U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently visited Georgia, which used to be a part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, on a diplomatic mission. Good for her.
Beaufort County native Allison Cook is living in Georgia, serving with the Peace Corps Response. She is working with that nation’s environmental-protection ministry. She is working directly with Georgian residents. Good for her.
Clintonå was in Georgia to help bolster the defense capabilities of the U.S. ally. She reiterated the U.S. government’s opposition to Russia’s “occupatioåçn” of two breakaway Georgian provinces.
While Clinton may have been the U.S. government’s official representative while in Georgia, Cook’s presence there makes here an unofficial ambassador. While Clinton met with Georgian officials, Cook is working with the common folk.
It’s a good bet that Cook’s work will have more influence over those common folk than Clinton’s visit will have. It’s a good bet those Georgian people who associated with Cook will remember her long after they have forgotten that Clinton visited their nation, if they were aware of it at all.
At least Clinton recognized the valuable work the Peace Corps Response volunteers perform, calling them “working ambassadors.”
They are working ambassadors, doing much to create good will for the United States of America abroad. They deserved the recognition gave them, and Clinton deserves praise for giving them that recognition on the world stage.