Contraria Contrariis Curantur
Opposites are cured by their opposites.
Corruption, injustice, murder have been brought closer to retribution by a hand both powerful and just.
A hand I'm somewhat ashamed it was only borrowed, and not our very own.
I will not say this isn't a time to rejoice and dream, because it is. Though we must not forget it is also a time to think hard, watch hard, and learn the makings of the great nation and great people we aspire to build and become.
posted by Fouad at 11:34 PM
8 Comments:
Valid points you have, but I'm not sure where you're going with this post.
i am proud of what humanity has achieved by founding the UN.
Like Yoda you speak :) Where am I going? yeah.. good question. Kinda where you're going with your snapshots. A look at things from a different angle. Seeing beauty in ugliness and ugliness in beauty.
In other words, to be given the truth is great. To reach it on your own is even greater. It's late, I'm tired and probably not making much sense. If I haven't answered your question, let me know, and i'll try again later.
Jimmy, what has humanity achieved by founding the UN? anything more than a diplomatic body that caters to the will of the powers that be?
i think that the United Nations as a concept are a great step into achieving equality between humans
its cons:
- it has been rendered almost useless with the heavy intervention of the more influencial countries
- it has commited unforgivable mistakes throughout its history (e.g. it did not interfere to stop the Rwanda or the Srebrenica genocides)
pros:
+ it's a chance for us to reduce the distance that seperates extreme wealth and extreme poverty
+ it's a chance for us to minimize human suffering, to spread culture, to focus less on our differences, and, eventually to unite
The hand was borrowed because that was the origin of the problem. Its too bad that the pattern of what happened was not followed closer by Lebanon. They ended up working for someone else and someone was too happy to lend you a hand when they were done.
About the UN. We had the 'League of Nations'(LON) and they did do some good things which are still with us today. LON lasted for about 20 years but ended in failure for a number of reasons.
Then they started the UN in the mid 1940s. It was based on what was learned from the failures of the League. It has now lasted for 60 years and, while not perfect, is still viable and a valuable world forum. At this moment, world leaders are meeting to plan reforms to make it better.
Maybe the UN will fail. But the pattern has been set to keep building international organizations until we get it right! A really workable solution will evolve as people see more and more value in having such an organization. We may never have a perfect one, but one day we will have a good one! Maybe not in my lifetime - maybe not in yours - but evolution will not be denied!
barn
"A hand I'm somewhat ashamed it was only borrowed, and not our very own."
What a bunch of nonsense!! Is your memory so bad that you are empty of memories?
Who stood in mass formation -by the thousands and thousands - and yelled: "Syria out"? The UN? The US? France? NO! Lebanese citizens did! And at considerable risk to themselves at that time.
And you can draw a straight line between those acts and Mehlis' investigations. Lebanon did not have the power alone to do what the UN did in sending Mehlis, BUT IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF MARTYR'S SQUARE HAD NOT HAPPENED!!!
So take your lament and reconsider it.IT WAS YOUR HAND IN MARTYR'S SQUARE! IT WAS YOUR HAND AT THE ELECTIONS!
Now let's move on!
barn
barney,
First of all, thanks for stopping by and for sharing your knowledge of UN history and your apparently well-informed political opinion.
I would not like to get into a detailed political debate at this point for several reasons, one of which is time constraints, but I would like to briefly clarify a couple of issues you raised in your comments.
I am not saying that the concept of an international body for justice and equality is not a sound one. On the contrary. I would not have it any other way. I am just appalled by the UN's inability to move or act or stand in the way of US world police when it should. There is an intrinsic conflict of interest when some countries have veto powers while they should be under check just like any other nation in the world.
I hope this will change in the future. I will not stand in the way of evolution, to quote you, but I have very little hope in forseeing a fundamental change in the structure and function of the UN and the way world politics are run.
As to what we've achieved on the 14th of March, I don't think anyone can argue with that. Yes what happened was the child of the hundreds of thousands who filled the streets and the air wih their passion and frustration. My personal frustration though stems from the fact that a people who can do this can do more. We did not get the syrians out. The US did. We did not put the murderers in jail, the UN did. I am a firm believer that we could have overthrown a corrupt government with our own hands if we really wanted to. You see, it doesn't cost much to get down on the streets and carry flags and banners and shout for truth and freedom. This is not a revolution though. This is a passionate cry for help. I am tired of seeing us pointing at others for help and for blame. I think that if we wanted to, if we weren't as divided as we are, we could shape our political future without having to contantly seek help and assistance from our godfathers and mothers in the west, and blaming our conflicts and inadequacies on our neighbors in the middle east.
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