I'm taking a class on leadership with Robert Reich. So far the reading has been an eclectic mix of modern self-improvement-style book chapters, historical parable-type examples of leadership, and a selection from the New Yorker about a dude who helped lead the movement to outlaw car alarms. Cool stuff, most of it. This quote that I read just now, though, really floored me:

I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about, in any way, the social and political equality of the white and black races . . . I am not, nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, not of qualifying them to hold office, nor of intermarrying with white people; and I will say, in addition to this, that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the ttwo races living together on terms of political and social equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together, there must be the position of superior and inferior; and I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.

Pretty awful, huh? It really drives home the fact that every human is flawed, and that the mythical notion of the perfection of our "founding fathers" and "greatest leaders" really is quite the myth. An important lesson, especially given the present day context. E.g., this morning over pancakes I was talking about how amazing inauguration day will be if Barack wins, how I'll be celebrating in the streets, and Rafi said "Uh, let's see him do something first. Give me universal health care... I'll come celebrate in the streets with you that day." How true.

Oh, and who does that quote belong to? No, not Adolf Hitler... Abraham Lincoln.