As was inevitable from the onset, we've found ourselves in nearly daily diplomatic talks trying to explain away the idiocy of current U.S. foriegn policy in a way that doesn't make us look like a bunch of Elmer Fudds for allowing the almost 8 year fiasco in the States to go as far as it has. What is the GS level for U.S. foreign ambassadors, because I'd like to get my check including all the overtime put in-- thank you very much.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Can I also get hardship pay with that?
As was inevitable from the onset, we've found ourselves in nearly daily diplomatic talks trying to explain away the idiocy of current U.S. foriegn policy in a way that doesn't make us look like a bunch of Elmer Fudds for allowing the almost 8 year fiasco in the States to go as far as it has. What is the GS level for U.S. foreign ambassadors, because I'd like to get my check including all the overtime put in-- thank you very much.
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Don't know if it will be of any help down in NZ, as the Kiwis are known to be a different breed (in a good way I hope) but I had the same experience for the first year or so in Europe till I realized that the people I was talking to didn't actually want an explanation. Most decent minded folks out there just feel frustrated and powerless with all that's going on and don't have any outlet. Then you come along and in some way symbolize the US to them. They feel on some level that even though they can't tell Bush how they feel, they can tell you, and since you're an American that will make some difference, will empower them in some abstract way.
It always seems like they want an explanation, and you might feel it's your duty to provide one, but from my experience I would have to say that they don't really want an explanation and you can't really provide one. When we bitch about the state of things with each other at home, I can't say that we ever really come up with the explanation or excuse for any of this nonsense, so why would we magically be able to do it abroad? What can your really explain about the fact that we're an emotional, divided nation who got scared, then had only a horsefaced dufus challenge the jackass dufus for the job? That the people with the bad ideas outnumbered and outmanoeuvered those with good ideas? In my experience, the best you can do is hear them out, sympathize and give them an opportunity to see that there are Americans who think for themselves, are concerned about the world and try to do what's best.
If you truly encounter a belligerent case (someone demanding an explanation, not punching your face), I've found two strategies that either defuse them or confuse them enough they don't know where to go:
#1 - Nod sympathetically while they rant, then say something like, "Wow, you should write a letter to President Bush, or maybe the editor of a American newspaper. I bet they just don't know how angry people are about all this."
#2 - Feign complete ignorance of Bush or the Iraq War. "Bush? Hmmm... kinda rings a bell, but I'm not sure. And you say there's war going on in this Iraq place? That's crazy."
Sorry for such a long one, but I hope you can save yourselves doing a job that on some fundamental level you just can't do. Be the good people that you are, and if that isn't enough for who you meet, then they have bigger problems than US foreign policy.
Sorry - just read my post again and now it sounds lecturing... really wasn't what I was feeling, just wanted to sympathize. Serves me right for trying to write something long first thing in the morning... hope no offense taken!
yesterday it was reported in our own Post Standard that Karen Hughes resigned after years of trying to change America's image around the world for George Bush. The primary mission was to counter-act protests or non-support of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Karen doubled the budget after taking control of the mission: 900 million a year! The mission failed and 900 mil wasted. Moral: don't take on the mission that the US govt. failed to achieve with a huge budget. Don't take responsibility for "others" actions.
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