The tumor is between 2 and 5 centimeters (three-quarters of an inch to 2 inches). The cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.
• The tumor is larger than 5 centimeters (2 inches). The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

Stage III - Stage III may be a large tumor, but the cancer has not spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes. It is locally advanced cancer.

Stage IV - Stage IV is distant metastatic cancer. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Recurrent cancer - Recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back (recurred) after a period of time when it could not be detected. It may recur locally in the breast or chest wall as another primary cancer, or it may recur in any other part of the body, such as the bone, liver, or lungs, which is generally referred to as metastatic cancer.

The best way to fight it? Find it early. Women should check themselves at least once a month for lumps or abnormalities and receive regular mammograms to halt the spread of cancer early. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the more likely you will be to beat this disease.

All information on this post was derived from http://www.nbcam.org/disease_breast_cancer.cfm.

Keep all those who have lost their lives to this disease in your thoughts and prayers this month. Check your calendar and support local breast cancer awareness drives near you. You never know whose mother, sister, or daughter is depending on you.

Rep. JoAnn Davis Passes Away

Today, the nation lost a leader whose character and determination were hardly equaled in the halls of Congress. US Rep. JoAnn Davis (R-VA) passed away today after a bout with breast cancer. The following is the wire from CNN.com:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis, R-Virginia, died Saturday after battling breast cancer, her office said. She was 57.

Rep. Jo Ann Davis died Saturday after a two-year battle with breast cancer.

Davis died at her home in Gloucester, Virginia.

She was first diagnosed with cancer in 2005, according to a statement from her office, and had a recurrence earlier this year.

"Davis had been receiving breast cancer treatment at Duke University and just recently had received positive reports on her condition," the statement said. "However, during the last week Davis' health took a turn for the worse."

Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming, the statement said.

President George Bush said Davis was a "fine example of a public servant" whose "common sense values will be missed on Capitol Hill."

"Laura and I are deeply saddened that Rep. Jo Ann Davis lost her courageous battle with breast cancer today. Her determination to fight the disease is an inspiration to all of us," he said in a statement.

Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Florida, chairman of the House Republican Conference, noted in a statement that when Davis was first diagnosed with cancer, instead of retiring, she "pressed on, continued to serve with distinction the people of the Commonwealth and the country she loved, and beat the disease."

After the cancer returned, he said, "she courageously took the same path."

"Jo Ann Davis was an inspiration to all of us fortunate enough to serve with her, and we are all deeply saddened by the news of her passing," Putnam said. "At this difficult hour, our thoughts and prayers are with Jo Ann's husband, Chuck, and their loved ones."

Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Virginia, said Davis was a "great woman and a great patriot."

"It was my great honor to serve in the United States House of Representatives alongside my friend, Jo Ann Davis," he said in a statement. "She fought for, and embodied, the core values of Virginia."

University of Kentucky Student Leadership

Nicholas and Brittany put together an awesome, informative video at the University of Kentucky. Visit their student government website!

Got a video to share? E-mail us! Leave some comments for us on what you think about the site so far, what you'd like to see, and what you have done at your university or organization.

There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society, with a larger segment of people in that society, who feel that they have no stake in it; who feel that they have nothing to lose. People who have a stake in their society, protect that society, but when they don't have it, they unconsciously want to destroy it.
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Students "Dream" at Rutgers

The following article appeared on the "Page One" section of dailytargum.com. It was written by Cassie Bobotas, Acting Associate News Editor.

Faced with sufficient internal opposition, the Rutgers University Student Assembly passed a bill Thursday urging Congress to pass an amendment allowing children of illegal immigrants better chances of attaining permanent residency and higher education.

"It offers an opportunity to these students who don't have a chance, at this point, to be fully contributing members of our society," said Christopher Keating, a Rutgers College junior. "The children of undocumented immigrants shouldn't be punished for crimes their parents committed."

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, better known as the "Dream Act," originally entered the Senate in 2003 as a way for undocumented students to pursue a degree at a public institution for at least two years while paying the more affordable in-state costs. But since it has come up again, it is now in need of as much support as possible, as its fate will be decided by Nov. 16 of this year.

This amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 states that on the successful completion of high school, undocumented students who came to the United States under the age of 16 and have displayed moral character will be able to attain permanent residency in six years if they either join the U.S. military or attend a higher institution for two years.

On the passage of the amendment, these students would also be eligible to receive previously unavailable benefits such as federal student loans and federal work-study.

As the RUSA Legislative Affairs Chair, Keating said he wrote the resolution in favor of the amendment because it now has its best chance to move through the senate, with support from the likes of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and he wanted to get the University behind it as well.

