Hello
everyone –
In
my continuing series of weekly “October Tales,” we celebrate the 73rd
birthday of the United Nations next Wednesday, October 24th. On that
date in 1945, the U.N. Charter was signed by the founding members in San
Francisco. The ideals enshrined in the U.N. Charter, however, were far from
new. The framers of the charter took inspiration from many sources, including
the United States Constitution (drafted in 1787) and the Law of Great Peace
(the constitution of the Iroquois League of Native American nations, which was
adopted in 1142). Democracy, the rule of law, and peacemaking are universal
values that have sprung forth in many times and climes around the globe – not
only in ancient Greece and Rome, but also in protohistoric North America. Here,
then, are the preambles to these three founding documents, which form a golden
chain of freedom, linking the past to the present and the future of the human
race.
Opening
Articles of the Iroquois Constitution (1142)
Spoken
by the Prophet Deganawidah and His Chief Disciples, Hiawatha (Chief Orator) and
Jikonhsaseh (Mother of Nations)
1.
I am Dekanawidah and with the Five Nations' Confederate Lords I plant the Tree
of Great Peace. I plant it in your territory, Adodarhoh, and the Onondaga
Nation, in the territory of you who are Firekeepers. I name the tree the Tree
of the Great Long Leaves. Under the shade of this Tree of the Great Peace we
spread the soft white feathery down of the globe thistle as seats for you,
Adodarhoh, and your cousin Lords. We place you upon those seats, spread soft
with the feathery down of the globe thistle, there beneath the shade of the
spreading branches of the Tree of Peace. There shall you sit and watch the
Council Fire of the Confederacy of the Five Nations, and all the affairs of the
Five Nations shall be transacted at this place before you, Adodarhoh, and your
cousin Lords, by the Confederate Lords of the Five Nations.
2.
Roots have spread out from the Tree of the Great Peace, one to the north, one
to the east, one to the south and one to the west. The name of these roots is
The Great White Roots and their nature is Peace and Strength. If any man or any
nation outside the Five Nations shall obey the laws of the Great Peace and make
known their disposition to the Lords of the Confederacy, they may trace the
Roots to the Tree and if their minds are clean and they are obedient and
promise to obey the wishes of the Confederate Council, they shall be welcomed
to take shelter beneath the Tree of the Long Leaves. We place at the top of the
Tree of the Long Leaves an Eagle who is able to see afar. If he sees in the
distance any evil approaching or any danger threatening he will at once warn
the people of the Confederacy.
3.
To you Adodarhoh, the Onondaga cousin Lords, I and the other Confederate Lords
have entrusted the care taking and the watching of the Five Nations Council
Fire. When there is any business to be transacted and the Confederate Council
is not in session, a messenger shall be dispatched either to Adodarhoh,
Hononwirehtonh or Skanawatih, Fire Keepers, or to their War Chiefs with a full
statement of the case desired to be considered. Then shall Adodarhoh call his
cousin (associate) Lords together and consider whether or not the case is of
sufficient importance to demand the attention of the Confederate Council. If
so, Adodarhoh shall dispatch messengers to summon all the Confederate Lords to
assemble beneath the Tree of the Long Leaves. When the Lords are assembled the
Council Fire shall be kindled, but not with chestnut wood1, and Adodarhoh shall
formally open the Council. Then shall Adodarhoh and his cousin Lords, the Fire
Keepers, announce the subject for discussion. The Smoke of the Confederate
Council Fire shall ever ascend and pierce the sky so that other nations who may
be allies may see the Council Fire of the Great Peace. Adodarhoh and his cousin
Lords are entrusted with the Keeping of the Council Fire.
Preamble
to the United States Constitution
Adopted
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1787)
We
the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United
States of America.
Preamble
to the United Nations Charter
Adopted
in San Francisco, California (1945)
WE
THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED
- to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
- to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
- to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
- to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
AND
FOR THESE ENDS
- to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and
- to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
- to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
- to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,
HAVE
RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS
Accordingly,
our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of
San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due
form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby
establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.
Next
week, watch for yet another installment in my “October Tales” series…
Until
then –
Rob
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