John Kerry is in Ireland to receive the Tipperary International Peace prize

[karynnj]

Last edited Sun Oct 30, 2016, 02:27 PM - Edit history (1)

He also is getting two other prestigious awards in the UK - The Chatham House Prize for diplomatic work in 2015 (along with FM Zarif for the Iran Nuclear deal) and the Benjamin Franklin House medal for leadership that "recognizes those individuals who follow in Benjamin Franklin’s footsteps by exemplifying great vision, cross-cultural understanding, effectiveness, and intellectual rigor".

http://www.state.gov/secretary/travel/2016/t31/index.htm

Some Irish coverage - and gorgeous pictures of Ireland. http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/live-updates-john-kerry-visits-9156632

Even on this, US press leads with questions on email -

[YvonneCa]

1. Thanks, karynnj!

Well deserved award... 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[MBS]

2. SO well-deserved.

So typical of the presses to bypass this kind of news . . .

[karynnj]

3. Part of the blame for that should be reporters/pundits are our side

Obviously, a week and two days before the general election, the BIG stories are those that impact the election. However, if they did not feel they have to obsess on every scandal repeating the same facts ad nauseum, they could cover what is happening in the world and in the US.

This should be given more play by the media because it really tells the truth about the status of the US relating to Obama's foreign policy. Between today and tomorrow, Kerry is being given three important awards by organizations in the UK and Ireland. Isn't this a bit of a counter to Trump claiming we are no longer respected in the world? Even if the SoS is JK not HRC, this tells the truth of what our normal allies think of us. I do not think that Dr Rice or Colin Powell received this kind of respect.

The media covering what these 3 awards represent might not move many to decide how to vote, but if there is anyone - on the fence - actually concerned that with all the chaos in the world that lack of US leadership is seen as a cause of this, this story would provide support to that being absolutely not true.

[karynnj]

4. Kerry's speech there

It doesn’t mean we should back off in our investment for peace, and I won’t. Even when I stop being Secretary of State, I will continue in this endeavor to try to help countries and individual entities to move in this direction. We still have to lead. Leadership is quintessential ingredient of making peace.
<snip>
We’ve heard a lot of talk in recent years about this clash of civilization. I think much of that discussion is completely wrongheaded. There’s a clash of ideas, there’s a clash of modernity with culture and education or lack thereof and history. On the one side, there are those who seek to impose their will forcefully on others in the name of nation or ethnicity or religion or their own insatiable thirst for power. On our side are those who believe that people from vastly different backgrounds absolutely can and must find a way to live together in productivity and in peace.

In his Christmas address two years ago, Pope Francis said, “True peace is not a lovely facade which conceals conflicts and divisions. Peace calls for daily commitment.”

I agree with the Holy Father that peace is not easy. Peace is hard, and however painstaking the process, even if it takes years of patience and perseverance to achieve, years of daily commitment, it is always worth the effort and it is never beyond our reach. And to those who suggest otherwise, I would simply remind them of the words of another recipient of the Tipperary Peace Award, Nelson Mandela, when he said that “it always seems impossible until it is done.”



http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/10/263865.htm

Between this and his speech and interview in Chicago, it is good to know he will be an independent voice for the environment and peace after he leaves the State Department.

[MBS]

5. +1000 for JK and Pope Francis

They both are right.
And, yes, I also am heartened by the thought that he will be an independent voice for the environment and peace. One more reason why I think it's good that he does not have a formal appointment in the next administration.

[karynnj]

6. The statue he got is a beautiful crystal dove on a globe - Kerry looks very happy in photo

Link to Irish news article: http://www.irishnews.com/news/2016/10/31/news/brexit-must-not-impact-on-peace-process-warns-kerry-762083/?param=ds441rif44T