Chinese whispers and American foreign policy 1
26th Oct 2008
Hello lovely people
Sometimes I am astonished at real things that happen – even if you dream up the most absurd scenario, you can always find something that actually happened that is more absurd.
What I have found most amusing is the foreign policy credentials of Sarah Palin. This unknown woman – unknown in the sense that she was a well-known achiever in Alaska with a reasonably normal life until John McCain and the press discovered her – has not had many trips outside of the US. This made people question her ability to deal with issues such as the war in Iraq and the recent Russian invasion of Georgia.
Then somebody said on a major news program that Sarah Palin has knowledge of international politics because she lives in Alaska, which is next to Russia. It was meant as a joke, but the person said it with a straight face. If you believed this statement, you are probably one of those people who go on holiday to “Africa” or plan to “do Europe”. If you are, I suggest you occasionally leave your house and buy an atlas.
Anyway, some people understood the joke and had a good laugh and repeated it. Cindy McCain apparently did not understand the joke, because she repeated that Sarah Palin understood national security issues because Alaska is the closest part of North America to Russia.
Then Michael Barone confirmed Sarah’s foreign policy experience with the same statement about Russia and Alaska.
Then some well-known American writer said Sarah Palin has learned foreign policy by some kind of osmosis because of Alaska’s physical location.
And finally John McCain, the presidential candidate for the United States of America, one who may in future have a massive impact on world peace or the lack of it because of his actions, said that Sarah Palin understands the energy issues that are a key part of the national security issues, because Alaska is right next to Russia.
This is how rumour became fact in America, but nowhere else in the world.
If you are following my email series on interfaith holidays, you may have noticed similar trends in religion. Interesting and sometimes far-fetched statements originate from prominent people. At some point it becomes difficult to distinguish fact from fiction, and over time these statements become doctrine which other people are willing to kill for.
To be continued.
If you would like to receive fascinating information on various faiths and religions that will not be published on the blog, please subscribe to my email list on the blog. Please do this even if you already receive blog updates by email, because the email list is a separate list.
If you would like to leave a comment on the website, click on Comments at the bottom of any entry. Alternatively, if you receive this by email, click here. Then click on Comments at the bottom of the entry. A block will open where you can leave a much appreciated comment.
Love and Light
Elsabe
