-Caveat Lector-
From-http://conspiracies.about.com/culture/conspiracies/library/weekly/mcurren
t.htm
Moral Dictators
Dateline: 11/14/99
Among conspiracists, the words "United Nations" evoke a reaction reminiscent
of a red cape in front of an enraged bull. For many, the very idea of a
worldwide government is a direct threat to our own sovereignty and freedom.
Never mind the good things that the U.N. has done: feed the hungry, help
those stricken by catastrophic earthquakes and floods, educate children and
provide modern medical care in areas where most doctors carry totems and wear
masks. Never mind the huge peacekeeping function the United Nations performs
in strife-torn areas. Someone has to pay for those.
(AP Photo)
For the most part it's been somewhat comical to read the rants of the
ill-informed and paranoid. But now we have a diplomatic freight train bearing
down on us that has nothing to do with "One World Government" and everything
to do with America's credibility and world image. For the third straight
year, Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J) is pushing for a bill to prohibit
abortion-rights groups from lobbying foreign governments in return for the
release of close to one billion dollars in delinquent U.N. dues. And this
time, his efforts are sticking. If we do not pay at least 200-some millions
by December 31, we forfeit our seat in the U.N. General Assembly and take a
black eye on the world stage the likes of which we haven't had since Vietnam.
Why?
Rep. Smith, a staunch conservative, feels we should not spend one dime of
taxpayer money to support abortion lobbyists. At first blush, that sounds
like a domestic issue that hardly belongs in this international debate.
While there may some room for admiration for his adherence to principle, I
have to ask:
Why?
Why is it so hard for the extremist (and make no mistake, Mr. Smith is that)
to understand that the world is not black and white? Why does he feel that
it is moral to jeopardize not only the image and credibility of his own
nation but the less-controversial programs the United Nations sponsors which
have absolutely nothing to do with abortion and everything to do with
lessening the suffering on this big green globe? Why can't he get it through
his head that "planned parenthood" also means contraception and education in
a world where we just hit Six Billion citizens and are on our way to a
mind-boggling Twelve Billions by 2100?
The rest of the world is laughing at us, right now. If I weren't so incensed
I'd be joining in the mockery. Abortion is one of those debates which
generates much more heat than light. The words "rational" and "abortion"
will hardly ever be heard in the same sentence unless to point out their
antipathy. Everyone has an opinion, they're all right and anyone who
disagrees with them is Satan Incarnate. People have killed other people to
try to stop an abortion, thereby "saving lives"? Can someone please
demonstrate the logic to me?
So Rep. Smith is splashing big news all over the press with his measure. We
could write it off to political ambition, and perhaps there's some of that.
But personally I would put it under the category of short-sightedness,
isolationism and narrow-minded provincialism. We cannot dictate the world's
morals. The rest of the world is not trying to dictate ours. If I limit my
tax payments each year to eliminate support for nuclear weapons or Bill
Clinton's vacations, the IRS would be pounding on my door and stealing my
car. Yet Smith's stand puts us in the same boat in the United Nations.
This past week, we have seen outraged Pakistanis, Afghans, Chinese and Greeks
conducting vigorous anti-American demonstrations. There have even been
terrorist attacks on our facilities in Islamabad. Our position as a "world
leader" is not a foregone conclusion, nor would we likely be happy with some
of the other alternatives if we withdraw and leave a void. Smith's obstinate
morality is yet another stepping stone to America the Alone, and if he
succeeds we had better be ready to accept world events without any recourse
because we will have willingly and needlessly abandoned our seat at the front
of the room.
We will also have done a much wider and more harmful disservice to millions
of poor, starving, uneducated world citizens. We will have abandoned our
obligations as human beings all for the sake of making a one-sided moral
statement.
Humbug.
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