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Health & Fitness

When Opportunity for Diplomacy Fails

This is simply my voice of concern over the importance of proper diplomatic behavior in the world of international politics.

The Olympics are typically marked as a time of promise, hope and the ability to hail sportsmanship, while reflecting on other countries and their athletes with dignity and respect.  It is a time of opportunity to learn about other countries, traditions and restore faith in mankind.  In sharp contrast, it pains me to learn about some of the recent events at the Olympics in London, where opportunity to put our best foot forward in international relations failed so deeply.  I am speaking, of course, about the public statements made by Mr. Mitt Romney (R-former Governor of Massachusettes) in London on July 26, 2012.  

While I do not intend to elaborate or defend Mr. Romney's statements (we all woke up reading and hearing about it everywhere), I wish to implore politicians on all levels to recognize something that is inherently important to anyone working in the political arena.  Diplomacy matters!  This is true on the local level, from the smallest towns to the largest international setting.  It has become a lost skill.  As a direct result, Mr. Romney was ridiculed, and thereby not taken seriously.  And I promise you, the world is taking notice.

So, why (you may be asking yourself) is this so important?  He is not the President of the United States.  That is true.  However, his presence was a gesture of political importance and he has the support of a statistically significant number of Americans as a presidential candidate.  He is indeed the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party for President of the United States in the 2012 election.  And whether you support him or not (which is irrelevant to my point), he does carry some significant weight in politics.  His actions have been perceived by a huge part of the international community (citizens and politicians alike) as inappropriate and offensive.

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I cannot speak for Mr. Romney, so I do not know if he realizes the impact he has made on our foreign relations in the course of these events (of July 26th).  However, I will reach out to him with this ...

It is imperative for politicians to develop and refine a skill in the art of diplomacy.  Without it, subsequent words that are spoken become inadequate because previous statements (and behaviors) have wounded or even damaged the message, and possibly the best of intentions. Ultimately, it reflects on us as a country, as a nation, and foreign relations.

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While I am being somewhat critical (I know), I am also attempting to be candid and real.   I do not wish to pick on Mr. Romney, but instead, use the events of yesterday to demonstrate the impact that poor behavior can have on foreign perception and foreign relations. 

No one is perfect.  We have all slipped and misstated something, and hopefully we were able to laugh at ourselves.  But politicians, diplomats and all persons who represent government and law, do in fact operate in a world with (dare I say it) somewhat different rules.  They are "thrown to the wolves" in the press and by fellow politicans (yes, BOTH "friends" and foes) if they state (or do) something that can be considered in poor taste, awkward, ambiguous, full of double entendres, cross or insensitive, or even with malice, just to name a few (again, I'm being kind).

Webster’s Dictionary (online version as of the date of this writing) defines Diplomacy as follows:
Di`plo´ma`cy (n.)
1. The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations (particularly in securing treaties), including the methods and forms usually employed.
2. Dexterity or skill in securing advantages; tact.
3. The body of ministers or envoys resident at a court; the diplomatic body.

I do not wish to focus soley on the choice of spoken words, but diplomacy is in fact a set of skills that collectively contribute considerably to determine credibility, "likeability" and character, and thus the effectiveness of one’s political objectives.

So, here we go ... why is this so important to me?  Simply stated, I was brought up as a diplomat.  Yes, I had diplomatic status as a child up until the age of 21.  I was born and raised in the United States.  However, my parents were government officials. And with that, I was fortunate to meet heads of state at various functions and gatherings.  Did the world rest upon my diplomatic abilities?  Thankfully, “no.”  (Her majesty can thank me later.)  However, when you are raised in that environment, you are also inclined to study and learn behavior, and take note of people of importance.  Simple things start to matter.  For example (just to name a few):

How you introduce yourself;
Speaking, only after being spoken to;
Shaking someone's hand (or bowing/curtsey, as the case may be);
Being poised;
Tone of voice;
Eloquence;
Empathy;
Grooming (yes, a dreaded topic for some, but nonetheless very important).

Equally notable are some key things to avoid:
Sarcasm;
Boisterousness (I never did manage to control this one);
Smugness;
Politically and culturally insensitive behavior.

One thing that I have left off the list intentionally is the topic of "pride."  Are you cringing yet?  Perhaps you should.  It does have both a very positive as well as a socially awkward connotation to it.  And if you wish to jump on me at this point, I must share that you aren’t the first and you will not be the last to potentially misunderstand my intentions.  That is not a reflection of you as an individual, but expressing these feelings with adequate insight is not easy.  I merely wish to convey that “pride” in conjunction with accomplishment or achievement should be celebrated and relished; it is positive and should be deemed fulfilling.  However, “pride” in conjunction with intentions to impress and be persuasive may in fact jeopardize one’s best efforts.  In other words, “pride” can quickly mingle with the ugliness of “smug.”  There is an inherent difference that must not be confused.  We all know someone who is "smug," and that is typically someone whom we avoid.  Why?  Because ultimately, they do not impress and in fact, in most cases it impairs their ability to be “likeable.”  Conversely, being “humble” can in fact being very appealing, however extremes of any behavior can be construed as overly eager and therefore, questionable. And last but not least, do not co-mingle “pride” with being “righteous.”  That’s an ugly one, isn’t it?  Why?  That is the essence of being self-righteous or being "smug," and we already agreed that we avoid people who are "smug."

Which leads me back full circle to diplomacy being an important skill.  To be “liked,” one must have a certain charm or attractive quality that resonates with people.  That is very difficult to do across cultures, never mind in a vast international community.  Values differ.  Climates differ.  Traditions differ.  Priorities differ.  Politicians must remember that not everyone is similar to them, and they should never assume that they are “liked.”  Instead, they should carry out their duties with the appropriate composure in order to achieve objectives in a diverse and multi-cultural community.  Keep an open mind; we, as human beings, genuinely enjoy when people demonstrate a desire to learn and appreciate one another.  That desire  is utmost important if politicians are to be understood, and be effective representatives of their country and their countrymen. 

The moment a politician is seen, (s)he is being judged.  One does not need to speak to be judged.  That is the harsh reality of being in the public eye.  If they have foiled their diplomatic objective with an inappropriate behavior or offensive manner (or maybe just a bad hair day), the next words spoken are of little value.  Typically, there are only two exceptions: if an apology is given, or if (s)he can laugh at him/herself with some success, all is forgiven and faith is (measurably) restored.  However, in the absence of such a recovery, one needs to “do some damage control,” or get ready for losing the audience and quite possibly, credibility.

In 1974, President Nixon traveled to Australia.  As he was boarding his plane for his return to the United States, he stepped outside for a brief photo opportunity to say farewell, but not before unintentionally offending the people of Australia with what Nixon believed to be a “peace or victory sign” with both of his hands.  Instead, he turned his palms in.  And that changed the meaning completely to the (less than fortunate) equivalent to the middle finger.  Oops!  You guessed it … a diplomatic nightmare indeed.  

It is no wonder that politicians have multiple public relations advisors for the purpose of diplomacy.  Learning about different cultures can be a full time job.  (By the way, that includes diversity of cultures within a large country, such as the United States.)  Carrying out the duties of a politician using diplomacy will help remove unintended and unfortunate (albeit self inflicted and largely unintentional) behavioral burdens, while enabling them to focus on their objectives and tasks.  Communication is pivotal to gaining the respect of an audience, and using diplomatic skills effectively is a huge step towards meeting that goal. 

Make no mistake about it, what Mr. Romney does in Europe this week, and in the eyes of the world, impacts us as Americans.  It is now up to others, including Mr. Romney’s staff, to start the damage control.  Ugh! 

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