MJ Logue

Failing to live up to the rules you hold over others

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon claims diplomatic immunity for the UN against the charge that it caused the cholera outbreak in Haiti & will therefore not answer to the case against it. 

They’re not following the very convention they’re invoking.

Article V, Section 20 of the Convention he’s using to shield the UN from answering to it says its his duty to waive immunity in any case where the immunity would impede the course of justice.

And Section 21 reads: “The United Nations shall co-operate at all times with the appropriate authorities of Members to facilitate the proper administration of justice, secure the observance of police regula- tions and prevent the occurrence of any abuse in connection with the privileges, immunities and facilities mentioned in this Article.”

Here’s the convention:

http://treaties.un.org/doc/Treaties/1946/12/19461214%2010-17%20PM/Ch_III_1p.pdf

Human heroes are so much more powerful than unattainable legends

Let’s remember MLK not as the unassailable legend he’s been made into, but as a human, like the rest of us, that lived & breathed & had flaws, doubts and personal struggles outside of his public life, but that gave all he had for what he believed in, for his fellow man. His actions shouldn’t be “remembered” so much as used for inspiration, civil rights go far beyond race & creed, and we have a long way to go even in the first world, but even now we can take that inspiration and what ever voice, time or talent we have towards ensuring the rest of the world (even if for you that means just your community, school, place of work, etc.) reaps the benefits of the inspiration and lessons men like King left for us. 

I bring up things like this a lot, and plenty of that is to remind myself of it as well: 

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Nearly all the ills of this world boil down to people thinking their rights, their lives are more important than those of others, understand we’re all just one of an equal multitude, and all we can truly accomplish while we’re here is making it easier for the rest of us today and those that will follow.