Word: oberg
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...Social Democrat and staunch supporter of Swedish opposition leader Olaf Palme. Oberg is quite outspoken on international affairs and politics in general. He believes the Reagan Administration's policies are counter-productive and points to Central America as an example. In El Salvador and Nicaragua. Oberg claims, the U.S. is making the same type of mistakes it did in Vietnam. While trying to limit the influence of the Soviet Union in these countries, the U.S., with its present actions, is accomplishing the opposite...
...United States must recognize the strength and legitimacy of nationalist movements in these nations if it wants to have any impact," Oberg says. For him, the bottom fine is pluralism and democracy. "I'm not in favor of communism because I don't think it's democratic. But once a country has gone communist, we have to accept it and live with it. If you believe in pluralism at home, you have to accept it in the international arena as well. And it you believe in democracy, which we must, you have to rely on the strength of democratic forces...
Living in the United States is a dream Oberg says he has had for ages. Oberg says his mind needed refreshing, after serving as an ambassador for 10 years. Indeed, remarks the diplomat, a tendency evolves in any bureaucracy to isolate one self from anything new. Harvard presented a stimulating challenge and the opportunity to "rejuvenate myself at mid career and get new input. "But most important Oberg felt he was losing touch with the younger generation. The father of four children, he knew something was missing in their relationship. A university seemed to him the ideal place to become...
Like any other Fellow, Oberg takes courses at Harvard. Two he says he particularly enjoyed were Professor Karl Deutsch's "Peace, Justice and the Processes of Change" and a French poetry class. "What is so marvelous about being back in school is that my arguments are not taken for granted. In a very healthy way, students are short of regard for titles. At Harvard, I am myself, not Mr. Ambassador...
...Oberg does not confine his activities to playing student. He fills the role of teacher as well by offering a seminar at the Institute of Politics entitled "Southeast Asia after 1975: Peace or War?" Most students today don't remember Vietnam." Oberg says, returning to his favorite subject. "Yet it played a tremendous role in the minds of an entire generation. What I am trying to do is look at it from a distance, hopefully as objectively as possible. But the emphasis will be on the future as well. After all, that is where the hope lies...