We recognize that every living being wants to be happy and does not want to suffer. Therefore, it is immoral and impractical to seek one's own happiness without considering the aspirations of all others around us as members of the human family. The way of wisdom is to consider others in seeking our own happiness.                               The 14th Dalai Lama

As we act together in our national reality, the identity of our homeland grows and evolves. Do we love Nicaragua? Does each of us organize our work from the same shared sense of what is truly important to all of us?

This inquiry helps us to discover our vision that generates energy and passion. And so we formulate, with inspiration and in coexistence managing what we can become in our national reality. By visualizing that place together we can decide what we want to be now - our "blue thread". Remember, you must be the path you want to see in others.

Can a corrupt-leader be ethical? Can ethics exist in an immoral system? Immoral leaders demand ethical behavior from their followers. The problem occurs when their own behavior belies and contradicts what they say and do against what they demand of others.

An operational definition of ethics is to demonstrate excellent behavior, honesty and integrity based on a specific moral. Ethics is how those morals are applied in practice. It is to comply and enforce what is said and agreed, without contradictions. It is the method of operating without violating the standards of morality of the particular culture of the group or civilization. The more solid the ethical behavior, the more reliable a leader will be for his followers.

Ethics emerges from morality. Morality determines ethics in practice. It is the actions based on deep beliefs of what is good and bad, right or wrong to do when acting. Morality is a personal philosophy that provides that awareness of right or wrong. It affects one's thinking and defines one's character.

Ethics can be measured on a scale where one extreme is the absolute right and wrong defined by the church, or the law, or any group, and the other extreme is anarchy which rejects the idea that there is anything inherently right or wrong. The philosophy is that if it works it's okay. If it feels good to do it, then do it. Ethics becomes emotional, spiritual, and intellectual. This reality of life presents paradoxes that confuse, annoy and irritate and that we must overcome as individuals and as a nation.

To be a good leader, a good dose of ethics is needed to guide the person and the nation. Based on these ethics, he or she must transmit very clear messages that generate trust and loyalty. The attitudes and actions of the people must be in accordance with these ethics, especially by the leader and how he or she uses power, otherwise, the social contract contracted with his or her followers would collapse, reducing his or her ability to create trust and loyalty to achieve something.

Governments and companies define their ethical standards. They demand honesty and integrity. They also create rules or laws and regulations under which they operate. But that is not enough. Those manuals and policies are imperfect, requiring good ethical judgment for their application. Without ethics, even in war, even if a leader wins, he loses, as his personal power and ability to succeed diminishes. In order to persist in the medium or long term in any position of power, the leader must be ethical.

There are leaders capable of forming systems with a balance between social responsibility and gaining power, wealth or something else. Personal interests and social responsibility can coexist when operating with high ethical standards and compassion. This is not easy. The difference between legal and ethical is somewhat blurred. And circumstances pull toward the easy solution that is not necessarily ethical. Also, not acting when one should, or prosecuting others, can be as unethical as the alleged action and even more catastrophic.

A good leader takes a firm stand in a cause; he cannot be soft. He has an open mind to new ideas. He can coexist and coexist with his adversaries within an ethical framework of respect for differences. He cannot be judgmental of others and even less against his followers, because he loses them and ceases to be effective, incapable of achieving anything. Also, an appreciated leader is magnanimous in defeat, admitting guilt and asking for forgiveness.

Large private companies in Nicaragua have ethical principles inconsistent with those of the current government. They say: "just because it is legal, it is not unethical". This is problematic. There should be no difference between ethical and legal, but there is everywhere, and it is cause for serious concern.

We need in our nation (and in the whole world), a solid social and political ethic that manages and facilitates coexistence in a society that is very diverse. No one should be above the law. We all have the same rights and obligations. As long as high ethical standards are not met in the political, institutional, social and business sectors, we will not be able to reach our full potential as a nation.

Let us remember that the arrogance of leaders is self-destructive, wherever they are, public or private sector. For many it means the fall of their position in power. Believing they are above the law and lying to escape responsibility and its consequences does not work. Arrogance leads to lying. Humility and telling the truth is medicine.

Albert Einstein said that "we should not do something that goes against our conscience, even if the State demands it". The excuse that I did it because I was told to, or because everyone else is doing it, is not acceptable. It is not appropriate to fall victim to any status-quo and give up personal power. The leader must keep an open mind to the changes and situations he/she faces, even if they seem extreme. In addition, he must possess great courage in applying all the fundamentals of the ethics he advocates with consideration for others.

A wise thought of Confucius says:
- The essentials of good government are: enough food, enough weapons to defend oneself, and the trust of the people to live together. If forced to give up one of those three, give up the weapons. If forced to give two elements, give the food, and lastly the trust of the people for without the latter nothing endures. 
- Take and assume the good and the people will be good. The virtue of a good person is like the wind, and the virtue of a bad person is like the grass. When the wind blows, the grass bends.
- The leader who demonstrates righteousness in his character will do well with his followers, even if he fails to give specific instructions.
This thought holds true today almost 2,300 years later. And let us remember, ethical leaders are a magnet for others, they are necessary to live together in a common ethical-purpose nation. If war did not occupy the minds and energy of our people, we could eliminate poverty in a generation and avoid the migration of our youth. 

Carpe diem

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