Ambassador Guest

Farewell Speech by Michael E. Guest, Former Ambassador to Romania

You know, some boys grow up wanting to conquer the world. I grew up wanting to explore it, and eventually I came to want to change it, to make the world a better place. And I remember that when I first heard about the Foreign Service, it was like WOW! -- this is the career I was born for, this is what I was always meant to do....

...I've felt compelled to choose between obligations to my partner, who is my family, and service to my country. That anyone should have to make that choice is a stain on the Secretary's leadership, and a shame for this institution and our country....

...This is discrimination, pure and simple, and it doesn't deserve a place in the institution that this Secretary leads. I mean, come on! We do amazing things overseas, convincing governments to do things they really don't want to do. How is it that we can't convince our own leadership, our own government, to do something that's so clearly right?

The loss of a respected, experienced and decorated public servant is a loss for every citizen of this country. That we should loose one over such antiquated discriminatory policy I take as a personal shame.