U.N. question: Should we really be paying for U.S.-bashing in our borders?

After the latest round of U.S.-bashing at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, many people have been asking why this nation continues to bear the expense of being the home city for the organization’s main offices.

After all, there has been no shortage of criticism levied at this country because of what is perceived as its bullying tactics, and many representatives from the countries who gather there are not shy at all about calling this country names that are not supposed to be spoken in polite company.

So, if so many members of this organization hate this country so much and have so little respect for its policies, then perhaps there could be a better place for the United Nations to call home.

And they aren’t the only ones with doubts.

The United States has for years raised questions about the administration and policies of the United Nations. Many of those doubts have been substantiated by scandals that have rocked the U.N. and its leadership.

There seems to have been little or no action taken to resolve some of those concerns — and new ones seem to crop up every few months.

So, taking all that into account, it would be reasonable to take a look at what role we want to see in the future for this country in the United Nations.

At the very least, it is time to examine the costs this nation absorbs to be the location for the U.N. headquarters — the pluses and the minuses.

We should also look at what we have gained and lost over the years from our association with the group — and take action to make sure that when there are questions about how the U.N. conducts business, the United States takes the lead in demanding an investigation or explanation.

The United Nations started off as a good idea — and one of the most powerful nations in the world should have a pronounced presence in its activities.

But just like any organization that has been around for a long time, there is a need for new blood, new ideas and a new look at the role the United Nations should take in the future of world politics.

Americans are pretty tough. We can take the bashing for what it is worth. But seeing another “hate America” session ought to be the impetus to make us look harder at this organization and what it is really doing to make the world a better place.

Published in Editorials on September 22, 2006 11:28 AM