My Letter to President Obama

I got frustrated over the events happening in Iran, North Korea, Russia and practically everywhere else the US has any dealings, so I wrote this letter to President Obama:

March 15, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500

President Obama:

During the presidential election, my colleague and I tried to contact your people about a peace process we developed, involving a new iterative, additive strategic model. While we didn’t really expect any direct response, I find myself realizing that with the actions taking place in the world right now, I would be remiss if I did not attempt to try contacting you again. It pains me that we are making some of the exact same mistakes we have always made in foreign policy, mainly because we’re so tied into a 19th century model of diplomacy that we’re incapable of trying anything different.

The process I am referring to is called the Friendship Over Time (FOT) Model, and it involves several political science, communication and game theoretic functions that are mixed together to form a new direction in dealing with international actors. We presented it at the 2008 National Communications Association Peace and Conflict Division and received a lot of positive feedback from fellow scholars. While we could take the usual path of pursuing simple publications and continue with academic success, I’ve started to become concerned that perhaps expediency is more important than curricula vita generating successes.

The process itself, while involving advanced mathematical manipulation through a computer iterative processing, is simplistic in its usage, meaning that the hard work is done in developing the theory, not in carrying it out. It is almost as simple as using a tit for tat processing strategy when dealing with international players, so that developmentally we create a friendship process with interactive neighbors rather than engage them as a part of our current foreign policy of rewards and punitive responses. The beauty of the theory is that it can operate in the same sphere as our current foreign policy objectives, although the bigger picture requires the incentive always be focused upon for long term, generational change rather than immediate rewards.

I figure this is my last chance to try to make a positive difference here. The people who receive the most attention are quite often the ones who are only willing to do what has already been done before, for fear of rocking the boat or taking a chance that might diminish future career success. I’m a simple writer, and I’ll probably return to that area of specialization because I realize that no one really wants to make a change. I figured I had to make one last attempt at making some type of connection, especially when a president ran on a platform of wanting to interject change into the country and the world. This would most definitely do that, and on such a grand, wonderful scale as well.

If someone actually does read this letter, I just would like it known that I at least tried to make a difference before giving up.

Sincerely,

Duane Gundrum
US Citizen
Seoul, Republic of Korea

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