January 19, 2017

Immaturity Among Nations

8 Comments
I have to laugh. The new trend in inflammatory rhetoric is complaining about other countries that "interfere” in national policy or procedures. First, it was the U.S. blasting Russia for the alleged hacking of Clinton emails. The latest is China blasting the U.S. because we invited Taiwanese delegates to Trump’s inauguration.  This reminds me of my children as they grew up. Each one got into trouble in some way and got caught…because adults talk to one another I will never forget the day my second daughter stood in front of me, hands on hips, and said in her strictest, most powerful voice, “You may not discuss me with anyone. I forbid you to talk to other people about me!” Trying not to laugh out loud, I simply said, “Sorry! Parents talk, teachers talk, and neighbors talk. That’s how we make sure no one gets into serious trouble.” “That’s not fair!” she argued loudly. “Life is not fair, and I want you to get to adulthood in one piece!” I replied. As I walked away I added, “And I’m going to talk about you with whoever I need or want to as long as you’re under my roof.” The nations of the world are like a bunch of siblings with no parents. The truth is, there is no way that any nation can afford to not do what it must to find out what the rest of us are up to. There is no way that one nation can forbid others to talk, visit, or trade with anyone else. We need to talk. We need to know what is going on. We need to know one another. It will keep us out of trouble.