Turning Ambassadors into Cowboys

It is not every day that you get to turn an ambassador into a cowboy.

During a Sister Cities International gathering in Washington, D.C., I had the honor of meeting His Excellency Tanee Sangrat, Thailand’s ambassador to the United States. I also managed to pin a City of Fort Worth “Molly” longhorn pin on his lapel.

The ambassador welcomed Sister Cities International leaders to his residence, which is known as one of the most beautiful diplomatic homes in Washington. The setting was formal, but the warmth and humor of the evening made the relationships feel personal.

Special thanks to Christine Warnke and Lee Guio for organizing such a memorable event.

Cultural symbols can create surprisingly effective points of connection. A longhorn pin is a small object, but it carries the identity of Fort Worth and creates an opening for conversation. The same is true of food, music, clothing, sports, and local traditions. They help people move beyond titles and protocols and begin learning about one another.

That is one reason citizen diplomacy works. Formal relationships between countries are important, but trust is also built through moments that make people smile and stories they will remember after the meeting ends.

Fort Worth’s Western identity is familiar around the world, and sharing it can be a form of hospitality. The goal is not to turn every visiting diplomat into a literal cowboy. It is to offer an authentic piece of home and invite them to share something meaningful about theirs.

Ambassador Sangrat wore the Molly pin well. Fort Worth may have gained another honorary cowboy in the process.