One of my standing gags when talking foreign policy to Americans (and I by no means think this is exclusively mine–it’s the kind of joke that’s just obvious) has to do with the difference in diplomatic styles between the countries. Americans, of course, tend to us a lot of guns and a bit of butter, where as the stereotypical Canadian approach in the joke would be “to sit down with them for a beer”. (From there the joke usually descends into something about the “I love you guys”/”Wanna fight” pendulum of drunkenness.)
Still, there’s something to be said for the idea of getting people together for a beer and a chat, rather than trying to force them to accede to your will.
Black scholar agrees to beer with Obama, policeman
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A prominent black Harvard University scholar has accepted an invitation to have a beer with President Barack Obama and the white police officer who arrested him in a racially charged case.
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Sounds like a good plan to me.
