By Darren Mcvey
Heading toward the International Convention Center amidst the flood of cars adorned with placards which advertised the name of each driver’s favorite politician, there was a subdued excitement building on the approach to Fourth and Market Streets.
Not the sort of excitement present at an event where the participants expect to be entertained, but the sort of excitement from participants that expect to be enlightened.
Those rushing in at a hurried gait to the entrance of the convention center felt that they were, in some small way, experiencing history. They were there to see and hear General Colin Powell.
Despite being a central player in controversies of the Iraq War and the Bush Administration, nearly everyone, except anti-war hippies, respect and admire Powell.
And there was one anti-war hippie in attendance, intent on making a fool of himself with only a megaphone and a room temperature IQ.
The night, however, belonged to Powell. In his humble, distinguished and personable tone, Powell recounted his transition from Secretary of State back to private, everyday life.
The stories of his wife’s horror at the thought he would be spending more time at home and his attempt to fill the hole left by retirement with the purchase of a Corvette, which he highly recommended, painted a portrait of a man who was just like us, except smarter, stronger and more important.
His self-effacing humor was laced with a humble recognition that he knew his own greatness.
The speech, however, was not the oratory memoir of a self-aware egoist. Every story induced reflection, whether about everyday life, international relations, or the lessons of buying a hotdog from New York street vendors.
Powell described his experience of meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev, as he was dismantling the Soviet Union. This period was jarring for him. Powell was first deployed to Germany in charge of a small group of soldiers, with orders to stop the Soviet Army should they attempt to come through the path he was guarding. Powell and his men were successful, being credited for stopping World War III.
This philosophy of containment was comfortable to him and he was good at it. But, as he explained, Gorbachev stopped following the script which had guided the Cold War since its inception. Gorbachev told Powell he would have to find a new enemy. To which Powell said, “I don’t want to.”
This central story contained the life lesson that in a fairly short period, one’s whole worldview can become obsolete.
The basic principles of the past have to be rethought and true leaders have to find new answers. Especially in this time of rapid change in all areas, those who can adjust will lead.
Turning to the present international scene, Powell was unusually optimistic. In light of all the talking heads fretting about Iran, China and North Korea, Powell came right out and said, “I’m not worried about Iran and North Korea. Diplomacy will solve those issues.”
He went on to espouse his faith that the new global nature of economics will be a stabilizing force as it has been in Europe and will be in Asia.
For a man who has faced many problems, Powell was encouragingly hopeful about the future. He explained the greatness of America is in the spirit of Americans.
What makes America great is its openness, ingenuity, and commitment to principles. No matter what party controls congress or what man is in the White House, America will continue to lead because Americans are leaders. And coming from Colin Powell, I’d have to agree.
