Hillary had an unusual breakdown moment in a question and answer session on her recent African trip. It may have been due more to tiredness than anything else. Certainly her husband upstaged her and the State Department in the freeing of the two journalists from North Korea. But still, one would hope she could manifest more control and poise.
But I also wondered if some of her reaction was a result of cross-cultural insensitivity. She needs to realize her audience may struggle with English and may even have different ways of expressing themselves which does not mean they are trying to be disrespectful. A number of years ago I was so impressed with the US Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Commission. He was going to address a multi-national group of students in Vienna, including Africans. The conversations I overheard before the meeting were filled with anti-American rhetoric--the students were out to challenge this Bush representative of American imperialism. But, he handled their questions so considerately that after the session I saw students flocking to talk to him--there attitude had entirely changed.
Hillary needs to act like a diplomat.
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