dispatches from the new world of work

Re-imagine!

Having read the China-US article in the FT, I'd say the position of choosing between "the disastrous and the unpalatable" is weak. Predicting the future, from any historic viewpoint is myopic. Consider this, when 77-year-old Mr. Lantos comments on China not being a threat to the US or to world peace, he opens a door of possibilities, and another level of responsibility for world leaders. Reflect again, "It's very important to separate the very positive secular trend from the ups and downs of day-to-day diplomacy ... we are at a moment in history when all the great entities—Europe, the US, India, China, Japan—are basically on the same side, and on the other side are the 'rogue states' and the global terrorist movement." Who would have imagined in 1947 that Mr. Lantos, then 19, would, in the next century, make such a statement? There is unlimited potential, now, to re-imagine politics as an art of the possible. Now may be the time to throw down a gauntlet to world leaders, in Washington, Beijing, Moscow, Seoul, demanding them to design a new world view where nations struggle together to live up to extraordinary expectations, such as "being human" to one another, physically and economically. Perhaps someone, like Condoleezza Rice will imagine "beyond the obvious" and take on this potential to create a world view that challenges her political (global) comrades with a vision greater than these covert snake nests of "palatable" solutions.

Juli Ann Reynolds posted this on 03/20/05.

Comments

Ahhhh the long range view. Thank you for imagining it Juli Ann. Great thoughts and Ms. Rice seems to have the talent to imagine...re-imagine it.

Posted by Paul Davidson at March 21, 2005 12:58 AM

I agree Paul

Maybe we are all finally waking up in the world to accepting and working with words like COMPROMISE and also beginning to REALLY UNDERSTAND the other person's culture.

I am lucky enough not to have lived through a world war and I count my blessings about that - I dread the thought that my children and grand children ever have world war in the back of their minds.

Good luck to Ms Rice - from my perspective over the pond here in England - she seems to be a breath of fresh air to world politics.

I am a fan of Tony Blair who I beleive has 'Re-Imagined' the new world order since 1997 when he was first elected as our Prime Minister in the UK.

Although he is going through choppy waters at present I hope my fellow UK Citizens feel the same way as I do in the upcoming election.

Mr Blair will go down as one of the greatest British leaders in my opinion and his influence on the world will - I believe - be celebrated in years to come.

Posted by Trevor Gay at March 21, 2005 4:43 AM

"Now may be the time to throw down a gauntlet to world leaders, in Washington, Beijing, Moscow, Seoul, demanding them to design a new world view where nations struggle together to live up to extraordinary expectations. . ."

A lot of research is going into devising a common world view.

For example, the BBC World Service has carried out a poll in 23 countries. Assistance was given from the US, by the University of Maryland.
The countries polled included Australia, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, South Korea and the US.

"Results suggest that the tight control of the United Nations by a few countries may soon be history," said Doug Miller, president of GlobeScan. "There is strong popular support for the democratisation of the UN system." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4362709.stm

The possibility of a tax for global benefits is considered here.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8210-1534845,00.html

And the overriding need for stability, here. http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=622129

Posted by IJ at March 21, 2005 5:39 AM

John Lennon: "Imagine"
Revisit it.
Re-Imagine IT!

Great Stuff. Great Topic. Great Feedback.
RE-IMAGINE inDeed, with Deeds.
namaste.

Posted by Joe Wilkinson at March 21, 2005 12:46 PM

I watch with hope, Condi the ever loyal, will need ghandi like powers to transcend the wants and wishes of the Bush agenda in washington. To do so will require a huge departure from "staying the course".

perhaps she will yet make her mark on history, indelible, enriching, enchanting, and WOW!

Posted by kurt at March 22, 2005 10:28 PM