Send in the clowns. Perma-pressed costumes, bright smiles, amusing and rosy cheeks and eyes that sparkle in the light.
Let’s make a laughing stock against the sea of troubles.
Poised impossibly on the diplomatic stage of the UN, world leaders and dignitaries find comfortable tightropes. In spite of all, they reserve their dizzying balances. Uncertain on which side to fall they evoke mirages to build a better world. All of humankind’s troubles will be resolved. The 66th session of the UN rolls on.
But what should the audience believe when they see all this laughter?
Quasi dreams of peace are chronicled. A pointless exercise to end all wars slogs on. Diplomatic hypocrisy crowns their strife and bickering. Yes! They are making balloons into things.
Yet, the UN lingers on as the hope of the ages.
“Do clowns ever sigh out loud?” someone asks.
“Yes they do,” another answers and this time it is the Palestinian question like none other that exposes the incapability, falsity and clown-like character of the so-called United Nations.
Destined to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development, based on the principles of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people since its inception in 1945, its purpose was to stop wars between countries and to provide a platform for dialogue.
But the record shows there are no evidence to prove that the United Nations has prevented any wars. So let’s erase the magic and tell them the stories.
The United States can no longer pretend to be an honest broker in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The Palestinians bid to have the United Nations recognize their statehood is rejected. Obama has chosen to abdicate. His pro-Israel bloated rhetoric comes at a time when he is facing fierce criticism from Republican presidential candidates over his past treatment of Israel.
What do you expect a man to do under these circumstances?
He is now at odds with the regions proponents of democracy. He has exposed differences with traditional European allies, but support and sympathy for Israel is a “badge of honor.” He will wear it well into the 2012 elections. He definitely will.
“So who calls the shots on U.S. Middle East policy?” Another interrupts.
“It is the right wing Zionist leaders who call the shots when it comes to US Middle East policy”, another answers in disbelief.
And he continues his homily.
“The UN has not been able to resolve a single major conflict. Whether it was Kashmir, Congo, Haiti, or the Korean peninsula, the UN is a total failure. The UN is an absurd debating club of elite leaders who oppress billions across the planet. The UN has been the harlot of the imperialist powers and it acts in accordance with the interests of these bosses. The UN is endorsed by 193 nations, injected with countless hours of labor and billions of dollars and still the world is filled with troubles.
And despite their collective longings and aspiration to promote peace, progress, and fraternity, wars, mass-murder, widespread poverty, and socioeconomic and political crisis continue to invade upon the rights and sovereignty of nations, leaving behind irremediable damage worldwide to humanity.
Indeed! The United Nations created Israel but it is impossible to create the state of Palestine.”
And so, while continuing to create illusions to their tricks, the clowns keep on laughing and hands give applause. They spread more despair than cheer, more gloom than happiness, but this is the circus where juggling and risking of lives abound.
I’ve rode my unicycle around the ring, drenched in buckets of water. Obama, the trainer in chief is unable to crack whips above the heads of wild cats, but I am not sad for I know that with a few pennies saved, in a year I’ll see the circus again.
Yellow hair is good indeed.
Rebecca Theodore is based in Atlanta GA and writes on national security and political issues. She can be reached at [email protected].
Please get off Rebecca,s back,instead lets try to educate ourselves…if there were skirmishes during the first half of the 50’s in october 1956 Israel attacked Egyptian bases on peninsular,and reached 10miles of the Suez,without the intervention of Britain & France history would tell;tensions were high at any given period of occupation but boiled over in the 60’s;there were frequent clashes,but the quarrel over diverting water from the Jordan added fuel to the flame,hence what is titled in history”The 1967 six-day war”.During this short period Israel comfortably destroyed,massacred three armies and their peoples,Egypt,Syria,and Jordan and captured lands on all fronts,Gaza Strip,the entire Sinai peninsular,Golan Heights and in-fact all territory west of the Jordan river in their quest to have full control over the previously partitioned Jerusalem……Lets please bear in mind ,although Britain & France had their role in this squabble ,the became the Axis of the destruction;in their quest to avoid Soviet weapons entering Israel,they over fed Zionist and made them the “Gorgons”they are today,a hindrance towards “Peace”;therefore we do not the Americans,but we hate their policies.
correction..the first of the last 4lines should read”although Britain & France had their role in this squabble ,the US became the axis……..
The UN is two-faced and always has been. Look behind the velvet curtain to see the wizard.
Dear Ms. Theodore. Of course, the Palestinians are entitled to have a country of their own.
Your observation:”yellow hair is good indeed” had me flummoxed for a while though. I guess it is an oblique reference to the clown’s make-up (yellow hair not being real). It would help though if you spelled that out in plain language so that lesser mortals, like myself may understand its meaning without ambiguity.
