Comments on: Odd Definitions and Promising Themes in McHale’s Speech http://comops.org/journal/2009/06/12/odd-definitions-and-promising-themes-in-mchales-speech/ A Journal of the Consortium for Strategic Communication Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:56:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: john brown http://comops.org/journal/2009/06/12/odd-definitions-and-promising-themes-in-mchales-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-241 john brown Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:22:57 +0000 http://comops.org/journal/?p=1280#comment-241 Steve, As always thank you for your perceptive comments. Bottom line, though, as I see it: I think the speech was composed by a bunch of PD State Department staffers who are trying to make PD "relevant" at a time when "engagement" and "smart power" are much more the "mots du jour" in the WH. Bureaucratic committee writing at its worst. And the staffers can't even get their grammar right, as seen in Ms. McHale's rather uninspiring rhetorical finish: "From Cairo to Kabul, from quiet villages to crowded cities, America is once again reaching out a hand of friendship and seeking new relationship. We know it is the right thing to do and we know, like [sic] General Marshall did, that our future depends on it." Steve,

As always thank you for your perceptive comments.

Bottom line, though, as I see it: I think the speech was composed by a bunch of PD State Department staffers who are trying to make PD “relevant” at a time when “engagement” and “smart power” are much more the “mots du jour” in the WH. Bureaucratic committee writing at its worst.

And the staffers can’t even get their grammar right, as seen in Ms. McHale’s rather uninspiring rhetorical finish:

“From Cairo to Kabul, from quiet villages to crowded cities, America is once again reaching out a hand of friendship and seeking new relationship. We know it is the right thing to do and we know, like [sic] General Marshall did, that our future depends on it.”

]]> By: Dennis Murphy http://comops.org/journal/2009/06/12/odd-definitions-and-promising-themes-in-mchales-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Dennis Murphy Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:25:28 +0000 http://comops.org/journal/?p=1280#comment-240 "She also discussed the importance of creating a culture of risk-taking and innovation." Probably important to consider this in terms of your work on communication as it applies to complexity theory; specifically the non-linear nature of communication and the need to continuously seek feedback and update based on that feedback. Change in messaging and methodology should be the norm, with adherence to long-term messaging means and content either serendipitously correct, or short sighted and old-school. “She also discussed the importance of creating a culture of risk-taking and innovation.” Probably important to consider this in terms of your work on communication as it applies to complexity theory; specifically the non-linear nature of communication and the need to continuously seek feedback and update based on that feedback. Change in messaging and methodology should be the norm, with adherence to long-term messaging means and content either serendipitously correct, or short sighted and old-school.

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