http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/opinion/22kristof.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink This link is to a New York Times article by Nicholas Kristoff.
This mix of soft and hard power is what Professor Nye calls “smart power” — an update of Teddy Roosevelt’s notion of speaking softly and carrying a big stick — and it seems to be an emerging theme of the new administration.
Kristoff refers to a melding of Soft Power and Hard Power....both of which were referenced in the Inaugural Address. It is, well, powerful. It is a balance of brain and brawn which may lead to lessening the brawn once the brain finds third ways of conflict management.
...just me on a NYT roll......
amysgr
Thursday, January 22, 2009
pre-emptive informing
"Details of the directive involving the C.I.A. were described by government officials who insisted on anonymity so they could not be blamed for pre-empting a White House announcement. Copies of the draft order on Guantánamo were provided by people who have consulted with Mr. Obama’s transition team and requested anonymity for the same reason."
This quote comes from a New York Times article today, regarding issues with Guantanamo Bay and other secret prisons. But my issue is not about the closing of these prisons.
My issue is with people not being able to keep their big mouths shut. "...insisted on anonymity so they could not be blamed for pre-empting a White House announcement."
It is such juicy currency to be the one with the information. To be the one that others come to, to find out gossip, to be the one who will tell important information before the proper timing of its telling.
And it pisses me off. Perhaps there is a reason that the White House planned for the release of the information when it did or to hold on to it. Perhaps there are other issues that needed one last conversation before the announcement was made. Perhaps there were people who needed to hear it first in person, before a general public announcement was made.
At our seminary, we faced the transition of one of our beloved faculty. He was moving to a new position that was a very good move for him. Our seminary community found out about it, because the institution that was receiving him made a public announcement a day before the agreed upon announcement date. So faculty and students alike were finding out from phone calls they received from others associated with the receiving institution. It felt like an act of betrayal. And it was.
Why could they have not abided by the agreed upon announcement date?
Why cannot government officials speak plainly because they have the authority to, or not speak because they do not have the authority to?
Are we all so very insecure, that we need to scrabble for importance any way possible? Does this action not demean our own sense of authority and dignity? And is it not an act of betrayal? To our own self respect of nothing else.
In one of those letters found in the New Testament, the writer writes that we should not think of ourselves greater than we are. I agree. I think that we should think of ourselves with self respect for who we are. Not below and not above who we are, where we are. But where we are. Recognize that there really are people above us who are in charge, and that I cannot, should not, must not reveal what is not mine to reveal.
So, to all the self serving, insecure, immature Anonymouses out there........
Stop it. Just stop it. Shut your mouths with self respect and say, "This information is privileged right now and it will be announced in the proper time. I do not have the authority to speak on this topic."
See? How simple. And that would get my respect.
grrrrrrr,
amysgr
This quote comes from a New York Times article today, regarding issues with Guantanamo Bay and other secret prisons. But my issue is not about the closing of these prisons.
My issue is with people not being able to keep their big mouths shut. "...insisted on anonymity so they could not be blamed for pre-empting a White House announcement."
It is such juicy currency to be the one with the information. To be the one that others come to, to find out gossip, to be the one who will tell important information before the proper timing of its telling.
And it pisses me off. Perhaps there is a reason that the White House planned for the release of the information when it did or to hold on to it. Perhaps there are other issues that needed one last conversation before the announcement was made. Perhaps there were people who needed to hear it first in person, before a general public announcement was made.
At our seminary, we faced the transition of one of our beloved faculty. He was moving to a new position that was a very good move for him. Our seminary community found out about it, because the institution that was receiving him made a public announcement a day before the agreed upon announcement date. So faculty and students alike were finding out from phone calls they received from others associated with the receiving institution. It felt like an act of betrayal. And it was.
Why could they have not abided by the agreed upon announcement date?
Why cannot government officials speak plainly because they have the authority to, or not speak because they do not have the authority to?
Are we all so very insecure, that we need to scrabble for importance any way possible? Does this action not demean our own sense of authority and dignity? And is it not an act of betrayal? To our own self respect of nothing else.
In one of those letters found in the New Testament, the writer writes that we should not think of ourselves greater than we are. I agree. I think that we should think of ourselves with self respect for who we are. Not below and not above who we are, where we are. But where we are. Recognize that there really are people above us who are in charge, and that I cannot, should not, must not reveal what is not mine to reveal.
So, to all the self serving, insecure, immature Anonymouses out there........
Stop it. Just stop it. Shut your mouths with self respect and say, "This information is privileged right now and it will be announced in the proper time. I do not have the authority to speak on this topic."
See? How simple. And that would get my respect.
grrrrrrr,
amysgr
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