"I know the voice of the University students and [RUSA] will only do so much, but at the same time, it's still significant," Keating said.

TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, CLICK HERE!

Students at Rutgers are proving that, no matter how loud you are, your voice is still important. No matter your beliefs, one of the most essential qualities of a good leader is to be able to discuss and debate those beliefs with anyone and everyone that you meet.

Let us know what you think! E-mail us or comment on this post to talk about the students at Rutgers, or about your own efforts to stand up for what you believe in.

Women in Government

85 years ago today, Rebecca Felton (D-GA) became the first woman to serve in the United States Senate as she was appointed to fill the term of Senator Thomas Watson. She served for one day.

In 1931, however, Hattie Caraway (D-AR) became the first woman ever popularly elected to the Senate. She would serve for 14 years, and during her tenure, would also witness the rise of 3 other women to the highest national legislature--Rose Long (D-LA), Dixie Graves (D-AL), and Gladys Pyle (R-SD).

Since the establishment of the Senate in 1785, there have been 35 female senators--putting that into perspective, 1.85% of all individuals who have ever served in the Senate have been female. Today, 16 women serve in the US Senate:

Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

Today, and every day, we salute those courageous women who pioneered the rise of women in government. And today, no matter their beliefs or the side of the aisle they sit on, we may find true strength in those 16 women who serve their country in our most hallowed legislative hall.

"Toughness doesn't have to come in a pinstripe suit." --Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Events Around the Nation

Here are just a few of the things people like you are doing around the country:

WASHINGTON, DC: All-female acapella group "Treble in Paradise" will be performing at American University this Saturday, September 29th, in support of AU's AIDS Walk Washington team. "Treble" is one of the top female vocal groups on the East Coast, and proceeds from the show will go to fight AIDS. What could be better? For more information on how you can attend or how you can do something like this, contact Vanessa Mueller.

BATON ROUGE, LA: Students at Louisiana State University (LSU) have created Students On Target (SOT), a group that offers alternatives to activities which generate a high risk of alcohol consumption. SOT promotes responsible choices with alcohol, thus creating a safer environment for everyone. One of the most anticipated events on the LSU campus is put on by SOT--a substance-free concert and festival known as "Groovin' on the Grounds." Last year, the show attracted stars like Chevelle, and Marc Broussard. To find out more, and how you can bring SOT to your school, E-mail them at SOT@lsu.edu.

WASHINGTON, DC: Innovative youth group DC SCORES (part of "America Scores") "bridges the academic and athletic development of youth by providing them with creative writing and soccer activities each day after-school and for five weeks during the summer." On Saturday, September 29th, the autumn season of DC SCORES kicks off with their "Fall Frenzy," a day-long event complete with soccer tournament, arts and crafts, and fun times with DC area kids. The group needs your help--DC SCORES is looking for volunteers to work as referees, face painters, help with set-up, and encourage the kids. The event lasts from 7AM to 3PM on Saturday, and you can contact Tohry Petty to offer your services, find out more, or bring America Scores to your hometown.

These are just a few of the THOUSANDS of events going on this weekend. Send us what you are doing at your campus or community, and we will post it on here so that others may follow. E-mail us!

Giving

"I wrote this book to encourage you to give whatever you can, because everyone can give something. And there's so much to be done, down the street and around the world." --Bill Clinton



Former President Bill Clinton is using his post-presidential career in a very positive way--he's trying to change the world. In his new book, Giving, the former president talks about his experiences serving others around the world, and about how we can do the same (and no, you don't have to be a former president to change the world).

The American Leaders Organization has so much in common with the themes of this book--no matter who you are, you have the power to change the world; no matter what you think or do, you have such a profound impact on the world around you. Your impact as a student is different than Clinton's impact as a president--but yours is just as important to the vitality of this nation.

Here are a few excerpts from the publisher's description on the dust jacket (Alfred A. Knopf):

"Giving is an inspiring look at how each of us can change the world. First, it reveals the extraordinary and innovative efforts now being made by companies and organizations--and by individuals--to solve problems and save lives both 'down the street and around the world.' Then it urges us to seek out what each of us, 'regardless of income, available time, age, and skills,' can do to help, to give people a chance to live out their dreams.... Bill Clinton's own actions in his post-presidential years have had an enormous impact on the lives of millions. Through his foundation and his work in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, he has become an international spokesperson and model for the power of giving. 'We all have the capacity to do great things,' President Clinton says. 'My hope is that the people and stories in this book will lift spirits, touch hearts, and demonstrate that citizen activism and service can be a powerful agent of change in the world."


