Talk:Woodrow Wilson/@comment-71.94.164.238-20150520191333

I added Wilson to the American Progressives group. I understand that this will be confusing. Wilson was progressive. Wilson was also a repressive racist, a Klansman, and an elitist. For some of you without the advantage of a long memory, it may be difficult to reconcile the actions of some historical figures with modern definitions. Were Wilson alive today, and holding the same beliefs he did during his lifetime, he would likely be considered conservative because of his unenlightened social beliefs. Yet, in his time he was able to achieve some significant progress.

It's unfortunately the case that elected leaders must be acceptable to their people, and that means they must convince the electorate that they hold similar, if more enlightened, beliefs of their fellows. Great leadership, in a democratic society, may be the ability to achieve the gradual enlightenment of people, and use that gradual enlightenment to affect incremental progressive change.