“To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do”
4th of July 2019
Nancy L. Schiller
President & CEO, America for Bulgaria Foundation
John Adams was the second president of the United States and one of America’s founding fathers. His writings often focused on morals and ethics. One of his quotes is particularly timely and timeless: “Because power corrupts, society’s demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.”
Тhe U.S. State Department highlights 13 personality dimensions a successful United States Foreign Service Officer must possess. Number 7 is Objectivity and Integrity. Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values.
The United States has more than 270 embassies, consulates, and missions around the world, attracting America’s most talented citizens. For the past 3 1/2 years, we have been privileged to work with Ambassador Eric Rubin, one of America’s best and brightest. He exhibits the characteristics championed by John Adams and all 13 personality dimensions that make an outstanding diplomat.
Ambassador Rubin and Nicole Simmons’s support of the work of the America for Bulgaria Foundation and Bulgaria’s NGO community is steadfast and unparalleled. Their sincere affection for Bulgaria—its people, nature, music, food, and art—is well known and has been celebrated in all corners of Bulgaria.
We bid a fond farewell to Eric and Nicole and extend our profound thanks. We will miss them, and we know they will miss Bulgaria.
As we celebrate the 243rd birthday of the United States of America, I would like to close with another quote from John Adams. His words should serve as a guidepost for all, young or old, citizen or elected official, American or Bulgarian.
“To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do.”
