Annan Drafts Changes For U.N.

Isaiah 42  ⁴He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, is a Christian from Ghana, who understands the concept of religious tolerance.  In his speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize of 2001, he said:

 

In the 21st Century I believe the mission of the United Nations will be defined by a new, more profound, awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every human life, regardless of race or religion...

 

We understand, as never before, that each of us is fully worthy of the respect and dignity essential to our common humanity. We recognize that we are the products of many cultures, traditions and memories; that mutual respect allows us to study and learn from other cultures; and that we gain strength by combining the foreign with the familiar.

In every great faith and tradition one can find the values of tolerance and mutual understanding. The Qur’an, for example, tells us that "We created you from a single pair of male and female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other." Confucius urged his followers: "when the good way prevails in the state, speak boldly and act boldly. When the state has lost the way, act boldly and speak softly." In the Jewish tradition, the injunction to "love thy neighbour as thyself," is considered to be the very essence of the Torah.

This thought is reflected in the Christian Gospel, which also teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who wish to persecute us. Hindus are taught that "truth is one, the sages give it various names." And in the Buddhist tradition, individuals are urged to act with compassion in every facet of life.

 

Annan's proposal for restructuring the United Nations bears study and support.  Perhaps with the changes he suggests, the UN can better fulfill the vision of the prophet, enshrined on the Isaiah wall of the UN Plaza:

 

Isaiah 2: 4  They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

 

In the name of the Prince of Peace,  Carol Wolman

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50149-2005Mar19.html

Annan Drafts Changes For U.N.
Use of Force, Terrorism Among Issues Targeted

By Colum Lynch
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 20, 2005; Page A01

UNITED NATIONS, March 19 -- Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday will propose establishing new rules for the use of military force, adopting a tough anti-terrorism treaty that would punish suicide bombers, and overhauling the United Nation's discredited human rights commission, according to a confidential draft of a report on U.N. reform...

Annan cast his report as an attempt to reconcile the security interests of wealthy countries, which want the world body to focus on combating terrorism and stemming weapons proliferation, and poor nations, which are more concerned with the consequences of poverty and disease. He noted that a catastrophic terrorist act in a major Western city could cripple the economies of poor nations on the other side of the world while an outbreak of disease in a poor region could spread to the developed world.

"The rich are vulnerable to the threats that attack the poor, and the strong are vulnerable to the threats that accost the poor," he wrote. "Whatever threatens one threatens all."

Annan said that wealthy countries must dramatically increase development aid and debt relief to poor countries that govern responsibly. He also pressed poorer countries to combat corruption aggressively and to promote private-sector investment. "In an era of global abundance, our world has the resources to reduce dramatically the massive divides that persist between rich and poor."...

Annan urged that the Security Council forge agreement on "when and how force can be used." He proposed that it adopt a resolution setting out principles -- including a determination whether the military option is proportional to the threat -- that would guide it in making the decision whether to go to war.

 

The meaning of I AM by Carol Wolman

"When you lift up the Son of Man,
then you will realize that I AM,
and that I do nothing on my own,
but I say only what the Father taught me."

John 8: 29

http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.htm

 

We all tend to feel helpless these days, in the face of global warming, nuclear weapons and the spread of "depleted" uranium radioactive dust, corrupt politicians, soulless corporations claiming the rights of persons, rampant pollution, etc. etc.

 

It would be wonderful to be omnipotent and be able to perform miracles of healing, enlightenment, forgiveness, as Jesus did.  How do we gain the power of God to do our godly work of saving the planet?

 

Jesus gives us the answer in the above passage.  Put your own ego, the "little I", aside, and do only what the Father teaches you to do.  His law is to love Him and love our neighbors.  With this as our guide, we cannot go wrong, and will fulfill our mission of tuning into the Great I AM.

 

YAHWEH, in Hebrew, means I AM WHAT I WILL BE.  The Easter breathing meditation:

 

Inspire YAH

Expire WEH

 

will help you to drop your ego and to be directly in touch with the great I AM.

 

In the name of the Prince of Peace,  Carol Wolman