The Foreign Service Journal, March 2013

10 MARCH 2013 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL in our children’s lives: listening to their stories, learning about their ventures and challenges adjusting to new countries, discussing their questions and social frustrations, establishing a healthy com- munication channel, and building posi- tive identities and respect for differences. Further, we should seek ways to insert these concepts into the routines of our children’s everyday lives and help convince them through our actions that a society without discrimination is pos- sible. It is critical for all parents and care- takers to develop cultural sensitivity regarding our surroundings. Otherwise, without specific cultural information, we may inadvertently promote practices and approaches that could undercut other parents’ efforts. One great piece of advice I once received was this: “Encourage your child’s friendships with others across race, ethnicity, class, religious practices, background and ability.” The more personal experiences children have with members of other groups, the easier it will be to dismiss stereotypes and misperceptions. Raquel L. Miranda FS spouse La Paz, Bolivia No Experience Required Congratulations to Ambassadors Jett and Peck for calling attention to our continuing, and iniquitous, practice of appointing political contributors as ambassadors (“Psst! Hey, Buddy, Wanna Buy an Ambassadorship?” by Dennis Jett, November 2012 Speaking Out; “Ambas- sadors for Sale” by Edward Peck, January 2013 Letters). However, a recent article in the New York Times , focusing on Vogue editor Anna Wintour’s apparently unsuccess- ful effort to be appointed ambassador to the U.K., indicated that the Obama administration will continue to reward its financial backers in this fashion. One point that could also be raised in arguing for a change in our practice is that in recent years only two major participants in international affairs—one of which, the USSR, no longer exists— have cared so little about the quality of their international representation as to appoint inexperienced people to key diplomatic posts. Of course, in the Soviet case, appoint- ment as an ambassador was a punish- ment for being on the losing side in a political struggle, as V.M. Molotov discov- ered in 1957 when Khrushchev shipped him off to Ulan Bator (now Ulaanbaatar) after the defeat of the “anti-Party Group.” When every other serious country in the world does something one way and we persist in doing it another, this might cause us to re-examine our procedures. But I jest. Amb. Peck is also correct that we do not, fortunately, appoint generals to command aircraft carriers. But we have appointed retired admirals as ambassadors. There is a great story in connection with one such appointment, told by one of our finest career ambassa- dors, the late Malcolm “Mac” Toon. In 1971, Mac was serving as ambassador to Yugoslavia when the Sixth Fleet came to call at Split. Mac went to over- see the visit and took good care of the commander, Admiral Horatio Rivera, including a trip up to Brioni to call on President Josip Broz Tito. As the Sixth Fleet prepared to sail back to Gaeta, Adm. Rivera thanked Mac for organizing such a fine visit and opined that when he retired from the Navy, he would like to be an ambassador. Mac, never at a loss for a good response, allowed as how when he retired from the Foreign Service, he would like to become an admiral. Apparently not seeing the irony in it all, Adm. Rivera replied that it would be impossible for Mac to become an admiral—even though he had spent four years in the Navy during World War II— because years of experience in the Navy are required to rise to that august status. The story does not end there, however. The next year, Adm. Rivera retired from the Navy and was appointed ambassador to Spain by President Richard Nixon. Thomas Niles Ambassador, retired Scarsdale, N.Y . A One-State Solution Is Unlikely I have only great respect and admira- tion for Kristen Loken, who certainly earned her knowledge and evaluation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict the hard Brian Aggeler