To help answer these many difficult questions the United Nations made a Universal declaration of human rights, which gave us articles, which all the nations were held to. The articles of this document set down laws about international human rights. The main purpose declare the league of nations is "to maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace" (Issay Documents 491). However, things aren't as black and white as the government makes us believe. Things can't be solved by the UN going into a country and acting as their new system of government. There are going to be people who don't appreciate the help. There are no easy answers when it comes to other countries needing help because their government isn't working the way it's suppose to. By the UN going into another country they are declaring war, basically, even though they are there for peacekeeping. The purpose of the UN is not war, so it is hard to enforce certain situations. They can bring in negotiators to speak with polictical leaders but there are no guaranteed solutions with this method.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Module 2- to get involved or not
There is one thing that some of us take for granted in this country and that is the personal rights that our government gives us. Some of us forget the war that was fought to gain those rights in the first place. We as a people assume that people in other countries have these same unalienable rights that we do. Not too long ago the whole world was at war with the issue of human rights. Well, not the entire world wanted to go along for the ride. While the Europeans were at each other's throats the United States sat on the sidelines. The major question came up: should we care about other people's (other than in our own country) rights? This question hasn't only been a problem in America with World War II but also in the United Nations with problems such as Darfur and Rwanda. It brings up more questions of national sovereignty and whether a country can really govern itself.
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2 comments:
I agree with your point about how the UN intervening with its own forces in a foreign nation is not entirely helpful. Questions of national sovereignty and repercussions of the intervention are always thrown in the mix. And I also agree that although when the UN intervenes in a foreign nation’s problems the situation can become violent and sometimes may lead to war. However the UN usually comes in on peaceful terms, such as weapons inspections and peaceful negotiations and without the intention of violence or war.
I also agree that UN intervention is not always helpful but believe that sometimes it is a necessary action. The UN does not plan to act as that country's government but to the people set up a reliable one. Of course, not everyone will be happy with the "help" provided from outside sources - everyone has their own opinions on how things are done. However, the UN typically tries to work in the best interests of the people and tries to work as peacefully as possible.
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