The United Nations turned 65 years old on 24 October 2010. Representatives of 92 nations met in San Francisco, CA USA just after the conclusion of the European theater portion of World War II, even before the end of the war in the Pacific theater to come up with a document.
I must admit to being a bit of a UN addict. I know all of the former Secretaries-General and their nations, as well as the current one; I’ve been to the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza more than once – usually at a protest of some sort – and the Swede’s death in 1961 was one of the first things I remember external to my life. When the UN is a topic on a game show, as it was recently on JEOPARDY!, I generally do well.
UNICEF
For as long as I can remember, there has been a coterie of Americans that have wanted the nation to get out of the United Nations. Ostensibly, it was because the UN is limited in what it can do in achieving peace. Even if that is partially true, it is hardly the totality of the organization’s mission, which includes addressing issues of health, climate change, human rights, the role of women, and much more.
Probably the UN organ best known in the US is UNICEF, which addresses, among many other things, AIDS, cholera in Haiti, and malnutrition in flooded sections of Pakistan.
When I was younger, I couldn’t help but recall that the US, despite President Woodrow Wilson’s efforts, balked at joining the UN’s predecessor, the League of Nations; would an American presence have help the world avoid WWII? Perhaps, I thought, perhaps naively, if the US were to have called for a less punitive attitude toward the failed German state.
I suspect that some of the UN naysayers are convinced that the United Nations is the vehicle by which the Apocalypse, presumably described in the Biblical book of Revelation, will take place. While the previous link provided doesn’t specifically mention the UN, this one does. Frankly, I find it unlikely, if only because the organization just doesn’t work in concert as well as the New Testament reading would require.
DC Comics PSA: Gifts to the United Nations! (December 1956).
In honor of the upcoming summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, three versions of a song that mentions the United Nations, Summertime Blues:
Eddie Cochran
Blue Cheer
The Who
Terrific, interesting and informative post for the day as always, Roger! I always learn something and that always makes my day! Enjoy your day!
Sylvia
Excellent post! I never really think about the UN. It’s just sort of ‘there’ if you get my meaning. Thanks for the information.
Great information on the UN. I appreciate the way you weave it all together and even give us music too boot.
I’m all for the support of the UN. It is far from perfect, but it is the best we have got. And remember, those who want to destroy it (or anything else) will always find a fitting reason, whatever it may be.
I’m a supporter of the United Nations. It’s an organization that continues to do much good in spite of some of the nations that belong to it.
Fantastic reportage here about these organizations.
Very interesting post! š
LĆ©ia
Very interesting post – the UN has its faults but it does a lot of good.
What can I say, except my study of the Bible does help me see the role the UN plays in world history, and on into the future.
Your posts are always very instructive and well prepared. Thank you for this interesting post!
Oh Roger, I almost forgot to tell you, that I bought all my Saint Nicholas presents at Unicef. I do this every year. It’s really worth while doing!
Great post. I should have known the UN was 65 but for some reason I didn’t.
Wonderful and unique post for today! Have a great week. š
Flawed but with an admirable aim. UNICEF although not funded by the UN does some marvellous work in every country, worth subscribing to.
Informative and interesting. Sometimes it’s enough to do the best we can even though we don’t have all the answers. Good U.
A good choice for U, and one that I am quite ambivalent about. As has been said above, an admirable aim but badly out of whack at present.
Excellent U-word for this week, Rodger. Interesting and informative also.
Have a great week,
Pam
Yeah, this is a great choice.
hope indeed that the all the nations do stand united against the common scourges of humanity
Nice choice for U, UN…hope that it is more effective this time š
I think both institutions are the best things ever created and should be far more efficient ! Not with weapons but with negotiations.
wow! your knowledge of the UN is impressive Roger. I always feel a little smarter after reading one of your posts.
wow! the UN! it’s always been my dream to visit that “symbolic” place! thanks for dropping by! have a great week!
I learned something new here, thanks š Seeing the UN building always reminds me of North by Northwest and Unicef will always be connected to the great Peter Ustinov in my mind.
The UN does great work and if people don’t recognize that, it’s kind of scary to me.
By and large, I believe the UN is trying hard to make positive differences in the world. UNICEF is the perfect example.
And, UNESCO!
Anyway, I hope that the UN continues to fulfill their mission statement. Sometimes things do change too much over time and loose sight of what the original intent was.
Always an informative post here at Roger’s!
wow.
what a big take on u,
love your thinking.
Well, there. I learned something about the United Nations today. I knew a bit about them of course, but you make me look like a dunce!
Love the little fishie cartoon!
Jay- You are no dunce!
A great choice for U day! Very interesting and informative!
Thanks for sharing;o)
***
Have a beautiful day, Roger****
Coming to the “Learning Blog” is so satisfying. Learn new things each time I come. Thanks for such an informative article on the UN.
A great choice for a great organization.
A lot about this topic that I do not know. Need to read this post again to assimilate it a little. But I’m behind with my comments, as I am with everything else this week, and probably until Christmas.
P.S. I do love the UN building and the photo is a great shot!
Dear Rog,
Great post and excellent choice for the U-challenge. I don’t understand why I did not think of the UN, but I am glad that you made such a good post out of it!
Thank you so much for being one of two partcipants to visit and comment on my very, very tardy T-post. (I am planning to translate it into Swedish and post it on my Swedish language-blog ‘Tinas smycken’.)
The anchovies in my recipe are easier to digest because of the heavy cream. It has actually a milder taste that what you may image. But I know that you can not argue about taste, Rog. I forgive you if this is not you ‘cup of tea’.
Thank you again for visiting, you dear sweet man!
Best wishes,
Anna
Anna’s abcWdRd7-U
And for the benefit of other readers:
Anna’s abcWdRd7-T
I too am a supporter of the UN. It’s far from a perfect organization, and needs bit of a kick in the bureaucratic butt, but it has played an important role in past history. My company was a member of the Global Compact. Good U post, Roger.
Fascinating post, Roger. I applaud the work done by the UN.
I must admit, there are parts of the UN’s philosophy (stated or not) that cause me to wonder about it’s motives. I have a hard time understanding why this organization needs to have an independent Army as some have suggested. I also am uncomfortable with the UN’s international criminal court. A court system operates within established laws. What laws of what land are they using? With so many different countries as members, there are so many different interpretations of what is considered right/wrong, just/unjust. I think they’ve done some remarkable things. I just wonder if they are becoming too powerful as a political entity.
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