Ignorance hinders diplomatic relations

Any of you who keep up with current events know that there have been attacks on embassies at various different locations, and there are multiple elements contributing to the diplomatic nightmare that the State Department has on its hands. As with anything international affairs related, one wrong move can lead to a diplomatic relationship going awry, and there’s no quicker way for a diplomatic nightmare to occur than for someone to make as provocative a comment or action as drastic as the YouTube video “Innocence of Muslims” that came out recently that has resulted in various violent protests that have occurred and are occurring.

Since the individual who made the video posted it online, the State Department has had a nightmare of a situation on its hands. Just like when the crazy nutjob Pastor Terry Jones down in Florida wanted to host the “Burn a Qur’an day,” and did so despite protests. Furthermore, after finding out more on this topic, the same pastor has also been promoting the California-based and produced video. Personally, Jones does not reflect the entire Christian community and has done more harm than good to the larger American Christian community, just like Westboro Baptist is not an accurate portrayal of American Christianity (which is quite diverse in and of itself).

Any person who intentionally blasphemes another person’s or community’s God(s) shouldn’t be surprised at retaliation of some sort, even some sort of retaliation from Tibetan monks, for example. To me, it’s like throwing a bunch of chum on yourself and jumping in shark infested water, you’re going to attract attention. The unfortunate thing is that the individual responsible for making the video that came out is indirectly responsible for the killings and injuries of those in the diplomatic community.

Furthermore, those who are working at the various embassies and consulates: the Marines, State Department employees, and those working for the various intelligence agencies, deserve our utmost respect. Because the individuals who usually get sent to those locations tend to be the “newbies” of the State Department before they get to the more ideal embassy and consulate assignments/positions, while some of the best in the intelligence community are sent to these respective embassies and consulates throughout the world and primarily in the Middle East.

Having worked with an employee of the State Department, I have nothing but respect for this agency of the federal government. Especially since they have some of the toughest hands dealt to them within the federal government. So before you say or do something that might be deemed as blasphemous to a particular religion, think about the implications. Not just the implications you’ll be imposing upon yourself, but the implications that those in the military, intelligence community, and State Department will have to face. The impact of your words can have the potential to save a life or for it to be taken, and that is something that we, as a society, need to wake up and realize.

Because if we don’t realize that then more events like what has transpired will occur.