It doesn't matter what party you belong to--pick this book up, and consider its calls to service.


To learn about other initiatives of the former president, visit the William J. Clinton Foundation.

What have you done to change the world?
E-mail us and let your story be known (we know you like to be humble, but we really need to hear it!).

Bringing Books to Kids

"Some books leave us free and some books make us free." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

The American Leaders Organization is sponsoring a massive books-to-schools drive in the coming months. Partnering with Books for International Goodwill, headed by Professor Stephen Frantzich, the ALO will be leading a group of universities to deliver much-needed books to Baltimore inner-city schools, and to partner with those schools for years to come.

Our vision is to involve as many area college students as possible, in order to deliver books to as many schools as possible. We will all deliver these books on the same day, simultaneously, to show the students that it's not just one of them at a time--we care about ALL of them!

We are looking for Maryland/DC area university students who are willing to help bring books to children! If you are interested, E-mail project director Bryana Tucci with your name, university, and contact information and we will include you in on this noble effort.

Help us make history and touch lives--you'll be glad you did.

The Little Prince and Leadership

By Luke Schamel, Project Director for the American Leaders Organization and a sophomore at the US Naval Academy.

The following is a short excerpt from Antoine de Saint Exupery's, "The Little Prince." The story is about a small boy who travels from his small, house-sized planet to other nearby planets and eventually Earth. The little prince's findings accentuate different aspects of our society and the simple truths and reasoning that we often forget as we lose our innocence through "growing up." I especially like the chapter where he meets a king due to its leadership implications, which is the excerpt I have provided.

"Ah! Here is a subject," exclaimed the king, when he saw the little prince coming.
And the little prince asked himself:
"How could he recognize me when he had never seen me before?"
He did not know how the world is simplified for kings. To them, all men are subjects.
"Approach, so that I may see you better," said the king, who felt consumingly proud of being at last a king over somebody.
The little prince looked everywhere to find a place to sit down; but the entire planet was crammed and obstructed by the king's magnificent ermine robe. So he remained standing upright, and, since he was tired, he yawned.
"It is contrary to etiquette to yawn in the presence of a king," the monarch said to him. "I forbid you to do so."
"I can't help it. I can't stop myself," replied the little prince, thoroughly embarrassed. "I have come on a long journey, and I have had no sleep . . ."
"Ah, then," the king said. "I order you to yawn. It is years since I have seen anyone yawning. Yawns, to me, are objects of curiosity. Come, now! Yawn again! It is an order."
"That frightens me . . . I cannot, any more . . ." murmured the little prince, now completely abashed.
"Hum! Hum!" replied the king. "Then I--I order you sometimes to yawn and sometimes to--"
He sputtered a little, and seemed vexed.
For what the king fundamentally insisted upon was that his authority should be respected. He tolerated no disobedience. He was an absolute monarch. But, because he was a very good man, he made his orders reasonable.
"If I ordered a general," he would say, by way of example, "if I ordered a general to change himself into a sea bird, and if the general did not obey me, that would not be the fault of the general. It would be my fault."
"May I sit down?" came now a timid inquiry from the little prince.
"I order you to do so," the king answered him, and majestically gathered in a fold of his ermine mantle.
But the little prince was wondering . . . The planet was tiny. Over what could this king really rule?
"Sire," he said to him, "I beg that you will excuse my asking you a question--"
"I order you to ask me a question," the king hastened to assure him.
"Sire--over what do you rule?"
"Over everything," said the king, with magnificent simplicity.
"Over everything?"
The king made a gesture, which took in his planet, the other planets, and all the stars.
"Over all that?" asked the little prince.
"Over all that," the king answered.
For his rule was not only absolute: it was also universal.
"And the stars obey you?"
"Certainly they do," the king said. "They obey instantly. I do not permit insubordination."
Such power was a thing for the little prince to marvel at. If he had been master of such complete authority, he would have been able to watch the sunset, not forty-four times in one day, but seventy-two, or even a hundred, or even two hundred times, without ever having to move his chair. And because he felt a bit sad as he remembered his little planet which he had forsaken, he plucked up his courage to ask the king a favor:
"I should like to see a sunset . . . Do me that kindness . . . Order the sun to set . . ."
"If I ordered a general to fly from one flower to another like a butterfly, or to write a tragic drama, or to change himself into a sea bird, and if the general did not carry out the order that he had received, which one of us would be in the wrong?" the king demanded. "The general, or myself?"
"You," said the little prince firmly.
"Exactly. One must require from each one the duty which each one can perform," the king went on. "Accepted authority rests first of all on reason. If you ordered your people to go and throw themselves into the sea, they would rise up in revolution. I have the right to require obedience because my orders are reasonable."
"Then my sunset?" the little prince reminded him: for he never forgot a question once he had asked it.
"You shall have your sunset. I shall command it. But, according to my science of government, I shall wait until conditions are favorable."
"When will that be?" inquired the little prince.
"Hum! Hum!" replied the king; and before saying anything else he consulted a bulky almanac. "Hum! Hum! That will be about--about--that will be this evening about twenty minutes to eight. And you will see how well I am obeyed!"

