The Power of Our Example or....

At the Democratic National convention former President Bill Clinton made a very interesting comment, at least the concept was interesting to me. He said that the United States is always at its best when we utilize the power of our example rather than the example of our power. What an interesting differentiation.
A friend responded to an earlier blog post with the comment that in today's intertwined economies and intersecting business and political interests that conscious interference with another countries economic model could have the same or even greater negative effect than a nuclear weapon and that attempting to impose a culture incongruent with another nations value structure as potentially devastating as a biological weapon.
When I look at what has happened from the recent economic crisis and the way it has wound itself back and forth through the world economy I don't think his comments are overly dramatic.
There have been interesting comments all over the Internet suggesting that the impact of the United States on the world economy is so significant that the citizens of the world, not just the citizens of the U.S. should have a say in our presidential elections. While I don't agree with that I do think we need to recognize the responsibility and impact we have as a world player.
I see a similar role for those of us that are Boomers and members of the Greatest Generation in providing leadership and guidance to the Gen X'rs and Millenials that will assume responsibility for the world sooner then we would like to acknowledge.
I have done a tremendous amount of writing, blogging, and speaking about the concepts of organizations based on commitment versus compliance and the wisdom and value of engagement.
I like to think that is what draws me to the analogy of the lighthouse- the power of example rather than the example of power. So in the end if not us then who, if not now then when......?