The Current Discussion: Does it worry you that Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee talks about issues like gun rights and abortion and teaching "creationism" in school, but has no experience in foreign policy? What does her selection say to people in other countries about how U.S. politics works?

The problem about Sarah Palin is not her lack of experience in foreign policy. Try to remember George W. Bush's foreign policy experience before he was elected president. (Okay, I know that Bush is not a good example.) Think about Barack Obama's experience in foreign policy or that of plenty of other incumbents and nominees in the history of the United State who had no decision-making qualification on international affairs before becoming incumbents or nominees. Lack of experience is not the worst thing about Sarah Palin. She can learn. Besides, the State Department has a professional team of bureaucrats that could manage most foreign policy issues. Experience would be required of the National Security Advisor and the Secretary of State.

Palin's ideas on gun rights and on so-called moral issues such as gay marriage and abortion are not the worst thing about her, either. She can opt to attend the Assembly of God or the Wasilla Bible Church. All of these are private decisions. She has the right to believe the things that she believes. Free debate in the U.S. could offer the opposing points of view and the American people will freely choose their path. No big deal.

The problem with Sarah Palin lies in two other areas. First, she seems to believe that she is often following God's plan as a public official -- for example, by supporting construction of a new pipeline in Alaska and the teaching of creationism in public schools. This theocratic way of thinking was already outdated five centuries ago. From the Middle Ages on, the West has been working hard to develop modern democratic, lay institutions. In our time, the idea of teaching creationism in schools is weird; it doesn't fit, to say the least. Religion is a private matter, until the ruler starts to think about his/her beliefs as a reason of state.

The second problem with her ideas is that she supports inactivity on climate change and environmental protection, ending hope that the Republican ticket might include candidates with contemporary ideas on issues that threaten the whole planet. Palin's moose hunting, although repulsive, only illustrates primitive behavior. The real danger is less to the Alaskan moose herd than to our common planetary destiny, which needs a modicum of precaution, not four more years of White House neglect. Elections are a national matter, but in this case more than in any other U.S. citizens' choices might affect us all.