My take on some key points: I think it vital to focus on the simplicity of the king's statements. The raw nature of his philosophy on leadership should be examined and personalized wherever applicable, and applauded for its close ties with logical reasoning. Without reasoning and logical thought, an order holds no meaning with a subordinate. One can only hope they have earned the respect of their subordinates enough for them to overlook an unreasonable request, but repetition of such requests will begin to undermine any respect or trust that has developed. Trust is earned through respect and reasoning, and is not allotted simply based on rank or position--it is not issued and cannot be forced. Rank does not make one's actions right, nor does it automatically require obedience (though it is important to note that it may be legally required). Relying on anything other than respect, reason, and logic to accomplish goals and influence subordinates is unwise and puts any leader that does so on thin-ice, at best.
To the readers: Do not forget or overlook the simple truths. Ask only what you can reasonably expect of your people, and know how to ask for obedience so that your requests can be carried out--do not demand the impossible, but still strive for excellence.

Send us your stuff! Publish your own post on the ALO blog and it will appear HERE. E-mail us at AmericanLeaders@gmail.com.

September is Hispanic Heritage Month

We are a nation of immigrants, and a country that prides itself in our diversity. At times our great nation tends to forget that.

The United States has the 5th-most Spanish speakers in the world, with a population of 22.4 million who speak the language. Only Mexico and Colombia have a larger Hispanic population than the United States. Hispanic-owned business generated $222 billion in 2002. There is no denying that the Hispanic-American population is a vital, legitimate part of our nation's well-being.

Various prominent organizations are spearheading drives to increase awareness of Hispanic-Americans, such as the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Sandia National Laboratories, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and communities across the United States. You don't have to learn how to speak Spanish, but go out and learn something today about Hispanic-Americans that you didn't know yesterday.

The United States has a long way to go before tolerance abounds. If we are ever to achieve the true American Dream, we will get there on the road paved by social equity and tolerance. All it takes is a little bit of learning, understanding, and a good amount of heart.

The Homeless: Revisited

By Rebecca Hill, a junior at Syracuse University

I am a Junior at Syracuse University in Upstate NY. This issue on homelessness really gets to me. There were so many important aspects of it brought up in this post and as the leaders of tomorrow, wouldn't it be amazing if we started to understand this problem in our society? I just want to mention a few ideas (some aforementioned here), but more importantly they are tied to my personal experience as an individual.

One of my former employers opened my eyes to the problem of homelessness in America. The biggest problem may actually be how those who have homes regard those who do not. How can we improve their positions when we don't truly value them as much as ourselves or pass off their homelessness as a consequence of their inability to produce a steady income?

If you have the opportunity: talk to a homeless person. Ask them why it happened. Ask them how they feel about their current position in society. I am confident that in many cases, you would be extremely surprised by what you hear. The last man I talked to was on a subway train in NYC. No one else on the train acknowledged him, and all I asked was "How are you today, sir?" He replied promptly with "Honey that just made my day." We continued our conversation talking about his story... I listened. Then I gave him some food that I was carrying.

We can help people in so many ways, but one of the greatest ways is direct involvement. We can also share with each other our experiences and talk about what can be done outside of what we personally do. A lot of times, though, it requires us to go far out of our comfort zone. That is often when I find the greatest reward.

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Leadership Profile: Coach Mike Krzyzewski

One of the most successful and well-known NCAA basketball coaches of all time, "Coach K" has led the Duke University Blue Devils from the sidelines for the past 27 years. In that time, his results are staggering--680 victories, winning 78% of his games; 22 trips to the NCAA tournament; 10 Final Four Appearances; 7 NCAA Finals; 3 National Championships. His former players include such NBA notables as Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Shane Battier, Elton Brand, and Carlos Boozer.

Yet, through it all, Coach K recognizes his unique role on the sidelines at Duke--"I don't look at myself as a basketball coach," he says. "I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball."

