I visited the United Nations building early in the 1950's. The marvelous guide took our group through the whole structure with a commentary that left you with a clear understanding of the organization. One part of the building was left unfinished to symbolically reflect the unfinished business of the UN.
The charter and constitution of the UN is built on the belief that all nations are able to sit in one room and discuss the matters concerning the world. One point was that every nation should be heard no matter how much their behaviour was out of sync with the charter.
Last week the nations of the world were meeting in New York before the G 20 meetings in Pittsburgh. Nearly all the leaders of their respective nations were there. Our Prime Minister was here in Oakville drinking coffee at Tim Hortons. That was not enough but our Canadian delegation walked out when the leader of Iran was about to speak.
This gesture was a protest but how can we have a meaningful dialogue with countries we have disagreements with if we do not have the courtesy to hear their side? What did this country do to receive this treatment? They are developing a nuclear device that will give them the same ability as many of the other countries of the world. We in the west see this as a bad thing so we oppose their developing the potential to build a bomb. If we do not keep a dialogue with the people of Iran on a world stage like the UN the other option will be to sanction them and when this does not work, we will bomb them.
Other countries have been oppressive to their neighbours for years, and because they are our allies we turn a blind eye. A case in point is Israel who, with the flick of a switch, regularly invade Palestine's territory and destroy their infrastructure. Nothing is done because they (Israel) are supposed to be our friends.
I only make this point because if the UN is to be the world force it is supposed to be, it must be treated in a manner according to the charter. Canada once held its head high on the world stage but now we are a insignificant member because we lost our independent thinking. We follow whatever the USA says, and we see the trouble we are in with the involvement of the wars and the battle for economic stability. You cannot serve two masters, and we find ourselves unable to make a strong case for our National Independence on the world stage.
The solution is rather simple, gain the world's recognition by being a positive force and attack the world issues of hunger, disease ,global warming and climate change, (we backed away from Kyoto ) and as a force for peace which gave us so much standing in the world. We could even begin at home and bring back our Kelowna charter and treat our aboriginal people in a manner consistent with the Canadian Charter of Human Rights.
You are making good sense on both counts. Yes, we need to hear what people have to say, even if we disagree outright with them. Second, an institution like the United Nations must hold everyone accountable under the same charter. All good points. Yet, it is not an easy task.
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