Divided Nations

World Peace: That was one of the stated aims of the United Nations when it formed in 1945 following one of the bloodiest wars in human history. Almost 65 years later, I revisited this doctrine and examined it a bit further and this is what I found.

The United Nations is nothing but a public relations tool that is used by world powers to put a diplomatic face on their controversial policies and to protect their allies regardless of their innocence.

I know this sounds like a harsh conclusion but here is why the U.N. is a failed organization:

- Since Iran is one of the few remaining allies to Russia in the middle East and one of Russia's biggest weapons purchaser, Russia is very much invested in Iran and its welfare. That is precisely why every time the United States and leading European countries attempt to sanction Iran for its (clearly not) peaceful and civilian nuclear program, Russia comes in and preaches patience and diplomacy. Russia's plea is more like an order because Russia is one of the 5 permanent members of the Security Counsel at the United Nations which gives them the right to "VETO" any action taken by the counsel. That also explains why Russia was not sanctioned, or in any way criticized by the United Nations Security Counsel for invading and destroying the much smaller country of Georgia a year ago.

- Another member of the permanent Security Counsel is China, which also takes full advantage of the "VETO" card in defending North Korea. North Korea is one of the most "openly" hostile dictatorships in the world that publicly announces its warlike mindset and military intentions on a daily basis but fortunately for them, they have a good neighbor in China who threatens to veto every action the Security Counsel attempts to order against North Korea.

- A third example is in 2003 France's Jacques Chirac threatened to veto any resolution that might lead to war against Iraq. France is also a "VETO" holding permanent member of the Security Counsel and at the time, French oil companies held lucrative contracts to Iraqi oil that would be voided once there is a regime change due to a war waged by the United States and allies.

- The final two permanent members of the United Nations Security Counsel with "VETO" powers are the United States and the United Kingdom who wage wars without consequences like the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and block any resolution against their allies, mainly Israel. The United States has issued almost a dozen vetoes to protect Israel from any resolutions by the Security Counsel.

This does not feel like what was intended to be when the Security Counsel was first formed, especially when there are other countries who are bullied by the United Nations simply because they don't have a powerful friend. I think it is time for new members, preferably ones who do not have so much invested in ongoing crises worldwide.

The Just-In-Casers

Religious people do not bother me, I do not hate them or insult them because I pity them. What I do not pity, do not tolerate and absolutely despise are the just-in-casers. Those are the people that are not quite sure there is a God, let alone which religion is correct, but they still go through the religious routine just in case it is right. Here is why these people are in a lose-lose situation.

Let's assume for a second that God does exist and in the end we all will be judged on whether we believed and worshiped him. Religious people will be rewarded and atheists will be burned, but what will happen to the just-in-casers? If God does exist (like he is described by major religions) then he is all knowing and all powerful and if he is all knowing and all powerful, don't you think he will know that these people didn't really quite believe in him or his prophets but just playing it safe, especially when I (a lowly human) can find that out from them after a two minute conversation?

Now imagine that God doesn't exist and upon death we all become nothing but ant food, what then? Well Religious people would have wasted a perfectly good life on worship of an imaginary creature and atheists would have enjoyed (loosely) their lives without the burden of worship, but where does that leave the just-in-casers? The just-in-casers, by definition, go through the religious routines like every religious person, which lands them the short end of the stick, AGAIN!

Moral of the story: take a side. If you keep calling life's little bets, they will add up and clean you out so either go all-in or fold.