Author Archives: Nicholas Romanow

When Diplomacy Gets Dangerous

It’s no secret that bipartisan consensus in Washington is exceedingly rare. Yet, the few areas of agreement that do exist are hardly fraught. Foreign policy has historically enjoyed relative harmony between rival factions, especially in regard to the practice of diplomacy. Both the anti-imperialists of the left and the small-government isolationists of the right imploreContinue reading “When Diplomacy Gets Dangerous”

A Tribute to John McCain

Fate, as we all know, is a fickle thing. It demonstrated this as Senator John McCain, a veteran and politician whose character and wisdom have inspired Americans since the 1960s, fought his last good fight against brain cancer on Saturday. The announcements of his passing occurred almost exactly as I listened to the last fewContinue reading “A Tribute to John McCain”

Fear, hope and Immigration

It’s a Tuesday night, and I just watched a fourth news anchor break down in tears. Watching TV with my mother and brother, the injustice of the moment is nearly crushing. I am, according to some Americans, the “good” kind of immigrant. I came from Canada as the son of a married couple. Both myContinue reading “Fear, hope and Immigration”

The Civility Crisis: Where Did the Decency Go?

When Donald J. Trump surpassed 270 electoral votes in November of 2016, a broad consensus held that a crisis was imminent. Some predicted that a protectionist trade policy would undercut growth and trigger a massive recession. Others feared his “fire and fury” rhetoric would provoke an adversary and drag the United States into another war.Continue reading “The Civility Crisis: Where Did the Decency Go?”

The War on Diplomacy

Yesterday, outgoing CIA Director and former Tea Party member Mike Pompeo testified before the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee. This past Monday was former United Nations ambassador John Bolton’s first day as Donald Trump’s third National Security Advisor. Both men have created a political firestorm for their jingoist mindsets. In an era where most of theContinue reading “The War on Diplomacy”

An Open Letter to Leadership

Dear Leadership, When all seems lost, the North Star that is Leadership shows the way. But where have you been? Graffiti turns our fountains red. Grievances and feuds mire our institutions, rendering them void and useless. Our campus elections are held over and over; by the end, they only serve to pit us against each other.Continue reading “An Open Letter to Leadership”

More than Medals

When you organize a gathering where individuals wear their national colors and compete against one another, there is something intrinsically beautiful about the many cultures, languages, and beliefs that come together. Yet, these interactions quickly become inherently political. Locate that gathering in one of the world’s most volatile geopolitical flashpoints, and you’ll get this year’sContinue reading “More than Medals”