I want to make a comment on the use of the “Like” and “Dislike” feedback icons on posts on DNO. It would really help in the understanding of each others’ point of view if one was to say WHY they take that position or the other. I guess a “Like” is just about self-explanatory – not much clarification needed, I think. A “dislike”, however, should prompt in the individual selecting that as his/her response to the comment a sense that, in the interest of offering a different perspective on the matter from a position that the original commenter may have missed or not have taken into consideration, their position on said subject matter. This is the only way we can move forward with constructive dialog and formulate solutions to our problems in our society.
I made a comment on a previous post where i repeated my thinking that the PM of Israel is not interested in having peace with the Palestinians and that President Obama does not have the wherewithal to prevent any action on the part of the Israelis that could be construed as being detrimental to the peace process. I included in my comment links to 2 newspaper articles today in support of my assertion – one link to the Huffington Post where PM Netanyahu has toay approved additional settlement construction on Palestinian territory, and a second from Haaretz newspaper in Israel where hardliners in the PM’s coalition government are demanding further annexation of Palestinian lands. In my opinion, these actions run counter to the goals of the peace process. As of this writing, there were 4 “dislikes”. I agree it’s in everyone’s prerogative to dislike whatever they want to, but what exactly were they disliking? That I made that post in the first place? That I had the gumption to question the veracity of the Israeli’s? That I disapprove of the Israeli’s stealing Palestinian property? That I backed up my statement with documented facts? What?
Hey warma, speak your mind and do not worry about the likes and dislikes. Stay positive and progressive as ever. If I am pro Israel and you made that statement,I would feel offended too. The Israelis believe that ALL the land belongs to them and that Palestinians wuold be better off being part of Egypt, (Gaza), and part of Jordan, (West Bank). They want peace, but on their terms. But I agree with you. The Israelis do not want a two-state solution.
Hear, hear. Would she turn down Vince’s job if offered?
The US ask the Palestinians to negotiate with the jews for a state, did the jews negotiate with the Palestinians for theirs in 1948. dont forget the Palestinians were living there
I am not a journalist or an English major, but tell me DNO, shouldnt the title be “MARCHING” instead of “MATCHING”?? Could be a typo.
ADMIN: It is a play on words. Read the piece again and get the tone of the writer.
Maybe I am thick but I do not get the connection with “matching” either and would appreciate if a more subtle mind would elucidate this for me. However, “there are no evidence” is definitely grammatically wrong as is “I’ve rode my unicycle”, the correct form being “ridden”. I am sorry Ms. Theodore considers the U.N. a failure. We certainly would be poorer without it, and I mean this in the literal sense since we have discovered the monetary value of our vote!If you think this cynical, so be it but it is a fact nonetheless. Having said all that, the Palestinian people deserve their own sovereign state if only because of the existence of Israel. For better or worse, I will always support the principle of self-determination.
Both Cassandra and Rebecca are voices and scribes for the Palestinian cause and that’s what really matters. We should be proud of our progressive ladies.
Rebecca’s commentary exposes the “diplomatic Hypocricy” in the UN and the alignment, the pairing, the partnership, the “matching”, of the United States with Israel. They abandon the proponents of democracy to embrace Israel, thus making a mockery of the UN Charter. They are indeed putting on a clown act by their alliances, their mis-match, she contends.
Having “rode” her unicycle has its roots in “American English” and those of us who adhere to “Her Majesty’s English”, can’t stand it. Americans rarely use the past participle. Many TV personalities say, “I had went”, “have drove”, “have wrote” etc. Sometimes I wonder, but it’s a common occurence. The spelling of words like honour, colour, neighbour, favour and labour have long become standard without the “u”, (thus: labor, color etc.). Texting is ushering more radical changes to the English language. So I would not dwell on these minor issues. Ms Rebecca Theodore is certainly a brilliant and intelligent young lady.
Well said..
The capitalist system as well as others needs wars, destruction, waste, environmental degradation to continue functioning.
The money sharks and rulers of the world have no respect for human dignity, no respect for human life and the well being of others.
The education, religious and financial system all facilitate the functioning of the money/currency system..
Genius, the other day you chastised someone for not appreciating the “tangible” value of money. Today you denounce the “money/currency” system.Make up your mind man!
I am not denying the tangible value of money in our present day system. I am just stating what it takes for this system to keep functioning. I wasnt back tracking, maybe you misunderstood. Sorry..
we are happy that the atrocities of the UN has reached that level of intellualism.
The educated voices must start echoing for justice.
In the meantime we are allowing those on the Un with a sense of humour to laugh at themselves.
Laughter can heal the world while the message resonates in the conscience of mankind on the UN
Thanks sister, for the exercise.
