‘I want you to make sure tomorrow’, said Faisal, 'that the people are told precisely what operation I’m having. The Minister of Health will probably dress it up with long medical words, but I want the announcement to use the words that everyone understands – bawassir, piles.’ One of the most memorable moments in Robert Lacey’s “The Kingdom” about Saudi Arabia is the above. When King Faisal had hemorrhoids, he not only had them operated on but made sure that everyone knew about it. He used his power to create awareness of this most intimate of diseases in a culture where masculinity normally wouldn’t allow for such things. As Lacey goes on to explain, many other people went on to get medical help in line with his example. If the King can talk about his hemorrhoids with a doctor, then everyone can. Leadership comes in many forms and so does masculine courage. Behind his ‘stache, King Faisal was in pain. What made him a man was opening up, asking for help and giving his people the permission to be vulnerable.
