The trouble with myopia

Often, focusing on the perceived vice blinds people to the greater virtue(s) that a person possesses.

This is true today, as it was true during the Civil War, when complaints reached President Abraham Lincoln about General Ulysses S. Grant's drinking habits in time of war.

"Grant's drunkenness had no impact on his ability to take the pivotal city of Vicksburg on July 4th. In fact, when Abraham Lincoln was confronted by more stories of Grant's drinking, he declared if he could find the brand of whiskey Grant drinks, he would promptly distribute it to the rest of his generals."¹

Unfortunately, leaders with Lincoln's intellect, character insight, and fortitude to fight for right, are rare.


¹ http://www.suite101.com/content/a-drunk-ulysses-s-grant-at-vicksburg-a140405

As an aside, it's noted that while the above story is true, the degree of Grant's drinking, even at the time, was probably greatly exaggerated for different political purposes.  Some accounts posit that, due to his size, Grant was rarely actually inebriated.