“A congressionally mandated panel will report this week that the United Nations suffers from poor management, ‘dismal’ staff morale and lack of accountability and professional ethics.” (Warren Hoge, New York Times, June 13, 2005).  The report went on to note that one of the key issues with the United Nations is the “absurd level of member state micromanagement”.  These conclusions are consistent with those that would be drawn by anyone who has observed the U.N. over the past decade (see previous commentary).

I believe that the last quote is the most telling as we ask the obvious question: why is the United Nations so lacking in ethics and accountability?   The micromanagement of member states is one very critical component.  This factor is seen as even more relevant when it is understood that many of those member states themselves lack ethics (professional, political, and social) and accountability.  One example of this is an article by Bob Keefe (Cox News Service, June 13, 2005) regarding international reaction to Michael Jackson and his trial.  In that article Samya Kassoussi, a 30-year old native of Lyon, France said that “I think overseas we’re much more open-minded.”  Marta Wozniak, a 29-year old who has traveled from Poland several times during the Jackson trial, said that “Europeans don’t care about the personal lives of pop stars like Americans do.”  Apparently this is true even when part of the personal life of a pop star involves sleeping with young boys (at the very least) and even more serious child abuse (at the most). 

Apparently in Europe there is little thought to right and wrong or good and evil.  Apparently everything just falls into a gray category that we should not or can not judge.  Given that it is nations that espouse this laissez-fair (pardon my French) attitude that hold sway with the U.N. it is no wonder that the organization itself, like many of its members, lacks any form of ethics or accountability.

So, why exactly should Americans care about the ethics in Europe?  Because Europeans are exporting their secularist, non-evaluative brand of socialistic “we are all the same so don’t judge me even if I am evil” to America.  The proof is in the press…first O.J., now Michael.  The jury didn’t even find Michael Jackson guilty of giving alcoholic beverages to minors (for illegitimate purposes) even when it was evident that he had.  Everything is gray, even in America.  Thanks to the media for marketing this European “reality” to America. 

One more question.  Why exactly should Americans care if a European worldview is being exported to our nation?  Refer to another New York Times article (Carlotta Gail, June 12, 2005).  In that article it is noted that the Taliban, contrary to predictions, has remained “vibrant” in Afghanistan.  Okay, let’s skip over the word “vibrant” as a descriptor of a force that has beaten, raped and killed thousands and that continues to try to keep Afghanistan and its people in the dark ages.  More important is the truth that both in Afghanistan and Iraq the terrorists are continuing their terror.  They are bolstered by those who see only gray and who condemn America instead of the evil it is fighting.

America lost the war against North Vietnam because anti-American activists, hiding under cover of the anti-war movement, divided our nation and weakened American resolve.  The result was thousands of American, Vietnamese, Thai, and Laotian deaths.  Those anti-American activists of the 60’s and 70’s took many forms: politicians, students, educators, and reporters.  The same is happening today.  Politicians like Senators Kennedy and Kerry and DNC Chairman Dean, reporters such as Dan Rather, educators like Ward Churchill, and thousands of students already brainwashed by all of the above are trying to undermine our nation and our troops.  They are having an impact.  The enemy is not asleep.  The enemy knows that it can outwait us as we decline into self-hate and weakness.

So, the message from Europe is one that has a very important impact on our nation.  It is time that Americans take a stand, unlike the United Nations and most of its member nations.  Although many in the world don’t want to accept it, there is right and wrong and there is good and evil.  America must regain its strength and take the lead against evil as it has in the past.  We can not allow America to decline into self-blame, divisiveness, and weakness.  If we do, not only America, but the entire world will suffer the result.  Now it is getting serious.