There is no doubt that the progress of civilization always rest on distinguished people who demonstrate great knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.
The “Bucharest Diary. Memories of an American Ambassador” Conference, organized on February 20, 2020 at the Șuțu Palace by the Bucharest Municipality Museum (http://muzeulbucurestiului.ro/en/the-bucharest-municipality-museum-pinacotheque/) and “Art” Publishing Press (https://www.editura-art.ro/), was a constructive conversation between the Author, His Excellency Alfred H. Moses, Former U.S. Ambassador to Romania (1994 – 1997; before the appointment HE also served as President of the American Jewish Committee), and Professor Liviu Rotman, PH.D., Head of Center for Israeli Studies, NUPSPA-Bucharest. Moderator was Dr. Cătălin D. Constantin, Anthropologist, Vice Dean, the Faculty of Letters, University of Bucharest (https://www.facebook.com/catalindconstantin/).
Challenged wisely and logically by Professor Liviu Rotman, the reputed Author of the well-known book – “Bucharest Diary: Romania’s Journey from Darkness to Light” – His Excellency Alfred H. Moses shared significant memories with the impressed audience, keeping the listeners engaged, and opening a lively debate, allowing the clarification of questions and concerns, and also generating qualitative contributions of participants in the debate – for example, the final two speakers, Dr. Aurel Vainer, the President of Federation of Jewish Communities of Romania (FCER), and the representative of the Romanian-American University, to name but a few.
It is well-known that His Excellency Ambassador Alfred H. Moses, Chairman of UN Watch and author of several books (and articles for prestigious publications), played a key role in helping Romania move from its Communist past to democracy (recovering from four decades of Communist rule) and to establish a free economy (https://www.sixthandi.org/event/former-u-s-ambassador-to-romania-alfred-h-moses/). While paying tribute to His Excellency Ambassador Alfred H. Moses on the occasion of the 18th Anniversary as Chair of UN Watch, there were highlighted some significant keywords: an exemplary public servant, inspiring leader (demonstrating commitment and passion in how to handle problems and stimulate acting in the right way), expertise, historic role, community engagement (December 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Jj4iGywko). On this special recent occasion His Excellency Ambassador Alfred H. Moses confirmed from the very beginning the link between wisdom and humor, gratitude, spirituality, and hope, while reflecting on past, present, and future.
It is also worth remembering that three years ago, the remarks delivered by His Excellency Alfred H. Moses at the 9th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, on February 21, 2017, demonstrated again great knowledge, wisdom, and understanding: “History has taught us that: a skillful blending of the particular and the universal is not only possible, but desirable… the absence of individual freedom leads to the decay of political power… It is comforting, and often more convenient, for us to rejoice in our particularism than to think about abstract notions of universalism and then put them to practice in our daily lives. But without protecting the four freedoms (proclaimed by President Roosevelt – freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear) for all, none of us will be truly free. Yes, universal human rights still matter.” (https://unwatch.org/human-rights-matter/).
Theodor Purcărea
Professor at the Romanian-American University
Member of the Advisory Board of the Romanian Competition Council
President of the scientific association Romanian Distribution Committee
