Explorations in Leadership

NEED RESPONSES FOR TWO STUDENT’S POSTS

ITGS 400 Explorations in Leadership (This related for Module 2)

Response Posts: Respond to the posts of at least 2 other students. Each response should be at least 150 words. Statements like "I agree/ don't agree" are not helpful unless they are supported with arguments and reasoning. Remember everyone's right to freedom of speech and the importance of ensuring a safe environment by being respectful: we don't criticize people, we argue thinking.

POST #1

Cassidy Jones

A key connection between the reading and the films this week is racial separation along with religion and other ideologies that focus on separating based on differences rather than on celebrating differences, educating ourselves on differences, and ultimately accepting differences in people and cultures. One of the opposites between the Gandhi film and the Mandela book is who was in charge of the social change during the times that were talked about in each. Gandhi was in charge, he lead the Indian people in the right direction and strived for non-violence on their end, where in the text, Mandela is still reporting to other people, proposing his ideas and hoping for approval, Both men are at very different phases in their professional and personal lives but are both striving for racial equality and fighting to avoid further oppression, whether by the British, the Communists, or the Nationalists with Apartheid. The burning of the passes in the Gandhi film was a very impactful sight clearly, and in the Mandela reading I found the mentions of the Communist party quite interesting, I know very little about South Africa and all it's been through, so I never would have thought to link South Africa and the ANC to Communism, I'm not a huge history buff so I wasn't aware of the impact or communications between communist leaders and the ANC.

Overall, both of these men were fighters at heart, not in the violent physical sense, but in the way that meant they would let nothing get in there way, and it truly became their life's mission to achieve freedom for their people.

POST #2

Ryan Finnegan

My main take away on a combined theme of module 2 was “action”. This could be seen in Mandela helping to establish the Youth League or a massive action campaign or assisting in the groups organization for strikes. This is also seen in Gandhi’s move from South Africa to India, his many travels across the country, a call to burn the English made clothing or to resist, though non-violent noncooperation. Both men urged massive action without violence. This was a dangerous move as they were oppressed nations, under the rule of the white English men. However, they both understood that actions needed to be taken.

In South Africa, the ANC was losing its power and prestige that it once had. This helped to form the new Youth League to get the younger generation involved. Also, it spawned new leadership in the ANC and a renewed sense of action. While there could have been a violent outburst, the choice was to take on a variety of strikes to hurt the white business owners financially. Also, taking a daring move, they formed a Freedom Day strike which was political at its core. Economic strikes for higher wages and less hours were more acceptable, however, a strike that challenged the government and their oppressive laws was dangerous.

In India, Gandhi took to the country by traveling and meeting people and garnering support. He also encouraged a non-violent action against the oppressors, even in the face of being imprisoned. This took a lot of courage as their laws are no where near that in the United States. There is no due process so they could be jailed for long periods of time for no reason. This stance and action, gained him the support of the nation, calling him the father of India. He was also a man of action and didn’t sit back and lead from a distance, he made his way to meet the people in the tribes that they lived. This not only increased his support but strengthen a nation through unity.