The Foreign Service Journal, April 2016

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | APRIL 2016 29 own humanity. Whether as individuals or as governments or corporations, we cannot succumb to such fears. Standing idle or staying silent in the face of such suffering is unconscionable. No matter the passport or citizenship one holds, we all share a singu- lar humanity, and we should help those we can, when we can and where we can. To Build a More Secure World The mission of the Foreign Service is to advance and protect U.S. interests abroad and implement foreign policy initiatives to promote a free, prosperous and more secure world. Our interac- tions with foreign governments and citizens are not only meant to ensure good relations, but to contribute to greater global devel- opment and to share the basic tenets on which our great nation was founded. But beyond that, at an even more basic level, is the aspiration to promote fundamental human rights and freedom. Through our embassies around the world we strive to protect and further America’s diplomatic goals not just because we love our country, but because we believe that all people are created equal and should have the same fundamental rights and freedoms Americans enjoy. “Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion or political views,” Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel once said, “that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe.” Thus in times like these, we must act to protect those in harm’s way in defense of the values we hold dear. Fear drives us to take positions in the short term that make us feel safe. But we must remember that the preservation of life, individual liberty and dignity is essential to modern democracy, and that we cannot ensure peace in our world unless we provide a credible, compassionate alternative to terror. As a former Foreign Service officer myself, I experienced first- hand what a heavy toll military conflict takes on innocent lives. What I saw and felt when I served in Kigali during the Rwandan genocide isn’t something that should be relived. The loss was great; the political silence deafening; the brutality overwhelming. We always tell ourselves that what happened in Rwanda shouldn’t happen again. What happened in Cambodia shouldn’t happen again. What happened during the Holocaust shouldn’t happen again. But the only way that such terrible atrocities won’t happen again is if we act. Experience also teaches us that we should not run blindly into issues as nuanced as providing refugee aid when national secu- rity and global geopolitics affect every decision taken. Nor should our response to humanitarian cri- ses ever be to just throwmoney at a desperate situation. The response requires a personal investment by all of us and significant effort to achieve meaningful progress in collaboration with all stakehold- ers. If we take the time to advance needed change in partnership with others, perhaps we won’t see a repeat of what’s happening today in Syria and the refugee crisis it has sparked. What Corporate Involvement Can Bring Cross-stakeholder partnerships are what will drive meaningful results. The U.S. government alone, or any government for that matter, cannot supply all of the resources necessary for change. Nor can nongovernmental organizations, even if they all join forces and cooperate with each other. No single person, com- pany or entity is enough to address issues of this magnitude; but together we can make a significant difference for those in need. “Each to his own strength” may be the best path forward. To solve global problems, we need to tap into the resources and expertise that each of us bring to the table. Solutions that embrace this shared, collaborative approach have a considerably greater impact because the right people and right organizations will be focused on the right issues. A UPS humanitarian relief flight is readied in Dallas for the American Red Cross to help survivors of Typhoon Soudelor in the Mariana Islands in August 2015. COURTESYOFUPS The only way that such terrible atrocities won’t happen again is if we act.