Thomas Patrick Melady

Thomas Patrick Melady (March 4, 1927 – January 6, 2014) was an American diplomat.

Quotes

• The family of man must accept responsibility for the suffering of other members of the family. Over 150,000 bodies are buried in the foothills of Burundi. I write with a feeling of great sadness, for I see no end to the business. The work of reducing age-old hatreds and fears is long and difficult. Armenia, Ireland, Malaysia, Cyprus, Canada and Belgium comprise a sad and unended litany of horror. Perhaps there are lessons to be retrieved from the Burundi experience.
  • An Ambassador's Reflections on a Bloodbath (1 May 1974) Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs

• It was very clear the key office for an ambassador is the Department of State, the Office of Foreign Affairs. So you get right down to a small number of people. My own personal style was not too over do it but to keep in touch and to be available.
  • Advice for the new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See (22 June 2009) National Catholic Reporter

• I'd say the aspect of the communism of the Chinese or Russians which wasn't marketable was the atheism. The Africans were sort of a naturally spiritual people and it was hard to communicate that.
  • Ten African Heroes: The Sweep of Independence in Black Africa (29 September 2011) Villanova University

• For some, the implementation of cultural diplomacy is not done on a playing field when all participants are free of impediments, as minor as they may seem in comparison to the past. I do not mean to imply that in these relationships we should indicate any special concern or in any way indicate a desire to compensate for the past, but these are the facts that mature and well-balanced people should be aware of and take into consideration.
  • Thomas Patrick Melady (U.S. Ambassador to Burundi, Uganda and the Holy See) (13 August 2012) Academy for Cultural Diplomacy

Quotes about Thomas Patrick Melady

• He was more than a diplomat who served as a U.S. ambassador, he was a person who was convinced that there was a way to make things better. He spent his time working to bring people together, and always with the goal for a more peaceful world. He felt that the protocols that exist in life are a way to show good manners and to be respectful of people, and it didn’t matter what political party you belonged to.
  • Donald William Wuerl, Thomas Melady Transcended Partisan Polarization (27 January 2014) National Catholic Register

• The effectiveness of Tom Melady was enhanced by his prior experience as an ambassador in Central Africa and as a university president. He was able to move between the different interests of the Church internationally and he offered something special.
  • Kenneth Francis Hackett, Thomas Melady Transcended Partisan Polarization (27 January 2014) National Catholic Register

• He made a significant contribution, not only teaching, but going out of his way to mentor both students and interns.
  • John Lenczowski, Thomas Melady Transcended Partisan Polarization (27 January 2014) National Catholic Register