I found professor Martin Gutmann’s assessment of Ernest Shackleton’s leadership style to be right on the money (“Our enduring love of Ernest Shackleton exposes false ideas of leadership,” Dec. 13). That is, Shackleton was not a leader. Gutmann lists the key traits of faux leadership: lots of talking but saying little; acting forcefully and dramatically but incompetently, and reframing every situation as a crisis. Achieving careful, quiet, steady progress is not viewed as leadership by many people. I have encountered some faux leaders in my time.
As I was reading Gutmann’s essay, I kept thinking of two people in Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson and Bears President Kevin Warren. Their pretense to leadership is obvious, as is their failure to get results.
— Blaise J. Arena, Des Plaines
Bluster isn’t leadership
Professor Martin Gutmann’s op-ed about the reckless seafarer Ernest Shackleton was quite interesting. It serves as a warning about what can happen when bluster and bravado are mistaken for leadership instead of people recognizing them as merely arrogance and ignorance.
It’s too bad that our ship of state is headed in the same direction.
— Kenneth Leone, Deerfield
Relevant to current events
The positioning of an editorial (“Aldermen, vote for this bloated budget at your political peril. Peer cities are not so reckless in their spending”) and an op-ed about Ernest Shackleton next to each other in print on Dec. 13 was very interesting.
Shackleton was the leader of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1916) whose ship the HMS Endurance got trapped in the ice of Antarctica. The op-ed states: “But our obsession with Shackleton is emblematic of a problematic tendency: that of celebrating bold, brash and action-prone leaders who, it turns out on closer inspection, stumbled from one self-inflicted crisis to another.”
That characterization seems to sum up Mayor Brandon Johnston’s time in office.
— Charles E. Campbell, Flossmoor
Give Shackleton his due
Expedition leader Ernest Shackleton was prepared, but the Antarctic weather almost did him in. His bravery, intellect and leadership saved his crew.
Robert Falcon Scott was also an experienced explorer and was prepared, yet he and his expedition crew succumbed to the Antarctic weather.
— Dan Jorndt, Glenview
Disregarding competence
In his op-ed, professor Martin Gutmann points out how those who speak the most, act and speak assertively and forcefully, and appear leaderlike are perceived — and rewarded — as leaders. This human trait to treat such people with the reward of leadership seems to, in Gutmann’s view, disregard competence or even what the perceived leader might be saying.
I believe the current political environment bears out his premise. I also believe this is proof positive of a friend’s family motto; “Often wrong — never uncertain.” It works.
— Barry Tusin, Wheaton
A once-bustling Chicago
I wish to comment on Mark Kelly’s ideas on public arts (“Chicago must create a more dynamic public arts realm. Here are some ideas,” Dec 17). During the time of Mayor Richard M. Daley and prior to him, multiple public arts events were happening almost every day in the city. The Chicago Cultural Center had musical and cultural events happening regularly, some in the evening. In 1997, for example, to celebrate the centennial of the building, the center had a birthday party daily for a year for those who had a birthday that day. The Under the Picasso program run by the always stylishly dressed Rose Farina at Daley Plaza likewise had regular events. One week during the summer, there would be big band dancing for seniors with a live orchestra.
We also had a Country Music Festival, and under Mayors Michael Bilandic and Jane Byrne, we enjoyed ChicagoFest at Navy Pier. During most of October, Daley Plaza was turned into a Halloween neighborhood where the Midnight Circus would entertain the crowds with its circus and aerial acts and skits. The Taste of Chicago was at one time a nearly two-week event. There were also weekendlong ethnic festivals held in the summers, either at Navy Pier or the park at the water filtration plant next to Navy Pier.
So what happened? I was a volunteer at the Cultural Center at the time the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Office of Special Events were merged. Things changed. In my opinion, cultural affairs were downgraded. Cultural affairs leaders were lost in the merge, including dynamic Commissioner Lois Weisberg. (Remember “Cows on Parade”?) We volunteers were kind of fired because we had to reapply and undergo background checks. Many volunteers just dropped out.
Now for me, it’s almost sad to visit the Cultural Center because it seems to be a shadow of its former self.
I used to brag to my out-of-town friends that there is always something going on in Chicago. But not so much now. So I agree with Kelly: Let’s bring it all back and make it even better.
— Mario Caruso, Chicago
Take care with lighting
Mark Kelly offers a tantalizing list of events to make Chicago’s dynamic art scene even more visible nationally and internationally. I applaud his bold ideas and look forward to hearing — and seeing — more.
One suggestion gives me pause: lighting up Chicago’s stunning skyline. Any changes to the city’s light density need to take into consideration another way Chicago is a unique environment. We find ourselves on a major bird migratory route, and already, unfortunately, far too many birds die in our city as they travel through because they are confused by tall building light.
As Kelly brings his exciting ideas to fruition, I would urge he establish a partnership with BirdCast and Chicago Bird Collision Monitors to make sure our exciting skies become even more hospitable to the creatures who share our space.
— Clara Orban, Chicago
Give an unexpected tip
During a recent stay at a resort, I thought about how the people who do the most menial work, such as the those who clean the public bathrooms and pick up trash, seldom, if ever, get tipped. The next day, I gave $5 to a man who was picking up trash, and you would have thought he had won the lottery. He was so grateful and delighted and immediately offered to help me in any way he could.
I’m going to make a point to do that often. I recommend that readers give it a try!
— Gary Jump, Itasca
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