Recently an event occurred in a fleeting example of what might be termed international diplomacy on the world stage -- after all, with the world wide web we are all on the world stage.
In this case citizens of three nations were involved. Fortunately the three nations are considered allies. Their citizens speak a common language, although I suspect that those in the other nations might scoff at that idea. Nevertheless English is the common language. One would think, then, that communication would be easy, that the opportunity for misunderstanding would be minimal.
Despite these factors a misunderstanding did in fact occur, complicated by technology, time, distance (measured in hemispheres), and perhaps by trust or the absence thereof. It seems, in these days of instantaneous interchange that is passed off as "communication", that the element of trust is proving ephemeral.
Is it any wonder then that world leaders find it so difficult to wield peace? If individuals who live their lives far off the international radar screen find trust so elusive are we all doomed to lives of talking without hearing, of communicating without understanding?
Have we permanently lost the concept of a person being as good as his/her word (properly documented with all legal disclaimers of course, for the record)? If so, how might a person of character regain that which has evidently gone missing? How might an insignificant player in a remote corner on the vast world stage do his/her part to assure world peace?
In this case citizens of three nations were involved. Fortunately the three nations are considered allies. Their citizens speak a common language, although I suspect that those in the other nations might scoff at that idea. Nevertheless English is the common language. One would think, then, that communication would be easy, that the opportunity for misunderstanding would be minimal.
Despite these factors a misunderstanding did in fact occur, complicated by technology, time, distance (measured in hemispheres), and perhaps by trust or the absence thereof. It seems, in these days of instantaneous interchange that is passed off as "communication", that the element of trust is proving ephemeral.
Is it any wonder then that world leaders find it so difficult to wield peace? If individuals who live their lives far off the international radar screen find trust so elusive are we all doomed to lives of talking without hearing, of communicating without understanding?
Have we permanently lost the concept of a person being as good as his/her word (properly documented with all legal disclaimers of course, for the record)? If so, how might a person of character regain that which has evidently gone missing? How might an insignificant player in a remote corner on the vast world stage do his/her part to assure world peace?
