Obama Appoints Judith McHale Chief U.S. Image-Maker

Reader Comments
Back to blog

mc hale is a very bad choice for anything in government
i sure donnt want her representing america

rworley of TX 8:55AM August 20, 2009

Unfortunately, when one speaks from ignorance, it does not help. Most Americans have been living inside their nation, with not much, if any, exposure to the outside world, its people and cultures. I doubt that when one knows nothing about a people, they can judge them. On the other hand, the Arab world, with its innate eagerness for knowledge about the outside world for centuries now, have always known about the West. We visited Europe and America, mingled with their people, toured their countries, attended their schools and colleges, spent money and went back home happy, having learnt that Americans are a loving people who like a good laugh. We do not hate the United States. Period. The reason Arabs started having an issue with America is the history and political issues you need to start reading about before you judge.

Ahmed 4:28AM August 20, 2009

I agree that people-to-people programs, such as the Fulbright Program, are the most effective. The Peace Corps, for example, is an often-overlooked form of public diplomacy. However, technology is indispensable to the advance of public diplomacy not because it enables the U.S. or any other country to propagate its message more effectively and lecture the world on its values, but because it makes possible what one diplomat (I think it was James Glassman) called a "grand conversation." Technology and politics have now made that conversation possible by empowering the individual to reach out to the planet.
Public diplomacy is the ability of a nation to reach out to international audiences. What's new is that the audiences can talk back.

Jerry Edling of CA 11:05PM July 11, 2009

Despite the role that technology can play in our U.S. Public Diplomacy initiatives, person-to-person exchanges, such as the Fulbright Program and International Visitor Leadership Program, continue to be the most effective way that we, as a nation, can promote mutual respect and understanding between the people of the U.S. and other nations.

Laura Dupuy of UT 12:58PM April 16, 2009

The world hates us because we are the greatest country and freedom is something they wish they had. I have to wonder what image he wants. Could it be like the socialist nations or Muslim nations. Leave our image alone obama!

Lou of TX 9:58PM April 15, 2009

See my comments on the PDWorldwide Blog:
http://pdworldwide.blogspot.com/

Bill Kiehl of PA 6:07PM April 15, 2009

"diplomacy" in the traditional sense, so lack of that experience probably does not matter. I imagine this person was selected to find ways to take America's case to actual people--not "diplomats"-- via technology.
Besides, you want anything other than a supporter of Hillary Clinton at State?

Muser of NM 12:46PM April 15, 2009