The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2009

J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 9 while interviewing 100 visa applicants per day to determine which may be a threat to U.S. security? I would rather rely on a State Department health provider for my safety and well being. Bruce McKay FS Family Member Brasilia Don’t Encourage Them! I read with astonishment FSO Steven Giegerich’s lengthy Speaking Out column in the May FSJ calling for economic, career and quality-of-life improvements for gay and lesbian For- eign Service employees. Is it really true (as he asserts) that his plea has “important implications for a significant segment of the Foreign Service corps”? If so, and if their numbers are “sig- nificant” now, without the called-for improvements, the enactment of Mr. Giegerich’s sweeping shopping list will produce greater numbers of those whose habits are unacceptable to most American taxpayers and, perhaps more significantly, to the religions and cul- tures of most countries where we op- erate. Accordingly, I would oppose the writer’s proposals. In my view, the issue is not one of equality and fairness. The issue turns on what is fair for the Foreign Service, what best enables it to accomplish its mission. And that depends, in large part, upon building relationships and projecting values. The apparent vision of the author of this article— that of a Foreign Service whose members project controversial views on family, marriage and sex — could only serve to undermine our work abroad. Richard W. Hoover FSO, retired Front Royal, Va. Appreciation for 10 Years It was great for the FSJ to recognize Steve Honley for his 10 years of service to the Journal as editor (April AFSA News ). Steve was our desk officer when I was deputy chief of mission in Cameroon, during an especially turbu- lent period when our reporting was ea- gerly awaited and digested by Wash- ington users. He provided outstanding support, guidance and, yes, editing for our submissions to make them more concise, readable and useful to princi- pals. When I heard Steve was going to the Journal , I knew AFSA would be gaining a first-rate editor, not only highly capable on the writing side, but also eminently fair — not just willing but eager to present all sides of an issue. During his tenure, the Journal has improved exponentially in scope, content and balance. More recently, we invited Steve to talk to a number of our mass commu- nication and honors classes at Texas Tech University. The students and faculty were delighted to interact with this talented and knowledgeable pro- fessional. I sincerely hope Steve stays for many more years overseeing our FSJ ! Tibor Nagy Jr. Ambassador, retired Ransom Canyon, Texas (Note: Too modest to agree to publication of this letter, Steve was overruled by Editorial Board Chair- man Ted Wilkinson, who requested that we run it.) ■ L E T T E R S CORRECTION In the June obituary for Edwin Melville Adams Jr., the deceased’s name was misprinted in the two penultimate paragraphs. We regret the error.