By HEATHER HUMPHRE
Questions are asked daily throughout the world about America's government, foreign policy, participation in the world economy and its society.
'Citizen Diplomacy: Responding to Questions about America,' is a resource which addresses these issues utilizing questions posed by foreigners and provides sample responses for U.S. citizens which help them to respond in an informative, balanced and nondefensive manner.
The book itself is beneficial because it helps Americans to provide a more sensitive, qualified response to those of other cultures who are asking questions, said Grant Skabelund, managing editor of publications for the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies.
'Citizen Diplomacy' is a Kennedy Center publication which updates and expands upon a book published at BYU in 1983, titled 'Citizen Ambassadors: Guidelines to Responding to Questions Asked about America,' written by Charles T. Vetter, a consultant, lecturer and former senior executive training officer with the U.S. Department of State's Foreign Service Institute.
Vetter said the Kennedy Center has done a remarkable job in researching and updating the original version of the text, and in posing new questions.
'I think communication is at the core of every job, every function and every aspect of our lives today, and I'm just very proud to be part of this project of BYU's, to help people be intelligent and realistic in their discussions about our country,' Vetter said.
The book poses and addresses 70 questions found under four topic headings: American Culture and Society, American Government, America in the World Economy, and American Foreign Policy. Some questions listed in the book that are commonly asked by people from other countries include:
-- How can you have so many homeless, poor and unemployed in a country that is so rich in resources?
-- With such diversity in your population, how can you have only a two-party political system?
-- Why does the United States send such mixed signals on free trade?
-- If America truly wants peace, why do you export so many arms to other countries? Hasn't that practice backfired?
Following each question, the text provides readers with the information necessary to formulate their own replies and help them look at their American culture and history in ways that they may have not looked at it before.
'Citizen Diplomacy' is more a tool then a dialogue, it is a starting point for Americans to consider the questions posed by other cultures, and it seeks to help them explain the American viewpoint in an informative manner, said Amy Andrus, Kennedy Center book project director.
Vetter said both 'Citizen Ambassadors' and 'Citizen Diplomacy' are designed to give nonconfrontational responses to difficult, critical or hostile questions about America. They are like 'conversational ammunition.'
To compile the publication, the Kennedy Center devised a team of approximately 20 experts, both BYU faculty members and community leaders, of American society and politics and asked them to review sections of the old text and give feedback.
'Citizen Diplomacy' can be purchased for $15 from the Kennedy Center Publications, Brigham Young University, P.O. Box 24538, Provo, UT 84602 or by calling 1-800-528-6279.