TOLERANCE | OCTOBER 24, 2020

75 Years Later—United Nations Day

On October 24, 1945, 75 years ago today, the UN was founded with the atrocities of World War II still emblazoned on the world’s collective consciousness. An intergovernmental organization, it aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and serve as a center for harmonizing the actions of nations. The UN is headquartered on international territory in New York City with offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and The Hague.

UN Flag — The flag of the United Nations (Photo by Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock.com)

I was encouraged on this anniversary to hear that Sudan has agreed to normalize relations with Israel. The Secretary-General of the UN in a statement today, announced he “hopes the agreement will further cooperation, enhance economic and trade relations, and bring about new opportunities to advance peace and economic prosperity in the wider Horn of Africa and Middle East regions.”

The United Nations represents the best intentions of nations and individuals to treat others with dignity and respect, and to work out our differences through dialogue rather than violence. I’m a big believer in the idea that governments and organizations don’t determine the kind of world we live in, but rather that brave individuals do—by standing up for human, religious and civil rights and challenging others to follow their lead into a brighter future.

We have a long way to go and it will take millions of individual people knowing and fighting for their basic human rights to bring about that brighter future. But communication truly is a universal solvent. I support the UN’s efforts to foster peace and dialogue and I’m glad we have an international organization working to achieve peace and stability around the world.

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Wil Seabrook

Musician, writer, business owner, human rights advocate, aspiring Renaissance Man.

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