[Vision2020] Obama's foreign policy experience

[g. crabtree]

Autobiographies are by their very nature exercises in vanity and spin. One 
would do well to not place a great deal of faith in what you might find in 
them.

g
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chasuk" <chasuk at gmail.com>
To: "Jeff Harkins" <jeffh at moscow.com>
Cc: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 8:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Obama's foreign policy experience


> 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
>
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