Observations

SNS and I went sailing for a few days. We had fun. Winds were 10-15 knots on the peaceful and calm waters of the Chesapeake Bay, MD. These sailing trips are a great escape as I change environment and meet different people. A mind cleanser.

I brought my reading material with me to catch up with what is happening outside the world of finance. SNS was driving on the way back to Akron and I started looking at Foreign Affairs. This is a superb publication with scholarly articles.

I was going through the pages quickly to get a feeling of the content. Condi Rice wrote that the world is expanding and we will continue to influence it with our culture and how the evolving international order will have to reflect our values. Why?

It is in our interest, but I am not sure the world will accept it. The issue is: should we impose our values? How about respecting and accepting and sharing the values of other countries?

Another article dealt with China. We are so impatient in giving advice to China on how they should behave politically and economically in order to project the right image at the Olympic Games.

The next article dealt again with China. The focus was to recommend a partnership of equals. China and the US share common interests. They should be emphasized and used to develop this partnership.

I also read about the value of NAFTA and its importance for our country and North America. We need to show the world we are successful in our relationship with our neighbors and we are a team player.

Another article dealt with restoring our partnership with Europe because the US needs Europe.

These articles recognize we have been isolating ourselves and that we need to be part of the bigger picture which is evolving rapidly. We are becoming a smaller player in world affairs, whether we like it or not. Our aim should be cooperation, not confrontation.

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George Dagnino, PhD
Editor, The Peter Dag Portfolio
Since 1977