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Christianity Today, February, 2007 |

The United Nations' Disarray

The decline of the human-rights agenda, and what evangelicals can do about it.

Joseph Loconte | posted 2/01/2007 09:11AM

Not long ago, I joined a Washington luncheon with Shashi Tharoor, an under-secretary general at the United Nations. Tharoor, a candidate to replace Kofi Annan last year as head of the UN, speaks with ...

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Kwang

Posted: February 10, 2007 3:14 PM

As a former Advisor to the World Bank, I applaud CT for this article, which reflects a growing interest on int’l issues and organizations by thinking Christians. Loconte's shrewdly observes that the world's secular leaders dominate the UN agenda, with their confused world view regarding human nature. Today's silent tragedy is that the majority world is being shaped on the advice of secular technocrats on the mold of post-Christian West. Just like Christians transformed the Civil Rights movement, the gap in the international justice agenda is a distinctive Christian voice a la King Jr., and William Wilberforce. But the Loconte’s Commission should be an international one, even if the US creates it. This is different than the Commission on Relig Freedom, an advocacy body. When you put the word "rights,” you get into the messy world of "enforcement,” and you need to face the formidable challenge of creating int’l enforcement mechanisms to human rights violators.

Mike	Posted: February 06, 2007 4:43 PM


As an Australian Evangelical, I must agree entirely with Alex from England.

Daniel

Posted: February 06, 2007 12:40 AM


The important rights are freedoms - speech, conscience, religion. The freedom to pursue your craft, occupation or calling. And by defending these freedoms we create an environment conducive to economic growth.

Sarah

Posted: February 05, 2007 4:31 PM

I was excited to see that Christianity Today ran an article on the UN - and incredibly disappointed to see the biased viewpoint of this article. As someone who has a Master's in International Politics, during which time I studied, in-depth, the numerous fallacies and competencies of the United Nations, I was surprised and saddened to read this ill-informed article. Christianity Today should promote more thoughtful and informed research into such an important topic, rather than contributing to the misunderstanding that much evangelicals, my friends and family included, suffer from in regard to the United Nations and multilateralism in general. If this author is influencing Congressional views of the UN, no wonder American conceptions of international diplomacy is currently so skewed.

Alex	Posted: February 05, 2007 1:30 PM

As an English Evangelical, this article includes many of the aspects that make me embarrassed to be associated with my American brothers in Christ. The implications that multilateralism and multiculturalism are concepts to be avoided would be laughable if they were not so rigidly applied by many Americans. The article is more informed by an opinion that America is always right - dismissing the 'clean hands' argument as a way to distract from 'thuggish' regimes is ridiculous. As Christians we should be held to a standard that reflects God's holiness, and we should not be surprised if our sinful actions cause others to disregard us when we tell them to "do what I say, not what I do". We should also be the first to acknowledge our need to repent, rather than childishly stating that others have also misbehaved. The UN is not perfect, but the idea of a world run purely in accordance with American foreign policy, especially that embraced by the current administration, is even more scary.

Gongorist

Posted: February 04, 2007 5:59 AM

KarlaElisa is a complete idiot. Get in line at the "I Hate America" deli and take a number. Once you get a real-world education and stop hiding behind your God-given right to speak without knowledge, then you should post your comments for others to consider. Until then, take up a weapon and defend your rights. You're an embarrassment. This article is right on target. America has surrendered its national identity in an attempt to be everything to everyone, and nothing to anyone. We're so terribly concerned about international opinion that it's eroding our resolve. We seem intent on allowing ourselves to be targeted and killed, so long as no one dislikes us. Wake up, America! Find your identity and embrace it, don't hide from it as if it were embarrassing to be a society with moral and social values (regardless of your religion of choice).

MPK	Posted: February 02, 2007 7:40 PM

As another comment has suggested, this author is innacurate in divocrcing social and economic goals from "human rights". He uses incendiary and loaded terms like "entitlement programs" to incite the more capitalistic evangelicals among us to scoff at efforts to feed, clothe, and house the billions in this world who live in poverty--ignoring the two-thousand bible verses that instruct God's people in care for the poor. Does the author truly believe that economic justice is equal to "materialistic" utopian dreams or Marxism? I encourage readers to revisit Matthew 25 before passing judgement on "social benefits" or government sponsored aid. Though this article makes some good points about the failings of the HRC, much of this report designed for "evangelical Christians" sounds more like neo-con talking points decrying "multilateralism" while whitewashing the real human rights issues of poverty.

Anju Chandel, New Delhi, India.

Posted: February 02, 2007 4:30 AM

Though you have made a few relevant points, nevertheless, you too seem to be suffering from “the-UN-is-a-Utopian-Notion” syndrome… Inorder to enable the UN function effectively, sincere reforms reflecting the geopolitical realities of the new world order are required in the Security Council . The power of “veto” has to go out of the hands of the ‘High Five”...(To quote Dag Hammarskjold) – “the United Nations was not created to take mankind to heaven, but to save humanity from hell .”

Joel	Posted: February 01, 2007 3:29 PM

You are giving to much creadence to Sashi Taror , He is the rich pretty boy who made it to the top because he showed the talent of agreeing with everyone, the bandits and the police. I wouldn't base any argument on his saying, because it has little value. I suggest you read the article by Bernard Lewis in the Jerusalem Post today, it is the most accurate description on what is the treath today to the human race (Including rights), I strongly believe he is right, that the world is now on the verge of nuclear confrontation by a deranged man who believes that if a million of his people die , they will be expected in heaven as heros. Unless the UN with all of its political power (Security Council) moves to stop Ahmedinajad now from a nuclear holocaust; human right will be totaly irrelevant in the upper world.

Edward

Posted: February 01, 2007 2:25 PM

I don't agree with your comment: "When human rights are confused with social or economic goals, human dignity is debased—and basic rights become more politically tenuous." Economic status is tightly linked with the human right to life - for example, in low-income countries, 122 children under 5 (for every 1000 live births) die compared to 7 children in high-income countries (World Bank). These children die primarily because of economic reasons - their parents are too poor to afford proper nutrition or medical care, and the government is too poor to provide these services to their citizens. In this case, economic goals, such as alleviating poverty, are equivalent to maintaining the sanctity of life.

George

Posted: February 01, 2007 12:51 PM


Hopefully your wonderful article will be read by members of the UN. May I suggest you send a copy to the new Secretary General and all his staff.

prosanto

Posted: February 01, 2007 12:01 PM

unfortunately, the Western politicians, evangelists have a distorted very narrow view of the World with very different culture and religious belief than one held by the West and evangelists. It would be better if they first try to understand without lecturing and preaching them. The immigrants from these countries, especially the Christians would be a place to start a dialogue without an elaborate and expensive setup. These immigrants, especially would be a catalysts for change in their respective countries. Prosanto K. Mukerji, Ph. D. 602-279-8032

Wayne

Posted: February 01, 2007 10:07 AM


very refreshing and true. I couldn't agree more. It is good to hear this point of view shared for once. There are lots of other ways to promote human rights as well personally and as Christians in general.

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