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A WORD ABOUT ARMCHAIR DIPLOMACY
There are those who would criticize armchair diplomats for their attempts to promote meaningful dialogue amidst a perfect storm of public debate. These range from newer versions of manifest destiny and still-newer editions of the Monroe Doctrine to those of isolation, protectionism, neutrality, imperialism, colonialism and other politics of a bygone era. The time has come for effective cooperation in the establishment of guidelines, unified efforts toward transformational change and answers which are based on diplomatic solutions more than all other options, but which recognize that proper governance must enforce the rule of law, especially when its neglect will result in civil wars and anarchy. We must support those reforms which do not conflict with God’s Laws and which will benefit society as a whole. It is necessary to promote suggestions for the improvement of world diplomacy and how its general pursuit may rid itself of useless baggage and other hindrances. Have we learned enough from our mistakes to move toward the solutions that are so desperately needed, or are we stuck in an endless cycle of one-upsmanship, revenge, fingerpointing, and entrenched interests? Coldwar tactics are a pointless exercise that risk unnecessary provocation of world neighbors, and their continued use prolongs the terms of vested-interest groups who attempt to shore-up their agendas by hiding in an anonymous role behind a curtain of puppet-diplomacy. We who address this diplomatic theatre from our respective armchairs have an opportunity to short-circuit the plans of these powerful vested-interests by exposing their tactics on the blogging world stage and forcing them to confront us on our terms. Our unity of purpose will successfully bring workable answers to the frustrated diplomatic roundtable and help to persuade leadership and provoke dialogue where needed. Our world diplomacy must be based on more than the selfish ambitions of a few players who seek to turn the world into private divide-and-conquer fiefdoms! Let’s refuse to accept anything but the very best diplomatic solutions for our planet!
Mark Overt Skilbred
