Refreshing Perspective

In the car on the way to the speaking engagement, I said that I would give it about 10 minutes before I was bored out of my mind. Thankfully, the Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Hanley impressed, and 50 minutes later, when I had to leave for class, I was still entertained and disappointed I had to go.

The thing I liked most about hearing him speak was the ease with which he iterated the good relationship between the UK and the US. In today's political environment, people seem to be over-defensive of their ability to be independent. That instance results in some cultural isolation I feel, which is essentially detracting from everyone's best interests. Just his little quip about the UK "forgiving" us for declaring our independence is the kind of light hearted attitude that I think can help countries get through tough times like we're entering right now. The ability to compromise and work together, which Sir Hanley has obvious made a living out of, is really what we need to do as a country these days, and I think it's an important reminder that he provided that we don't have to go it alone.