Bridging the Divide: A more effective approach to solving world’s issues

Read the words of David Holdridge, President of Bridging the Divide, a USCCD Member Organization.

There are a variety of ways which America can employ so as to both protect its vital interests and to redefine its role as hegemon in the 21st century. Now, as we mark the tenth anniversary of 9/11, we must look beyond to explore how we can enhance the engagement of Americans in establishing 'right relations' between the United States and those beyond our borders.

One of the most effective means for Americans to share their values and interests is by the hand of those who best constitute those values--- our own civil society. Those public monies now going to Washington for Overseas Development purposes should be converted into seed monies to grow the engagement of our own civil society with their emerging likenesses overseas. The implementation of the great majority of foreign development assistance should be shifted from “official” Americans to private citizens. From a women’s rights group in Brooklyn to a women’s rights group in Iraq; from a Chamber of Commerce in Des Moines to a Chamber of Commerce in Beirut; from a group of graduate students at Berkeley to a group at the American University of Beirut (AUB).

The Department of State has a great opportunity before it. It can, and should, take a leadership role in transferring foreign assistance from civil servants to civil society. The new technologies allow it, fiscal considerations demand it, and most importantly, progress in the developing world will benefit from it.

For a more graphic articulation of this theme, Please see the video of Annie Swanson which follows:

So, what's YOUR answer to these problems? AND, how have YOU been, or how can YOU be a part of the change?