The infallibility curse

"To err is human, to forgive divine." - Alexander Pope

An incredible phrase, and an incredible concept. Whether it be the one apologizing, or the one forgiving, the ability to backtrack and to deal with a new situation, an unexpected situation; to know that one needs to take stock of one's situation and if need be, to acknowledge one's own fallibility, to acknowledge a mistake; all this is part of the same unique ability. It is a gift with which G-d has endowed only humans, created in His own image. The advantage Man has over the animal, or machines.

By contrast, not knowing how to check oneself, is arguably the greatest impairment to creativity, initiative and leadership. One who cannot acknowledge his mistakes, he who does not know when to stop and say "Hold it! Things are not as they should be!", this is someone who's many talents will all have been for naught.

And it seems to be the problem plaguing our president.

Whether it be his row with McCain over torture, the ports deal, his Iraq statements, or anything else, one thing has struck me every time I have seen, heard, or read any of his statements. It is his self-assuredness, bordering on borderless arrogance. It is not the assuredness of one who has experienced doubt. It is the quintessential "Just trust me".

This is a quality that looks pretty good at a presidential job. "He's the president, he should know" is a pretty normal response for the average citizen. It takes a while to realize that one can conceivably say "Trust me" on just about anything and everything.

Nowhere did this reach a head more than in the latest Katrina tapes. Warnings were given that the levees might be breached. Nothing was being done. Brown warned about it, Chertoff warned about it, every person who knew anything warned about it.

The President? "We are fully prepared".

If that's not self-assured, conceited garbage, what is?

This is also the challenge facing myriad Jewish institutions, notably the religious groups. The courage to see that things are not as they ought to be; and the courage to go ahead and change them. Lubavitch, certainly since 1994, is no exception. The Rebbe was certainly one who knew and understood the horrors of stagnance and complacency, and fought it tooth and nail. It is the role of his followers to perpetuate that trend. So far, they're being pretty rotten at it.

Come to think of it, this is probably the challenge facing you and me. Chassidut elaborates at length how the holiday of Purim symbolizes the refusal to make peace with any kind of limitations or boundraries. Time to get going.