Letter From the President
ALL THE WORLD IS A STAGE
by Joseph Brett
One of the tenants of Sister City program envisioned by President Dwight Eisenhower was that every individual should have the opportunity for an international experience toward world peace. My opportunity came in 1992 when I was a project manager for leading delegations of American public administers to the newly formed countries of the former Soviet Union.
When the “wall” finally fell, the existing sister city relationships between communist communities and their US partners were in place to create programs in democratic governance. With funding from USIA, I led a delegation from Tucson to their sister city, Alma Ata, Kazakhstan. We were treated to the most enthusiastic welcoming ceremonies at almost every stop in our tour, including one visit to a state farm and winery. There, we were given a tour and a lavish lunch and were encouraged to drink the wines produced at the farm, as well as their home made Cognac. Of course there were bottles or vodka for the traditional series of toasts that are almost mandatory in any ceremony of importance.
When my turn came, I mentioned that as a veteran of the Vietnam War I was happy to be part of peaceful exchanges between our two peoples who had been kept apart far too long by the politics of the cold war. The next to toast was a Kazakh, and as he looked over at me, he mentioned that was also a veteran of the Vietnam War. The entire table broke out in laughter. This man was a soldier in the former Soviet Army and was an advisor to the North Vietnamese Army. We were urged to have our pictures taken while standing together, shaking hands. During the picture taking I asked what he did in Vietnam, and he said he was “shooting down your airplanes.” I was surprises and said, “ I was in those airplanes.” The room again broke out in laughter. I said to him in mock anger, while pointing my finger at him, “why were you trying to shoot me down?” He replied “that he only wanted me to come down to have a drink with him.” I laughed, we shook hands and the room broke out in applause. The vodka flowed and our gathering took on the comfortable feeling of being with friends.
On our way back from the farm, my fellow veteran and I were in the same car. I gave him a pin of the insignia of my unit in Vietnam, which I had picked up a few days earlier while at the Vietnam Memorial, across the street from the US State Department. The insignia is of the XXIV Corps that consists of white heart in a blue background. I told him that it is fitting that the heart that once stood for war, now stands for peace. I said that we were lucky to have survived our circumstances and he gave me a hug, Russian style with kisses on both cheeks and said, “ all the world is a stage and we are merely actors.”
I did not know what to expect from the former evil empire, but Shakespeare was not anywhere in my expectations.
A few days later, I saw my new friend and asked him about the pin. He told me that he gave it to his daughter, who was in the 8th grade. She took the pin to school where she showed it to her classmates and said that her father had met a man who was once an enemy but who is now here as a friend to help us.
I was just blown away with wonderful feelings. It was nothing I did, but a series of circumstances that had provided a moment in time so very rich in meaning and good karma.
Sister City Organizations provide opportunities in which everyone who wants one can have a moment in time like my day in Kazakhstan. Creating those opportunities for others is equally rewarding so please join us.