Donald M. Payne: “few institutions have enabled the expression of the noblest ideas of humankind as has the United Nations. Listen to the…”

“few institutions have enabled the expression of the noblest ideas of humankind as has the United Nations. Listen to the words that begin the Charter of the United Nations written 50 years at the end of World War II: 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 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. . . . Listening to those words and seated at the conference to establish the United Nations in San Francisco in April 1945 were Mary McLeod Bethune of the National Council of Negro Women, Mordecai W. Johnson of Howard University, W.E.B. DuBois and Walter White of the NAACP. These are not just words. After speaking with the brave and noble men that serve under U.N. command, I can conclude that they are proud to be a part of a military that brings together all countries that have common interest.”