Dr. Pilon speaks at US Army School of Music
Posted: Monday, May 16, 2011
IWP believes that all the tools of statecraft are vital, and its Center for Culture and Security (CCS) has the specific goal of exploring the ways in which to implement cultural diplomacy today.
On April 26, 2011 Dr. Juliana Geran Pilon, Director of the CCS and IWP Professor of Politics and Culture, spoke on this topic before a group of Warrant Officers at the United States Army School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
On May 11, she addressed the annual Army Band Leader Training conference, held at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach, VA. The title of her talk is "The Art of Communication through Public and Cultural Diplomacy."
She comments:
As we seek to establish trust and understanding among cultures different from our own, music provides an excellent tool that transcends ordinary language, underscoring our common humanity. The hardened enemies of America may never be reachable; but the vast majority of ordinary human beings will resonate to harmonies.
People gladly share the tunes that bring them tears or joy, and find common ground where mere words, so easily misunderstood, may cause a rift where none need exist. Small wonder that the Nazis banned American jazz, and the Taliban declares all music dangerous. It is indeed - to the enemies of life.
Please click here to view her remarks from May 11: 
Pilon: The Art of Connection through Public and Cultural Diplomacy
