The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2017

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 43 addressed the security problems that continue to pose a threat to professional diplomats? James (Jim) Meenan FSO, retired Fairfax, Virginia We Are Honored to Serve As a medical doctor new to the Foreign Service, I watched our 2016 election from U.S. Embassy Caracas. One fact has become increasingly clear. Our “America” is not just “there” in the 50 states. Not just “there” in the corridors of advertising, business and commerce. And certainly not just “there” inside the Beltway. The United States of America is everywhere we have staked a claim to a relationship, including at embassies like ours in Cara- cas. For many here in Venezuela, we are the only “United States of America” they will ever see. Everywhere that an American post or citizen is, the United States of America is there, as well. The paradigm of “the United States of America” causes great ambivalence in much of our world, both inside and outside our borders. But it is a concept, a philosophy, a way of living and being with which virtually all people must contend in our cur- rent global society. We at the Department of State serve our country’s freedoms, democracy and respect for human life and dignity through our business, our conversations and our relationships, and by advo- cating on behalf of the interests of the United States of America with humility and conviction. It has been a great honor to serve the Obama administration, and it will be a great honor to serve the newly elected Trump administration and each democratically elected administration that occupies our White House. Robert Bentley Calhoun, M.D. Regional Medical Officer U.S. Embassy Caracas, Venezuela n