I have said it repeatedly to the chagrin of some – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does NOT want any peace with the Palestinians, and the government of Dominica needs to join with others around the world and strongly support the effort of the Palestinians to gain statehood, an identity. Netanyahu and his ilk do not like these people and they continue to subjugate them, and Obama has no balls whatsoever to do anything about it. After that “beautiful” speech Obama gave at the UN about the pursuit of peace and that the two parties need to come together now and stop doing things that is to the detriment of the peace process, what does Netanyahu do today?
HE APPROVES CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITIONAL 1100 HOMES ON PALESTINIAN LANDS THAT THEY KEEP STEALING!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/benjamin-netanyahu-settlement-freeze_n_982921.html
And what do members of his coalition government do? THEY WRITE A LETTER DEMANDING FURTHER ANNEXATION OF PALESTINIAN LANDS
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-must-annex-west-bank-settlements-right-wing-mks-tell-netanyahu-1.387018
We must stand with the truth and justice in this.
@warma. Thank you.
Observer, what is your problem really? You sound like you have a personal grudge against the writer? Are you jealous of her writing ability? No need to, just educate yourself likewise
I agree with you. Satelite too is annoying in his comments. It seems like they know the woman and have some issue with her personally. That said, her essay has nothing to do with their personal matter and the piece she has written is spot on.
Good stuff.
Why don’t you leave Atlanta Georgia and come down to Dominica and start your commentaries for DOMINICA’S NATIONAL SECURITY Eh. Instead you sit your but up there and complain about the UN. Not even your writings can change the UN. So what next?
Satelite, you jealous of the woman or what?
@ satelite
You sound like a complete idiot, but on the other hand you could be an educated fool…
Satelite..here’sa part of the Palestinian story.the Balfour Declaration isued in 11917 by the British Govt.gave support for the Zionist homeland in Palestine,during which period the British under Gen.Allenby occupied Palestine,ending centuries of Turkish rule. In 1922 the League of Nations mandated Britain over Palestine and gave a separate mandate for the then Trans -Jordan(east of the Jordan river).Migration between 1922-39 brought over 300000 jews to Palastinian lands and one can well imagine the influx,when Hitler started flushing them through sewerage or any available facility .From that time of occupation ,lets try to understand..Arabs fled.1948;state of Israel formed,war broke out;first UN mediator assassinated by jewish terrorist.(Count Folke).Although fighting ended in1949 the war did not,the Zionist captured more land than was awarded by the 1947 mandate;with the non- withdrawal of Israeli troops and US backing the refugee problem started;up till now there are hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs living in Jordanian camps,hence all the frictions and clashes along the Jordanian-Israeli border.We do not hate the Americans,but hate policies.To be continued……
What sad and pitiful planet are you a satellite (a word you misspelled in your username) of? Also, it’s “your butt,” not “but.” Goodness. If critics can’t spell, and if geography (that is, a person’s location) is the extent of their criticism, I can only wonder why they feel the need to leave comments at all.
Please return to orbiting whatever sad place you come from, and, if you hear any black holes calling….
Rebecca please, be serious. This is very irritating.
Adults do not want to read through a fairy story to get to the point you’re trying to make.
Do you work with or know Gary Esprit by any chance?
A “fairy story?” Do you even know what a fairytale, much less a fairy or a story, is? Do you read anything but news articles? If you were actually a reader of literature, you would know that 1)her piece is not a “fairy story,” that 2) a fairytale is a type of tale, not a type of writing, 3) that using imagery does not make something into a fairytale for children, that 4) it takes skill to write with consistent imagery, that 5) no child, certainly not in Dominica, is likely to understand this, and that this is 6) not even a story at all. You, Observer, obviously do not read widely, do not know literary terms, cannot criticize like a worthy critic (you insult her without any concrete explanation of why), and are therefore unfit to leave a comment of that kind on this article. As someone who writes and criticizes myself, I am ashamed of your ridiculous comment.
I do not think her imagery works perfectly in the article, no, but only an utter ignoramus would condemn her for trying to do something beyond writing a bland article, and only an even greater ignoramus would equate her efforts with children’s writing.
Do not post again unless you are through being an embarrassment.
Hear hear…..talk to the dotish.
@Humanist. Remember you used to stand outside the ferry terminal in Roseau chatting to your friends after Saturday market? When they didn’t agree with your point of view you would lift up the front of your skirt and show them your shiny panty and walk off. My mother used to warn me about women like you. You mean you now come to DNO with that same nonsense?
@Observer – LOL, what the hell. You are clearly mentally deranged. What makes you think I’m a woman or did anything you just said below? And, more importantly, why do you completely evade my points to instead create your own lurid absurdity? Haha! You are truly fantastic in your childishness, and it seems you need to go back to your mother until you know more the world around you.
Dominicans, indeed….Man, other nations must laugh at some of our people.
Very good piece. I think she got it right.
Sweetheart, the world is not a perfect place. We all know that.