Ragnarok.Blindphleb said:
Carbuncle.Sevourn said:
i'll be the first to agree with you that the motives aren't pure
however--and correct me if i'm wrong, i might be, though i don't think i am
it's a largely ceremonial/symbolic declaration
i just can't see the change in wording changing anything
arab and african countries would continue to persecute gays if you very slightly changed the wording in an unenforced resolution
and they're not going to step up their persecution over a wording change either
things will continue exactly as they would have if the UN got distracted and completely forgot to do this years generic condemnation of killing people
it's a reflection of an attitude we(most of us anyway) were already aware of
yup lolafrica/lol extreme islam and their 5th century attitudes
but that's nothing new
i don't believe it changes anything from a practical standpoint either way
to answer your second question, you don't
at least not as the world stands today
Considering the wet noodle nature of the UN I tend to agree that out in the real world LGBT people of nations hostile to their lifestyle wouldn't feel a change from this resolution. I just don't know enough about international law and the UN.
When we're talking about Africa and Islam it's also important to notice that several Caribbean countries voted along with them.
Along the lines of your last point. I think it comes down to: are you an advocate of cultural relativism or are you a universalist. Do you believe that cultural values supersede human rights? Do you believe that human rights should be universal? I believe the UN should be governed by a universalist mindset. The UN was formed in the embers of The Holocaust with the goal to fight for human rights. From putting China in a veto power position to their failure to prevent genocide. In my opinion they have missed that mark by miles.
i don't think it comes down to me being a relativist vs a universalist
i'm more concerned with what might actually happen than i am grappling over which philosophy i should pursue in a venue i have no power to change
for the un to truly work, individual nations will have to give up a lot more power than they are willing to give up today
resolutions would have to be binding and enforceable
as things stand today, the nations that matter are not willing to give up enough power to allow the un to act as the global police
in a century or two... we'll see
even then, i'm not sure i support it
the concept of the sovereign nation has a lot to recommend it
and the idea of a powerful world government with the wrong leader is a very scary thought