Unfortunately, as the recent violence in the Middle East has evidenced, a leader’s vision is useless without the support of the people. No matter how many summits are held, peace will not be achieved until the people are of the same mind.
One of the greatest fears of our founding fathers was “mobocracy,” the rule of the mob. Though they set up a representative system, which today gives voting rights to all, it is the government itself that has ultimately dominated and shaped the views of the people. If all of Congress espoused the same opinion yet had no public support, any law passed would be useless because it could not be implemented.
As we are presently learning, even an army is helpless in the face of the passions of the mob. The violence will continue indiscriminately until someone steps forward, willing to compromise, and assumes control of the people’s cause.
For peace, concessions must be made on both sides, something today’s leaders have not been man enough to do.
