Global Initiatives

A funny thing is happening. Just as the world community gets a fresh dose of energy and spirit to solve global problems, a counter dose of political skullduggery questions if this is a worthy aim. All you have to do is observe two messages in recent days from the US campaign for president.

First is the ‘America First’ banner held high by the Trump campaign. Second is the questioning by Trump of Hillary’s ties to the Bill and Hillary Clinton Foundation.

In the first instance all we need do to refute America First-ism is to remember the folly of the First World War, and the slow entry of America to the Second World War. Both cost precious lives, time, materiel and money. Treasure all. Wasted because we as a nation put forth the argument that Europe was not America and they needed to fight their own wars. What was America doing getting involved in such skirmishes?

We learned that lesson well I had thought. But now the Trump supporters are questioning those lessons of history all over again!  Good Lord!

Second, the Clinton Foundation has been all about Global Initiatives from the start. Bill and Hillary claimed long ago that America’s business is not separate from the world community. If we prosper and the world doesn’t, America loses. In fact if such were the case America would be constantly at risk from external factors and become weakened by it.

The Clinton Foundation has always preached global issues should lead to global solutions so that all mankind prospers in peace and prosperity. Gathering donations from every corner of the world to fund research and program development in health, education, and economics, the Clinton Foundation’s success is found in its ability to attract peoples of the world community to work together on broad based issues affecting the globe’s population.

To detract from this success is sheer nonsense. Of course Hillary will need to maintain arm’s distance from the foundation should she win the White House. But the world’s problems will remain and need international attention if they are to be properly managed and solved. The Foundation will be needed even more.

The Clinton Foundation has carved a unique role for itself steering around government programs, United Nations authority and sensitive cultural issues that separate nation from nation. Now is not the time to dismantle the Foundation or its work. It must proceed.

And the Clinton’s must be trusted to keep that mission moving forward as well. In fact, the Clinton’s demonstrate exactly what our nation and the world need most – collaboration and inclusion. I doubt the Donald has that as his mission. Oh really! He doesn’t even have this as a work model or talent. His mode is singularity of purpose; mostly self and money. These are the elements that have propelled world issues to the brink before. They remain primary causes of this threat today as well.

It is time for all of us to understand these basics:

1. The world is our environment in which to live and prosper; we cannot escape it
2. Living with the peoples of the planet requires inclusion and the understanding that engenders
3. Solving global problems is done best by collaborating with all the stakeholders
4. If we help others to live well we live well as a result 

Perhaps someone with influence could take Donald Trump by the hand and lead him off into a corner where these things can be discussed and explained to him?

Yeah sure! And the Easter Bunny is real!!

August 23, 2016