A good follower does not follow blindly. Instead, he questions and challenges the leader, but still supports the leader's decisions if it is within reason. The general attitude towards followers is a negative one. This is normally meant as a horrible insult. Followers are frowned upon.
Leaders are the gods.
The western world seems to relate leadership with a sense of individuality. And even though you value leadership so highly, I'm sure you cannot deny that leadership is only a means to an end. This end is what that leader ultimately wishes to accomplish. There is no guarantee that what he is trying to accomplish is right or beneficial. Which means that leadership, like every other gift, is not good or bad alone, but must be wielded like a sword.