Foreign Policy at Home

As Madeleine Albright gave her statement to the committee that would be securing her place as Secretary of State on January 23, 1997, she had this to say in regards to building a new framework for the new century:

“At the center of that framework ‘are our key alliances and relationships.  These are the bonds that hold together not only our own foreign policy but the entire international system.  When we are able to act cooperatively with the other leading nations, we create a dynamic web of principle, power, and purpose that elevates standards and propels progress around the globe.’  To seize the opportunities and defeat the perils we would face, I concluded, ‘we must be more than audience, more even than actors, we must be the authors of the history of our age.’” (Madame Secretary, A Memoir)

I love that line “authors of the history of our age,” as well as the philosophy that we must work together with other leading nations.

If we bring it closer to home, we can adopt that philosophy as people of faith working together.  It has never been easy for countries to work together when they have such differences, be it culture or perspectives, and it is not always easy for people of different faiths to work together either, but we must try, even if it is difficult.  It is worth the effort.

That does not mean we have to compromise our beliefs or settle on a common denominator, though.  At the heart of creating a pathway to success, is collaboration, and at the heart of collaboration is respect for each other and a genuine desire to promote the common good.  The common good is a wonderful goal to work towards.

On her first day on the job as Secretary of State, Albright also said:

“I intended to focus on reconnecting the American people to our foreign policy.  During the Cold War, most Americans paid attention to world events because they knew Soviet missiles were targeted on their homes. . . After the Soviet Union broke apart (and before September 11, 2001), the rationale for caring about international affairs seemed less dramatic, although to my mind no less compelling.”

We know that is true, don’t we?

It was her plan to get Americans excited about foreign policy again.  Why?  Because what goes on around the world has a way of becoming personal to us very quickly.  Working towards the common good isn’t just working for America alone, but all people, throughout the world.

When we work towards the common good, we care about people who are suffering, even if we don’t know them or see them.  We care about immigration, families being separated, and innocent children losing their childhood.

Back here at home, in our little corner of the world, it just makes sense for each of us to be working for the common good of our neighbor.  Rather than allowing division to continue or for hatred to rise up, we should strive to seek the good of the other.

I would encourage you to let that thing go, whatever it is, that is keeping you separated from your church, relationships or even peace in your life and ask yourself, “What should I do to work for the common good?”

If we all do that, then maybe as “authors of the history of our age, we will together write a book whose spine never breaks.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net