A Meaningful U.N. Resolution
By Peter and Helen Evans (12/29/04)
New Year's is traditionally the time that we resolve to make changes that will improve our lives. We're going to suggest a resolution that will not help you lose 20 pounds, stop smoking or help you remember birthdays and anniversaries. This resolution will instead save the American taxpayers billions of dollars. To do this you must resolve to write to your representatives in federal government demanding that the United States get out of the United Nations and the United Nations get out of the United States. Do this now and continue to goad them every month, as well as support any efforts that will limit the power of the United Nations.
Now, you may still, as we did, hold onto the ideal vision of the United Nations as a place where nations can come together to discuss and resolve their differences. However, what it is and what we'd like it to be are two very different things.
We'd like to tell a simple, metaphorical story to describe what the UN has become.
Let's say you live on a nice block of homes. You realized that by talking to and working with your neighbors you can accomplish far more than you could by yourself. So far you've all been able to come together to help the Jones family when Mr. Jones was in the hospital, you've been able to talk to little Joey and provide mentoring and guidance when he went astray. In fact, by working as a group, you've all been able to make the block a community. Then, into this nice community moved some not-so-savory newcomers. In fact, they were caught trespassing and stealing. When the group confronted them, they begged for understanding and asked for time to get used to the local customs. You gave them concessions instead of jail time. They quickly realized they could play the victim role and began asking for more and more concessions. In fact, they found that it was so good here, they invited a few more of their criminally inclined friends to move into the neighborhood. Bit by bit, instead of making them take responsibility for their crimes, the neighborhood group began dialoguing with them, giving them a vote like the law abiding and responsible neighbors so they would feel included. After 10 years or so you find yourself voted down when you and your law abiding neighbors ask for restitution for the cars that were recently vandalized. In essence, the criminals took over the neighborhood and you were one of those who gave them "understanding" and even a vote. To add insult to injury, you realize you're now paying about a third of their mortgage as well! What a sweet deal they have.
That's basically what's happened with the United Nations. Democratic nations are considered the equivalent of tyrannies and dictatorships. Plus, the ever-growing number of non-governmental organizations are claiming more and more influence. In other words, most of the UN is un-accountable to anyone except themselves; they represent governments or organizations which hold to standards other than the United States. In fact, many of them are criminal states; yet we give each of them a vote like the United States has.
The UN itself has realized there is discontent about its increasingly obvious ineptitude and corruption and it's beginning to make noises about "reform." Let's not wait for it to take the first step and leave ourselves in the position of countering their inevitably self-serving offer. Let's give it a push; get out of the UN and take a first step of our own by setting up a forum for legitimate, democratic and accountable nations. Let's call criminal regimes what they are and exclude them. Let's make this new organization a place for discussion among real sovereign nations, not a front for unaccountable one-world government. Let's not make the mistake of putting new wine in an old wine skin. Out with the old era and in with the new.
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