[Vision2020] Obama's foreign policy experience

[Chasuk]

On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 20:21, Jeff Harkins <jeffh at moscow.com> wrote:

> Oh for heavens sake - spare us from that line of bilge.  Obama was a young
> child when he lived overseas. The transference would be minimal - not zero,
> but minimal.

If you are an inquisitive and aware young child when you are exposed
to foreign culture, it influences you for life.  I've read both of
Obama's books, and he shows every evidence of having been such a
child, which has carried over into his adulthood.

My own children spent their adolescence living overseas, and both of
them have a greater intuitive understanding of world affairs than any
political tourist.  Their early exposure to a larger world motivated
them both to seek careers in international relations.  Provincialism
breeds provincialism, and cosmopolitanism breeds cosmopolitanism, both
of which are inculcated at an early age.  Obama's "transference"
wouldn't be as minimal as you imagine.

Chas