I had planned to post this some many months from now, after I had more time to word my points more carefully. Given the new crisis in Syria, I don’t think that it can wait. Given that this piece is a rush job, there will be a few caveats.

No Layman’s Summary, even though I said I’d start. It’s already condensed. Roll with it.

I’m leaving some of the thinking to you. Chase down the bunnies I let loose and see where they go.

 
And remember this from Daddy’s Advice:

When you are not a specialist in someone else’s field, it is far easier for them to find reasons for your idea not to work than it is to find reasons why it would.

What am I trying to say with that? Be patient and keep an open mind. And don’t be an a-hole.

A Little Backstory

On 24 October, some months after World War II was brought to a close, the United Nations (UN) was created. Its purpose was to act as an international moderating body. It, along with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), brought an end to the old world notions of global domination shared by Alexander, Napoleon, and Hitler.

At its core is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). If you haven’t read the UDHR, you should. It’s for you. It’s an easy read. And, just like the Bill of Rights keeps a state from screwing you, the UDHR (allegedly) keeps your nation from screwing you.

Some things just have to be done on a global rather than national scale.

Global climate change

Overpopulation (currently we’re at 7 billion with estimates of 12 billion by the time my daughter is my age)

Zealots, international crime, and regional warlords

Space exploration and colonization

Nation-level civil rights (ie, though shalt not enslave or drop Sarin Gas on thyne own citizens)

Fixing the nations that we broke (need a list?)

Intellectual property rights

So what is the UN for?
From their website:

To keep peace throughout the world.

To develop friendly relations among nations.

To help nation work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms.

To be a center (I refuse to spell it their way) for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals.

To seek out new life and new civilizations.

To boldly go where no one has gone before.

I think I made a transcription error in there somewhere.

Basically, the purpose of the UN is to create an environment in which citizens of the world can live in safety, comfort, and opportunity, a condition which in turn benefits the world. Sounds like a government.

Since its inception (dramatic dream gun fight music plays), it could be argued that the UN has fulfilled much of its role without fully “being” a “government.” However, not fully committing yourself to your role tends always to have the same outcome; you are not fully committed to your role.

For example:
Top 10 Failures of the United Nations

Clink, clink, sputter…
It seems the UN engine needs some fine tuning. Maybe a tap tap here or change the oil and timing belt… Or perhaps we should buy a new car. It appears some difficult modifications need to take place. They are the kind of “difficult” for which we all must bite down hard into a belt.

This is this the reason why the United States again finds itself in the awkward position of, “Do I let them do this or do I go over and kick their asses, judgement be damned?” It’s a crappy position with which I am familiar. And so here we are again, going to Syria as the fix-it bully when we should be supporting the international community going together. The united community… of nations.

See you at The Crossing.
-CG