St. Valentine: A Declaration for “Human” Failure.

By: Ahmed M. EL NAHAS – Montopoli, February 13^th 2012.

Most of the "civilised" world will celebrate tomorrow an invented occasion named “St. Valentine”.. Or the Feast of Love.. An appointment marketed well out its original concept just to generate profits for some by selling the illusion of remembering your dear ones through a “Gift”. Reducing human ties and relations to a simple barter deal.. Affection for a present.. As if it is the only way by which I would express my love to my wife, my daughters, my sister or my mother.. I totally disagree with the logic of that issue, especially knowing the origin of the tale.. However it is not my aim today to question the merits or demerits of the traders inside the temple.

I wish to discuss with you another aspect of “Human” solidarity written, signed and declared back in the years by leaders of the founding member nations of a Phantom Organisation ironically named The United Nations.

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicise the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

The Preamble of the declaration reads:

>>>>> QUOTE <<<<<

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members

of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

>>>>> UNQUOTE <<<<<

Well my friends, I don’t recall having read it, studied it or even heard about it anywhere in Egypt from Kinder Garden and all the way up till graduating from University.. My first contact with the declaration came back in the seventies when I went to Geneva University to prepare and obtain my post graduate Master and Doctorate degrees in Social Studies.

At the time it was really enlightening, still being intellectually influenced by that romantic spirit following the late sixties explosive blow of international youth uprisings.. The era that produced various social movements like “Women’s Lib”, “Students Revolt”, “The Hippies” and tens of other social organizations with various aims and ideas.

Today, and after over sixty years from the first appearance of that “Historic Act”, I can’t help wondering about where do we stand and what achievements did the international community reached in the pursuit of the fundamental goals as set by the document to ensure “..freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want”, or to establish “..friendly relations between nations”.. I couldn’t even trace any sign anywhere in the world of the United Nations’ peoples pledge “..to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom”, not to mention the ultimate goal of  “..the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”!!

I will leave you now so you may search the web for the original text of the declaration, wishing you would enjoy the comfort of the nostalgic scent of “Romanticism”, that practically extinct. Like many other creatures which ceased to exist just because it is the will of “The Human Family”. The human mankind who did not abandon his primitive pre-historic nature eager for conflict for three basic reasons: Competition, Diffidence and Glory; as elegantly expressed by Thomas Hobbes in 1651, while theorizing about the English Civil War (1641 -1651); explaining that “..the first maketh men invade for gain; the second, for safety; and the third, for reputation”.

Pass On The Word.

P.S: I sincerely wish you all the peace and serenity that only love can bring.