Comments on: Going Native

By: Consul-At-Arms

Consul-At-Arms — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:47:54 +0000

Excellent point. I usually put it like this; the State Department doesn't want xenophobes, you have to be interested in other cultures and not be afraid to leave your home state, but grounded enough that you don't go native and/or forget who you work for. I've quoted you and linked to you here.

By: mrbill

mrbill — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:53:33 +0000

This is why the entire State Dept and most of the CIA have needed either shut down or purged for some time and reloaded with all new people. When these folks actively get out and try to thwart or work against an administrations policy, they have all gone "native" and should be left there in place and allowed to find their own best place to live.

By: Tano

Tano — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:05:55 +0000

"all countries approach relations with other countries in terms of their own interests"

Yes, but sometimes all countries are capable of doing so stupidly.

I don't think the issue here is that the translators are going native, but rather that they don't want to be vehicles for the propagation of idiotic policies.

By: davod

davod — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:31:42 +0000

Going native is the prime term here. The language schools and teachers of Middle-East studies came out against the US as soon as it became apparent that th US was going to strike back at the rat bags.

Your last paragraph contains the basic elements of truth, all countries approach relations with other countries in terms of their own interests.

What country doesn't?

The US is no different.