Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The Problem with the Institute of Peace

In theory that’s an appropriate architectural motif for the Institute of Peace, whether or not you actually see it that way. Washington Post architecture critic Philip Kennicott called it a “meretricious” touch but architect Moshe Safdie will always draw swoons from the overeducated, even for his hideous ATF headquarters. The canopy was, in Kennicott’s opinion, an example of Saftie “building donut shops that look like donuts, but for a higher price tag and a classier crowd.”
The $186 million new building was supposed to officially open with a ceremony last year. Fall came and went without much media coverage of the newly-operational building, and no grand opening. But fancy Washington big-think conferences draw our cosmopolitan elites with about the same magnetism as your average beat cop to a Lard Lad, and news came last week that Newsweek/The Daily Beast intends to give the space the inauguration it deserved. Or, perhaps a more splendid one:
Newsweek and The Daily Beast are pleased to announce a new annual summit: ”The Hero Summit: An Exploration of Character and Courage”—a powerful two-day gathering debuting at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., Nov. 14–15. The Hero Summit will examine the essential elements of moral, political, intellectual and physical courage, resilience, and selflessness. We’ll hear from the men and women of the U.S. military—active and retired—on the greatest moments of heroism they’ve ever witnessed, on the concept of sacrifice, and on the lives of America’s veterans. We’ll also hear from those who shape and influence foreign policy, national security, and military issues about the question of our national character, set against the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. And throughout the summit, political dissidents, artists, and journalists will shine light on the wide range of expressions of courage and valor, and what it really means to speak truth to power.

Read more: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-problem-with-the-institute-of-peace/

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