U.N. speaker warns against hypocrisy
September 29, 2006
Students, professors and community members gathered yesterday at Kane Hall to hear Gillian Sorenson, former assistant secretary-general of the United Nations (U.N.), discuss the United States" vital role in international politics and the U.N. [HTML_REMOVED]
[HTML_REMOVED]Sorenson spoke on a variety of issues, including American foreign policy, human rights and world health. She urged that America not advocate one policy and act on another.[HTML_REMOVED]
[HTML_REMOVED]"When we say one thing and do another, that distance creates confusion, a gap that is hard to bridge," Sorensen said."We cannot preach and promote democracy and support dictators [HTML_REMOVED] It makes it very hard to keep our credibility."[HTML_REMOVED]
[HTML_REMOVED]Sorensen insisted that citizens must commit to the issues that they believe in and not let the actions of the state to go against topics that it advocates.[HTML_REMOVED]
[HTML_REMOVED]"We need to hold our government accountable," Sorensen said."Otherwise it will continue to set standards and diminish them."[HTML_REMOVED]
[HTML_REMOVED]Although she said she is an avid patriot, Sorensen warned that the United States" position in the U.N. is in danger.[HTML_REMOVED]
[HTML_REMOVED]"Internationally, the U.S. is perceived as arrogant, self-servant and unwilling to change," Sorensen said.[HTML_REMOVED]
[HTML_REMOVED]The event was part of a nationwide series of town hall meetings called"The People Speak," sponsored by the United Nations Foundation and Americans for Informed Democracy.[HTML_REMOVED]
[HTML_REMOVED]Sorensen"s message is one that the people of this country should take to heart, said Adel Sefrioui, a UW student who co-coordinated the event.[HTML_REMOVED]"[We] are citizens of the greatest country on earth," Sefrioui said."This is both a luxury and a burden because as citizens of this great country, we serve as examples to the rest of the world."
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