An Important Contest

Reflecting the Sway of Anti-UN Voices, 
Governor Fallin Decides Not to Issue an 
Official Proclamation of United Nations Day

Oklahoma is not a "battleground" state when it comes to Presidential politics. We know who is going to win our electoral votes, and it won't be the Kenyan Socialist.

(Kenyan Socialist. That's a joke. We have the highest regard for President Obama, and we honor his birthright of American citizenship)

But, even though our presidential politics are very predictable, there is a political question in our state that is hotly contested and which is fundamental to our future.

The question is how our state government will facilitate Oklahoma's development as an integral part of the global economy. Will our governor and legislature promote Oklahoma as a place where international commerce and investment is welcomed, where the rich cultural diversity of our people is honored, and where international law and global institutions are respected?

Or, will they hew to an insular path -- where narrow, parochial interests are embraced and global engagement is scorned?

This is an important, consequential issue for our state.

The shape of this contest can be seen in various expressions of public opinion -- especially in the way our state government has formulated its official attitude toward the United Nations.

The recent history of our state in this regard is mixed.

In 2009, our Legislature marked the UN as a target of official discredit. The State Senate concurred with a House resolution opposing U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The resolution relied on fear tactics to suggest (falsely) that the United Nations would take over the State of Oklahoma's budgetary process. The resolution had no substantive effect on the public policy of our state.  But, it served notice of a new, combative stance toward the United Nations.

The demonization of the United Nations continued in the 2012 legislative session when another resolution was introduced in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. This one called for the United States to withdraw completely from the United Nations. The resolution got a "do pass" recommendation from a House committee before it ultimately fell by the wayside.

(Read about our efforts to oppose this bill ... www.una-okc.org/anti-UN_voices.html)

In some other respects, Oklahoma has a proud history of supporting global engagement in general and the United Nations in particular.

For example, Governor Henry routinely signed a UN Day Proclamation, and he made honorary appointments of prominent Oklahomans to "chair" our state's observance of United Nations Day.

(See Gov. Henry's 2006 proclamation ... HERE).

Last year, Gov. Fallin continued the tradition of issuing a UN Day Proclamation. Her 2011 statement about UN Day recalled the legacy of Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, our nation's first female ambassador to the United Nations (and a native of our great state).

This year, however, we have been notified by the Governor's office that a 2012 UN Day Proclamation will not be forthcoming. Evidently, Gov. Fallin received some pushback from the Anti-UN Crowd -- the small group of people in our state who have an irrational fear of the United Nations as an enemy of America.

Never mind that the Governor signed a proclamation last year. Never mind that 12 American Presidents, Democrats and Republicans alike, have reaffirmed our country's support of the United Nations. This year, Gov. Fallin is listening to the small minority of Oklahomans who prefer to run away from the big, bad United Nations.

We haven't had a chance to visit with Gov. Fallin about her decision. So, I don't want to comment on her thinking or her motives. All we know is that last year she was willing to express official support for the celebration of United Nations Day. This year, she is not.

It is more evidence of the contest in which we are engaged here in the Sooner State.

The United Nations Association of the USA is a national membership organization that is dedicated to informing, inspiring, and mobilizing the American people to support the ideals and vital work of the United Nations. Please join our efforts.

Become a member today.

www.unausa.org/membership

Free Lunch Offer

Are you a high school or college student who is interested in attending the UN Day Luncheon sponsored by tee United Nations Association of Oklahoma City? Don't have enough money for a ticket? Well, have we got an offer for you! Thanks for the generous support of a UN Association member, we have a limited number of FREE TICKETS available for students. You can claim your ticket by registered in advance. You can register online at our website ...

www.una-okc.org

... and you'll be welcome to join us on Saturday, October 20th. Look for the Free Ticket offer, and you can sign up to enjoy an informative program and a pleasant meal. We hope to see you there!

A Brilliant Festival

The Pinwheels for Peace festival wrapped up about 8 o'clock last Friday night, and I am happy to report that it was a great success.

More than 500 people filtered through the University Center at Oklahoma City University. (We know this because our friends at the Shinnyo-En Foundation donated 500 t-shirts to give away at the festival, and the t-shirts were completely dispersed by the end of the program. If you see anyone wearing a t-shirt with a colorful message on the front about "6 Billion Paths to Peace," you can bet the wearer was a probably a visitor to our Pinwheels event).

Students from area schools participated in various ways. For example, some students enjoyed a class on Japanese culture sponsored by the Japanese American Society of Oklahoma. Origami and Anime were featured. Haiku, as well. Other students walked through a peace labyrinth. They also helped to plant a garden of pinwheels on OCU's main lawn.

Throughout the day, I observed random people stopping to make their own pinwheels as a "DIY" activity. I recall seeing a modestly-dressed woman with a head covering who made a pinwheel and planted it with the others. Little children hopped around the display. Sometimes they blew gently on the blades of the pinwheels, coaxing them to spin. Countless photographs were taken by people passing by. (You'll see some of these photos appearing on our Facebook page soon).

By 5pm, more than a dozen co-sponsoring groups had set out an array of literature and give-away items about their purposes and activities. Our local chapter of the UN Association had a display table, of course. Also the Wesley Center at OCU, the Interfaith Alliance, the Respect Diversity Foundation, the people of the Baha'i Faith, and many more. One of our exhibitors brought a pair of beautiful raptors -- an eagle and a white hawk from the SIA Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative. They were a special attraction.

