(Calgary Sun October 26, 1999 by Paul Jackson)
I climbed out of bed Sunday with a sense it was going to be a very depressing
day. This state of mind has gripped me every Oct. 24
for several decades. The reason? This is the day we are
expected to pay fawning respect to one of the world's most self-serving and hypocritical
organizations. It was United Nations Day.
As far back as I can remember, on the anniversary of the founding of the UN, newspapers,
radio and television -- yes they did have
television when I was a kid -- have felt committed to smother us with features and
broadcasts of what a fine institution we have
in New York City and how its many sub-organizations are doing wonderful things throughout
the world. Yet, guess what?
In not a single newspaper did I spot an article on the glories of the UN, nor did I hear a
broadcast referring to United Nations Day on
radio or see an item on TV.
The only evidence of the UN was when I slipped into a restaurant and spotted a UNICEF
collection box begging for donations to help the
world's children. UNICEF is a bit of an anomaly because, as SUN
columnist Ted Byfield keeps pointing out, the UN has convinced
countries around the globe to support a children's bill of rights that, among other
things, forbids parents from barring their
children from reading pornographic literature or looking at the most obscene movies and TV
shows if the youngster feels so inclined.
Parent's rights have been given over to the state, which has given them over to the
UN.
The UN was a post-war followup to the old League of Nations, both bodies supposedly
dedicated to safeguarding innocent countries from aggression. But it was
all talk. The League of Nations failed when it was toothless in the face
of Italy's Benito Mussolini and
Germany's Adolf Hitler, and the UN has lacked courage to act in instance after instance.
It stood by when the Soviets slaughtered and brutalized East German workers in 1953,
Hungarian students in 1956 and Czechoslovakian
freedom fights in 1968.
Soviet troops had a free hand against Afghanistan in the 1970s, and coincidentally, on
this year's United Nation's Day, not a word was
said when Russia launched a bloody missile attack on Chechnya.
China's genocide in Tibet never stirred the UN to action, either, and when Beijing's
hardliners massacred students, little was said.
The UN founded -- with noble cause one must confess -- by free nations such as the United
States, Britain, Canada and France, is now
home to some 185 countries that include dozens of the most corrupt and vile totalitarian
regimes mankind has ever known. African
dictatorships and Middle East despots hold reign and former Eastern European slaves states
were welcomed.
On a visit to the UN in New York 20 years ago, I witnessed the high-living lifestyles of
UN ambassadors with chauffeur-driven limos,
Manhattan penthouses and black-tie cocktail parties. No poverty for this set.
Now, there are alliances around the world that should be praised and
celebrated. Take the 19-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or
the 13-member European Union. To gain entry to any of these, a
country has to be democratic and adhere to rigorous human rights rules. Add to
that, educational, health and social programs must meet certain standards.
Since neither Britain, Germany nor France is going to lower its standards, this has meant
a higher living standard for countries such
as Spain and Portugal. Hard to criticize NATO or the EU on anything.
But it is hard to fathom why so many of us don't realize what a sham the UN is and start
to house cleaning through its lavish corridors.
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