Why the United States just doesn't get the United Nations

For years I have been amazed as I've listened toavailability of important immunizations to help with
people here in the United Statesthe health of everyone in the
demonstrate their complete ignorance of thecommunity.Perhaps nowhere has the UN played a
purpose and tremendous value of themore important role than in the volatile
United Nations, even to theMiddle East and particularly with Israel and its
point of our country not paying dues to theunceasing dispute with the
organization. Ambassador to the UnitedPalestinians. The UN has been helping that powder
Nations has often been viewed as a second-class orkeg from exploding over all of
B-level diplomatic job and withus since June of 1948: UN observers and missions
the current Presidential perspective, the UN hashave been in the region for over
become a troublesome entity andfifty years and it was UN envoy Ralph Bunche who
the appointment of an Ambassador a hassle. Johnis widely credited with negotiating
Bolton, denied the appointment,the cease fire between the Arab nations and the
knows what I'm talking about here.To understandnewly formed nation of Israel in
what value the United Nations brings to the world,1949. I, for one, am darn appreciative.I don't dispute
you have to startthat the United Nations is an imperfect organization
out by understanding where the UN came from...Theand that some
year is 1919 and the nations of the world have justof its efforts and leaders let their zeal and personal
suffered the ravages of thepolitics get in the way of their
first truly worldwide war, World War I. In response,better judgment. "Let ye who is without sin cast the
the war-ending Treaty offirst stone," however: I expect
Versailles spawns the League of Nations "toan organization that represents the vast majority of
promote internationalnations on our planet -- the
cooperation and to achieve peace and security."only organization that even tries to accomplish this
Brilliant idea, but the Treaty itselfimportant task -- to be flawed.
was so fundamentally flawed that World War IIIt's about whether the value of the UN overcomes
occurred anyway, even with theany shortcomings and, of course,
efforts of the League, and so the League wasit does.You can see from my writing here, I'm
disbanded during WWII.In 1942, during the worstpassionate in my support of the United
hours of World War II, United States PresidentNations, and I'm proud to be a long-time supporter
Franklin D.of UNICEF and the other efforts
Roosevelt gave a speech to the nation, a speechof the United Nations.That's why it's remarkable to
called the "Declaration by Unitedme that our government would not only attempt to
Nations" during which representatives of 26 nationsappoint a mediocre candidate to the position of
pledged their Governments toUnited States Ambassador to the
continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.United Nations (and really, what position can be
That speech is commonlymore important in terms of the US
considered the formative event of the Unitedview being represented in the always-changing loose
Nations, and in 1945, when World Warconsensus of world peace?)
II was ending, representatives from 50 nations metbut then that it be rumored that President Bush
and drew up the Unitedwould bypass Congress -- the voice
Nations Charter, formally creating theof our nation -- and consider appointing Bolten as
organization.The UN was not meant to bringtemporary ambassador to
"permanent peace in our times" but from thethe UN directly?The irony, of course, is that the
beginning to offer a venue for argument, disputevery myopia that causes members of the US
settlement and discussions aboutgovernment to be blind to the tremendous value
how nations could both be responsible members ofand import of an organization that
the global community and standtruly represents the views of the downtrodden, the
up for their own rights and needs as individualthird world, the poorer nations
nations, as unique cultures andand the disenfranchised is also the same
communities of their own too.When I hear peoplegovernment that would move to
say "but all people ever do in the UN is argue" I nodcircumvent the representative voice of its own
my head,citizens and appoint someone who is
but I think "of course! That's the point, the verynot suitable for the job, has never been part of the
essence, the truediplomatic corps, is clearly not a
value of the UN!" And it is: imagine a world withoutbrilliant statesman, and who just doesn't really
the United Nations. How dounderstand the role of the United
countries then argue about border disputes orNations and how it, not the United States, steers
settlers meandering onto unclaimedthe ship of world peace, how it
lands or trade disparities, or refugees from warringfrequently steers our volatile world away from the
areas, or ... all the many, manybrink of World War III.But then again, we can't even
topics that are heard on the UN assembly floor? Youpay our organizational dues and claim that unlike
and I both know how theseother nations our efforts under the aegis of the
would all be settled: through bloody and violentUnited Nations (our troops being
warfare, warfare where innocentpart of peacekeeping efforts, for example) should
third parties, where children, families and evennullify any debt. Yet the IRS, for
passionate young men and womenexample, has specific rulings saying that "payment in
would be killed, all because their governments had noservices" cannot be deducted.
venue to yell and have aSome branches of government apparently think that
calmer third party offer a path towards peace,debt can be paid through
settlement and a solution.That the United Nations hasservices rendered, while others don't.My view? Let's
a peacekeeping force is brilliant, but even without it,figure out what we owe, probably something around
even if the UN were simply a meeting place where$1 billion (which
nations could argue, complainsounds like a lot until you look at how our national
and disagree, I would be adamant in my support.budget is allocated today and
How can you not supporthow much per day we spend in Iraq and
something so critical to the cause of worldAfghanistan), pay it, even over 2-3
peace?But the United Nations does so much more,years as necessary and get back in good standing
with its health and welfare efforts. Onewith the United Nations. Then, for
example: if you are a supporter of UNICEF, theour own sakes and the sake of our children and the
United Nations Children's Fund, did you knowworld at large, let's identify and
that the organization won the Nobel Peace Prize input forward a truly global ambassador, a man or
1965? Or that UNICEF alwayswoman who will represent our own
rebuilds schools in countries affected by terribleinterests at the United Nations and help create a
natural disasters so that childrenworld that is more
can continue to learn and grow? No organization Ipeaceful, safer, and sane.That's the best thing we
know has been more active withcan do to promote a better world, after all, isn't
AIDS education in the third world, with helpingit?Dave Taylor is a well-known blogger and leader in
women -- and girls -- have a voicethe business community and has
and see the same freedoms men see in differentbeen involved with the Internet since 1980.
cultures, with ensuring widespread