Every Single World Leader Needs To Take A Leaf Out Of The Incredible Jacinda Arden’s Playbook Right Now

Have you heard the name Jacinda Arden before? Hopefully so… but if not, you’re about to hear it a lot more now, and you’re never gonna forget it! You see, Jacinda Arden is currently writing the playbook for stellar leadership after a truly tragic mass murder happened within her own country.

Jacinda Arden is New Zealand’s prime minister was unique in many of her ways even before the tragic Christchurch mosque shootings which killed 50 of her beloved people. She is also only 38 years old, making Jacinda Arden one of the youngest heads of state in the entire world! She is also just one of two world leaders who has actually given birth while in office too. Arden is a Mormon-turned-agnostic (she already has my vote!) who ran what was referred to as a “relentlessly optimistic” campaign (in her own words, of course) and she found out she was pregnant only a mere month after being elected Prime Minister back in 2017.

Her ridiculously meteoric rise up into political power and popularity, which was fondly dubbed “Jacindamania” by the media, safe to say put her under a freakin’ bright spotlight. Since then, she has very solidly held her own in that space, even as she’s constantly challenged political norms. (I mean, let’s be honest, how many world leaders exactly do you see bringing their 3-month-old baby to the U.N. General Assembly!? Answer: Literally NONE.) However, it’s her response to the recent mosque killings is what has people all over the world praising her strong, clear and most significantly compassionate leadership.

Her first reaction to the horrific killing of her Muslim countrymen was to immediately don a hijab and then acknowledge the needs of the victim’s obviously devastated loved ones.

Arden herself is not a Muslim, nor is she even slightly religious anymore. However, in a way of solidarity with the Muslim community, she put a hijab on herself and addressed all the family and friends of the men, women and all the children killed in the senseless attack. Her first words were: “As-Salaam-Alaikum,” which is an Arabic phrase and common Muslim greeting meaning “Peace be upon you.”

She then went on to tell the mourners that the government’s first immediate concern was, of course, making sure that the religious considerations for the victims’ burial were completely respected and were followed to the best of their own ability. Their second immediate concern was clearly for the safety of the Muslim community itself. But the empathy with which she delivered these reassurances was notable. “You are us,” she told them. “We feel grief, we feel injustice, we feel anger, and we share that with you.”

NZ Prime Minister @jacindaardern is a remarkable leader. Here, she addresses mourners after the #Christchurch terrorist attack. pic.twitter.com/ccaiG6H0Fg

— news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) March 18, 2019

It didn’t stop there, either. Ardern and the New Zealand government also offered financial assistance to the families to help with burial expenses, and she vowed to take swift action on gun control to limit the ability for such shootings to occur.

In STARK contrast to the American government’s complete and utter non-response to regularly occurring mass murders in the U.S., the New Zealand government moved toward tightening gun laws, including a proposal to ban military-style semiautomatic firearms, in the days immediately following the shooting. Which is simply incredible and a much-needed breath of fresh air, if you ask me!

“As a Cabinet, we were absolutely unified and very clear,” Ardern said in a press conference. “The terror attack in Christchurch on Friday was the worst act of terrorism on our shores. It has exposed a range of weaknesses in New Zealand’s gun laws. The clear lesson from history around the world is that, to make our community safer, the time to act is now.”

Wow, did they even TRY thoughts and prayers? https://t.co/hJpaTn4aOF

— Erica Buist (@ericabuist) March 16, 2019

She is ALSO refusing to give the killer the notoriety he seeks, saying, “You will never hear me mention his name.”

Ardern gave a clear speech to the New Zealand parliament in which she refused to use the killer’s name and encouraged others to do the same.

“He sought many things from his act of terror,” she said, “but one was notoriety. And that is why you will never hear me mention his name. He is a terrorist, he is a criminal, he is an extremist, but he will, when I speak, be nameless. And to others, I implore you, speak the names of those who were lost rather than the name of the men who took them. He may have sought notoriety, but we in New Zealand will give him nothing, not even his name.”

Her powerful, strong, decisive and very clear, heartfelt compassion in the wake of such a tragedy makes her a true example for other world leaders to follow in her glorious footsteps.

I mean, let’s face it – it’s no easy task to lead an entirely shaken nation. But Ardern’s response to the Christchurch shootings has given other leaders facing such atrocities a playbook to follow (hoping that they shall indeed, follow it), as her unwavering leadership perfectly blends condemnation and kindness, solidarity and sensitivity, a strong stance and a soft heart.

Model leadership from PM Ardern. Principle, empathy, resolution, vision. In the midst of unspeakable trauma she is giving people hope. The testimony of the families of the fallen to New Zealand as their home is so impressive. https://t.co/QvvbfF9gnM

— David Miliband (@DMiliband) March 19, 2019

Her focus on the victims first, while also taking political action to support the victims’ families and seek ways to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again is impressive. Her willingness to step into the Muslim community and listen to their needs is inspiring. And her ability to rally support for a meaningful change in the immediate aftermath of an attack, while also providing assistance and hope to those in mourning is exemplary.

Take note, people in power everywhere! For this is what TRUE leadership looks like.