Is the antipathy towards the UN in the US just xenophobia?

Question

I am always surprised when someone states that the UN is worthless, and that they want to retreat from the UN, as well as some more, unsavory things.

I realize that there has been a smear campaign in the US against the UN in order to soften how the US is ignoring the important global body. The reason for this- could it be that the US wants to be the sole spokesnation for the rest of the world?

However, surely the people see through that, as the UN shines through invariably with its true character.

Inefficient it may be, yet there have been moves to get rid of the bureaucracy, however that has been vetoed by the US. Otherwise, it's trackrecord in the field is better than for example the US military.

I think the reason is, that quite simply Americans don't want hundreds of foreigners gather up in New York, who aren't American, never want to be American, and speak up against America, whenever they want to. If not, then what?

Hmm, hey- at least I got interesting answers by claiming to be caused by Xenophobia.

As the "wealthiest nation" in the world, USA has paid its share (or not paid, as it sometimes did) in dues to the UN- but, certainly these dues were not extraordinary, and other developed countries pay more per capita. However, it is true that it seems that only a few countries pay the bulk of the dues.

The UN does not condone many things its member countries do- how many times has the UN condemned the US, Israel, Liberia or even France for example? However, what can it do- the UN was never meant to be a exclusive club for countries with a spot free record- if it was, it would be dominated solely by the northern countries and Canada. ;)

As for the track record of losing money- how much of the 3 billions allocated in Iraq aid was stolen? Administrative costs- it is still cheaper than going there yourself.

Answer 1

Sierra Leone; Rwanda; Sebrenica; Myanmar; and now Darfur.

Terrorism, despotism, tyranny, and criminal oppression are recognized and thus granted legitimacy by the UN.

Just a few reasons why the UN is not only ineffective, but complicit in the deaths of millions of people worldwide.

Answer 2

"Otherwise, it's trackrecord in the field is better than for example the US military."

Based on what evidence? The UN has been a dismal failure in most peacekeeping missions that it has engaged in.

"I think the reason is, that quite simply Americans don't want hundreds of foreigners gather up in New York, who aren't American, never want to be American, and speak up against America, whenever they want to. "

This is just rich. You can't imagine why anyone would be critical of the UN (calling it a "smear campaign") and therefore you assume it must be due to bigotry?

Here's a better task for you. Instead of whining about the alleged "smear campaign" try reading some of the critisms of the UN. I assure you they are not all because of its "beaurocracy". Ah, you disagree? Then try formulating a real counter argument instead of accusing people of xenophobia.

Here is what I think is the basic flaw of the UN. In its goal to be "democratic" it has actually become "anti democratic". What I mean by that is that a democratic goal is to give everyone an equal say. This is what the UN tries to do by giving every nation (and some non nations, e.g. teh Palestinian Authority) a say. This, however, leads to "anti democracy" since it gives nations who don't give a **** about democracy, human rights, or Western values an equal say which they invariably use to their own interests. Thus, you have several anti democratic nations "ganging" up together to push through their own agenda, even though there are far more pressing matters.
You also have insane situations where a country that is an abuser of human rights gets to lead the council for human rights and is put in the inenviable position of having to critisize itself!
No amount of "beaurocracy reform" will change that.

Answer 3

I'm always a bit surprised when some people are either ignorant of the fact, or deliberately choose to ignore the fact, that a lot of members of the United Nations who are repressing the common people in their own countries, constantly condemn the US for trying to set things right, and you must be one of their drones.

Let's take Venezuela for example. We all saw that two-bit vaudeville show that Hugo Chavez put on about President Bush being the devil and smelling sulphur. Given his performance over the past few days, he must have been smelling his own fetid breath. Now we see that he's up for re-election and he's doing all the standard despot moves; he's threating to revoke the broadcast license for any TV or radio station that supports his opponants, he's demanding that the government remove the two term limit of the Presidency so he can run again, and he's announced that he intends to be president until 2021.

That's pretty typical of what you see from these despots, yet the UN Membership will stand up an applaud when he speaks. How do you justify that in what's left of your mind? The UN is a sick, sad joke and is serving no purpose except to be a soapbox for every tin-pot dictator in the world. If the delegates were forced to pay their stinking parking tickets, New York City would be able to cut their taxes in half. I know of at least two delegates who have "winter homes" here in South Florida and I've seen how they behave. I say we ship the UN off to France. We don't need them in Manhattan.

Answer 4

No, I think it has something to do with the operation and orientation of the U.N.

Perhaps it has something to do with the many examples of scandal that one could point to. Or maybe with the fact that the U.S. has historically paid approximately 25% of the budget, and is currently paying a little more than 20%, and yet the organization has a distinctly Anti-American bent.

You siad the U.N. operations have proven more efficient then the current U.S. Military operations... what a joke!!!! How long did the U.N. screw around with Iraq? Resolution after resolution? Inspectors that, when allowed to enter the country, were told what they could inspect and where?

I don't advocation withdrawal from the U.N. However, I am not about to surrender U.S. sovereignty, which seems to be a U.N. goal. I would strongly call for a reduction in funding, down to no more than 10%.

Finally, my views have nothing to do with foreigners in New York. However, people tend to assume that everyone shares their faults, flaws and view points. So, perhaps you are the xenophobic one?

Answer 5

Xenophobia has nothing to do with the hatred of the do nothing UN. The truth no one wants to admit is that they are a collection of the most corrupt politicians in the world! UNICEF, oil for food, any number of well intentioned programs are summarily gutted of the donations with "administration costs"! The "resolutions" that do pass are ignored by all parties involved as there is no enforcement. The UN has proved itself as impotent and ineffective as it's predecessor, the "League of Nations", another pie in the sky failure. We should get out of the UN, tell them to move to some other country and don't tell us where!

Answer 6

you think we hate the UN because we dont want hundreds on non-Americans in the New York at the UN building? did you forget the thousands already living in NY and the millions of immigrants nationwide?
use your brain, man.

the UN is against America on almost any world issue. not surprisingly the largest voting block in the UN is muslim. the UN does nothing good for the US, but the US is paying alot of money for it, for no benefit of its own.
this is why i hate the UN.

Answer 7

actually, the reason the don't like the UN is because they believe that it is the platform through which the antichrist will rise.
also it is mighty inconvenient if there is a body of politics that stops you from doing what you want to do.... so funnily enough they are right should bush turn out to be the devil/antichrist... because it is his disregard for the UN that is giving him power in his own country, hence the UN serves as a platform of power... if that makes any sense.

Answer 8

The US like any government thinks the UN is a great body when it supports our aims. If it doesn't it should be eliminated. The UN is a union of all nations all be it a loose union. I am surprised they can get anything done and they are not more plagued by corruption.

Answer 9

Aaaaaaaargh! Can someone set this guy straight? Its just too early for me to write an essay.

Answer 10

America is ignorant and hateful of the rest of the world because America thinks that America is the world.