Compare And Contrast Essay: How To Become A Diplomate

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Diplomat or Attaché: Which was the better job?

How to become a Diplomat
To become a diplomat, one must possess the art of diplomacy. They have to handle know how to negotiate, be well tempered and genteel. In order to become a diplomat Mr. Pitt Crawley must have had to earn and been awarded the position. In addition, he had to possess an art for politics and Etiquette. While in college Crawley mastered these diplomatic skills. He became the Private Secretary to Lord Binkie. He also became the Attaché to the Legation at Pumpernickel. However, after ten years into this position he “gave up the diplomatic career and began to turn country gentleman” (Vanity Fair). Crawley prided himself on having manners. Thackeray even mentioned in Vanity …show more content…

Diplomats were also called statesman. Diplomats were the eyes/ears/and mouth to the outside. They were the ambassadors, the dignitaries who work with the others to maintain civility and peace. They were usually members of the aristocracy (nobility). There were two types of diplomats: public and private. Private diplomats were accountants and investigators that complied information. Marcus Garvey described diplomacy as “the artful deception of opponents.” While in Parliament a Victorian would have had to deceive his opponents in order to win. The diplomats resolved conflict, restored peace, and respect. The Victorian Age was seen as a time of moral standards that were applied hypocritically. Diplomacy was described as artful deception, but the Victorians were supposed to have moral characters. It was easy to notice that the Victorian’s idea of morality was to give a superficial appearance of dignity and restraint. Today diplomats are referred to as Foreign Service …show more content…

The word attaché comes from the French word “attacher.” The attaché was like a secretary in that they both gathered information for their legation (a legation was an embassy). The job was usually appointed to a former Private Secretary of a Lord. One can either be a cultural attaché or military attaché. An attaché was also a specialist and they knew everything about what they were an attaché for; whether it be a culture or a person. In Crawley’s case he would have known everything there was to know about Lord Binkie and Pumpernickel. An attaché was usually assigned to the official staff of an ambassador, consul general, or minister. Crawley was an attaché, but he eventually gave up this job to become a good country gentleman. However, those in parliament were considered to be gentlemen. Crawley was already a gentleman in the eyes of the people. He was assigned to a diplomatic post, but gave up the chance to become a diplomat himself. Diplomats and attachés were both foreign officers, but a diplomat was the higher position.

Works Cited

“Attaché.” Merriam-Webster. 2000. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 29 Nov. 2004. <http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=%22attach%E9%22>.

Finn, Helena Kane. “A Career in Diplomacy.” United Nations Speech. St. John's University, April 25, 2003.

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