Few people realize that Coach K was once Cadet K--the product of service academy education, graduating from West Point in 1969. He served five years in the US Army, retiring with the rank of Captain in 1974. After coaching for five years at his alma mater, Krzyzewski accepted the head coach position at Duke in 1980.

What sets Coach K apart from his peers is his selfless dedication to improving the lives of others through basketball and his own innate gifts. On top of coaching both collegiate and world-championship teams, Krzyzewski also hosts a conference on leadership for business professionals, holds camps for both younger students and nostalgic older individuals, and helps those disadvantaged in society to dream big through the Emily Krzyzewski Family LIFE Center. You can find out more about Coach K, and how to get involved with these and more programs, from his official website.

Coach K is in the news right now as the head coach of the USA Basketball team headed to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Marred by "lack of effort" and the image of greedy, selfish superstars, USA Basketball struggled to win the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Coach K will try to lead an upstart US team with much potential to their first gold medal since 2000.

Words of wisdom from the man himself:

"When you first assemble a group, it’s not a team right off the bat. It’s only a collection of individuals."
"Too many rules get in the way of leadership. They just put you in a box . . . . People set rules to keep from making decisions."
"There are five fundamental qualities that make every team great: communication, trust, collective responsibility, caring and pride. I like to think of each as a separate finger on the fist. Any one individually is important. But all of them together are unbeatable."

America's Leadership Crisis

"Do we have a leadership crisis in this country today?"

According to the JFK School of Government at Harvard and US News and World Report, more than 70% of Americans would say: YES.

83% of Americans, however, realize that it is important for the United States to be a strong global leader today. There is a troubling gap between the need for good leaders and the presence of such leaders.

Published in the National Leadership Index 2006, Harvard and US News partnered to take the pulse of the nation regarding their impression of leadership in the United States. Their poll included a random sampling of over 1,000 Americans from across the country.

Interestingly, Americans have the most confidence in the leadership of the military and medical sectors, while they have the lowest confidence in the press, executive branch, Congress, and business leaders. You can check out the entire index by clicking here.

Today, more than ever, the American Leaders Organization is necessary for the success and future of our nation. By sharing our stories, both good and bad, we will be able to learn from one another and establish the best kind of leadership--that which is galvanized by experience and education. This is our most important call to duty--to learn and lead with one another.

In order to do that, however, we must know each other. Send us your comments, articles, videos, and thoughts on who you are, what you are doing, and what leadership means to you. Let us establish this leadership dialogue, and let us get our nation back on the track of positive, moral, confident leadership.

Making Democracy Count

"Democracy is the reoccurent suspicion that when properly informed, more than half of the people are right more than half of the time."--Stephen E. Frantzich, Citizen Democracy: Political Activists in a Cynical Age

More than 200 years ago, our founding fathers based this nation on a radical policy--that all human beings were entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Since the creation of the Declaration of Independence, the United States has been one of the most free nations in the world, and has emerged as a global superpower that is expected to give, at times, moral and humanitarian aid.

The freedom of action that we enjoy, however, also brings with it a freedom of inaction or even negative action. The United States exhibits a paltry ranking (#139) among global democracies in regards to voter turnout; crime in the US remains some of the worst among "First World" nations; our average primary and secondary school students score lower than their international counterparts; and there are more homeless people in the United States at any given moment than the entire population of Finland, Laos, or Uruguay.

President Kennedy once said that "our problems are man made; therefore, they can be solved by man." The people of the world, and the United States specifically, can do so much for these issues, but without dedication, imagination, patience, and endurance, the majority of folks won't even make the attempt. "You can't fight city hall" is a sentiment shared by many that detests people like Professor Stephen Frantzich in his outstanding book Citizen Democracy: Political Activists in a Cynical Age.

Here at the American Leaders Organization, we're in the business of doing things different--with dedication, imagination, patience, and endurance. So we'll pose a seemingly impossible question, and invite you to answer based on your own experiences--

How do you make people interested in changing the world (for the better)? And then, how do you get them to act?

If you've ever put together a drive for a cause you cared deeply about at your university of organization, let us know what you did and how you got people involved. How do you involve people who don't necessarily have a claim staked in your cause (i.e. people with homes helping the homeless)?

Most people who are active in changing society have become active because of a personal tragedy, such as the loss of a loved one. In his book, Professor Frantzich spells out how today's Americans become active in politics and community. However, is it healthy for a society only to change after experiencing tragedy after tragedy?

Comment on this post by clicking below, and tell us your thoughts. Let's start a dialogue that will transcend all nations and all generations.