Wisdom of the Empire

My mother shared this article with me from The Washington Post today. President Elbegdorj will be meeting with President Obama to discuss America’s relationship to Mongolia, but most intriguing were Elbegdorj’s words of wisdom to an American “empire” that appears to be waning. If any country has the historical perspective to this line of thought (imperial power and decline), it’d be Mongolia.

I’ve sent in an application to participate in a TEDxUlaanbaatar event this August. I’m sure many of you are familiar with TED Talks, and TEDx is an extension of the organization, encouraging grassroots events in locations all around the world sharing science, culture, history, and “ideas worth spreading.” Dedicated to education, TEDxUlaanbaatar seems a perfect extension of my service here. Mongolia is a place uniquely suited to sharing ideas–I have a hard time imagining a country with a wider perspective on the history of the world.

If you’re curious, you can find a concise history of TED here.