Question

Do you think that American foreign policy today should be guided by the principle of "speak softly and carry a big stick"?

I don't really understand the quote or the question. Help?
Writeacher
President Theodore Roosevelt:

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS379US379&aq=1&oq=speak+softly+and+&gcx=w&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=speak+softly+and+carry+a+big+stick+meaning

Read widely and let us know what YOU THINK.