FRANK CAPRA AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

In Frank Capra's legendary movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey's
guardian angel is a lovable old fellow named Clarence. Bailey, played by
Jimmy Stewart, was in a heap of trouble, and Clarence was heaven's public
diplomat.

Clarence's mission was to save George Bailey from hopelessness. He had the
power to change facts, but only George Bailey could change his own attitude
- -- the one that kept him in the Valley of Darkness. Clarence got the
Stewart character's attention, altered conditions around him and left him
to re-evaluate his attitude toward Clarence and the future.

Enter today's overriding dilemma in public diplomacy. How do we -- as
eternally optimistic Americans with a can-do attitude toward virtually any
obstacle -- convey the real promise of democracy to parts of the world that
do not want to hear us, much less look beyond their own miserable
condition? Especially when their lives can be plagued by hard-bitten
poverty, intergenerational hate, blood vendettas, religious extremism and
hopelessness?

We need to pull a "Clarence." We need to get their attention, even when
they don't believe in us, have no interest in our vision and no faith in
our ability to brighten the future. We need to be creative and change the
conditions around them.

For starters, this does not mean offering self-congratulatory hand-outs to
ungrateful and indignant detractors, but rather tailoring and tying
specific types of foreign aid to prospects for real attitude change among
particular populations.

Frontal approaches to public diplomacy, including our public support for
democracy, individual liberty, religious tolerance and human rights, are
necessary but are not sufficient. Not in a world that threatens to destroy
itself one leap at a time.

A more culturally aligned effort is needed that borrows directly from
another old-timer, Socrates. With more of an "ask the question and let them
answer" approach -- especially to teaching the values democracy embodies --
we stand a better chance of getting meaningful messages to target
populations from the lips of persuasive messengers.

Example: As Afghanistan staggers under a heroin trade that could end
democracy, why not go to the heart of the problem and find common ground?
Why not build on the absolute moral overlap between Sharia Law's opposition
to heroin and our own moral opposition to drugs and drug-funded terrorism?

Last month, more than 500 Afghan religious leaders -- that society's real
force -- met in Kabul to discuss drug addiction. They affirmed at least
that they do not want the heroin trade in their communities. It is changing
their society and taking their kids' future with it.

So, why not build on a common love for kids? Why not help these Afghan
mullahs with an all-out, tailor-made, anti-drug education program? Why not
beat this source of hopelessness?Since addiction also threatens Indonesia
(the world's largest Muslim country) Pakistan, the Philippines, Malaysia,
Thailand, Turkey, and even Iraq, why not support mullahs there too? The
message: Americans share your moral outrage and care about your kids.

To highlight democracy's effect on equality, especially for women, why not
encourage female leaders from democratic countries with Muslim populations
to showcase the "how to" and "here's why"... for themselves. America could
spur the multilateral forum. Participants might come from Indonesia, Sri
Lanka, Pakistan, India, Turkey and the Philippines. Side message: This
democracy stuff works.

Public dialogue among nonviolent Islamic leaders is badly needed. Why not
encourage multilateral forums where nonviolent leaders condemn religious
violence? These voices in some ways are more powerful than ours. Yet, like
Clarence, we can create conditions that foster new attitudes.

Finally, new initiatives need to be unapologetically intergenerational:
tightly focused on the young. Democracy's benefits -- when they come --
will flow chiefly to those generations still figuring out just what they
believe and why. We can help that process with all-out offers of cultural
exchange, education, economic growth and, in a word, options. If democracy
presents options, democracy wins.

Whether we build on the common outrage about drugs, spur public dialogue on
equality, trigger wider Islamic condemnation of extremist violence or
expand options for the young, we can dispel hopelessness. Like Clarence, we
can focus attention and alter conditions that shape attitudes. A tall
order, but a universal message: With the rule of law, individual rights and
economic options, the ingredients exist for a wonderful life.