At 6pm, the performances began in the Great Hall. April Nelson ("Miss OCU") and Michael Allen were the emcees. An estimated audience of 200 applauded the talent of singers and dancers from various traditions. Steve McLinn was our most capable producer / composer / performer. A pre-program drum circle warmed up the crowd.

We couldn't make this event happen on our own, of course. It truly was a collaboration by many like-minded organizations. Lots of volunteers gave their personal time to make it a success.  I won't try to list the names of everyone who helped.

I'm also very happy to report that our friends at OCU seemed to be pleased with the celebration. It is a popular event with many students and faculty members. We are very fortunate that OCU is willing to host the program, and I think we will be invited back next year with even greater involvement from all of the 'Stars' at OCU.

Our Pinwheels festival is always offered on September 21st, the International Day of Peace.

Coincidentally, it occurs each year at the same time that the General Assembly of the United Nations is re-convening for a new session.

You have probably been hearing the news reports about heads of states -- presidents, prime ministers, and so on -- who have brought their annual messages to the UN's General Assembly.

I think it is quite fitting that as the delegates of nearly 200 nations are convening in New York City, millions of people around the world are silently breathing their hopes for peace into the air.

Bill Bryant
President, OKC Chapter
United Nations Association of the USA

Pinwheels for Peace - September 21st

6^th International Day of Peace Pinwheels for Peace Festival 

Oklahoma City University 

Friday, September 21, 2012

The Festival kicks off at 5:15pm with a Drum Circle

Students and other community members throughout the greater Oklahoma City area will participate in the 6th Annual International Day of Peace Pinwheels for Peace Festival being held this year at McDaniel University Center at Oklahoma City University. 

As in previous years, we'll enjoy live music, multicultural performances, activity booths, pinwheels, and fun. Around the OKC metro area students are creating pinwheels representing peace and harmony as part of the Pinwheels for Peace Project. This project was the idea of 2 Florida art teachers in 2005. 

This project has become an international celebration and a way for art students to show their contribution to the United Nations’ International Day of Peace.  Some of these works of art will be on display in Oklahoma’s Largest Pinwheel Garden during the festival on September 21.

Performances at the Celebration: 

Kicking off the event will be a drum circle beginning at 5:15 pm outside of the Great Hall. You are invited to bring a drum and join the fun!  

Meet the live Eagles from SIA: Comanche Nation Ornithological Initiative.  

Inside hear the beautiful tunes of the Oklahoma University Student Doctorial Woodwind Quintet playing indoors. 

Beginning at 6:00 performing groups will include Clips & Hips Dance Studio, Junior Miss Asia - Angela Zhu, Linwood Elementary School Choir, Mayan School of Dance, Dove Science Academy Folkloric Dancers, Marie Leslie- Japanese dance, Celtic Cadence Irish dancers, Seeworth academy - Major I.M.P.A.C.T.S Choir

Display and Activity Tables will provide information from our sponsor groups promoting peace within ourselves, among groups and with our environment.  Displays will provide families with information about cultivating peace within and without. You will also be able to create your own pinwheel for peace.

In today’s world, peace needs to become more than just a word.

Today’s students are bombarded with television images, video games, and magazine articles/ newspapers that give importance to conflict and war. It is our hope that through the Pinwheels for Peace Festival, we can help the students make a public visual statement about their feelings about war /peace /tolerance /cooperation /harmony /unity and, in some way, awaken the public and let them know what the next generation is thinking. 

For more information about this event, visit www.pinwheelsforpeaceokc.org or like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/PinwheelsOKC. 

To learn about Pinwheels for Peace projects throughout the world, visit www.pinwheelsforpeace.com

Our Support for Human Rights

Senator Tom Coburn has written to us saying we can't count on his support for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We're disappointed, of course. But, we understand that Dr. Coburn has a more limited perspective on human rights than we do. He is not alone in that regard.

In contrast, the UN Association has been a long-time supporter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the most comprehensive and most recognized statement of human rights in our world today. Each year, along with people around the globe, we are proud to co-sponsor various human rights-themed events -- like our annual observance of Human Rights Day (December 10th).

Our support for the Universal Declaration is informed by the Ninth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which recognizes that people possess unenumerated rights not specifically mentioned in the original document:  "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

It also grows out of our appreciation for the long struggles of women, racial minority groups, immigrants, workers, and others who have had to assert their right to be given equal consideration in society.

Dr. Coburn denies that people have fundamental rights such as the right to an adequate standard of living (a point he made in his letter to us). To Coburn and others with his philosophy, people should not expect to enjoy the right to an education or to earn a living through their labor -- liberties that Coburn calls "positive rights" -- because these rights are, in his words, "...incompatible with the Constitution’s definition of rights."

Well, obviously, that is a point of disagreement with our good senator.

Dr. Coburn's view is contradicted by the assessment of every American president since Harry Truman (who issued the first Presidential Proclamation for Human Rights Day on December 10, 1949).

In his Proclamation, President Truman stated that "the attainment of basic rights for men and women everywhere is essential to the peace we are seeking."

Truman's words were echoed most eloquently by Ronald Reagan in his Human Rights Day proclamation of 1985:

"We pray that one day all nations of the earth may share with us the joys and rewards of living in free societies, and we resolve not to rest from our labors until the most noble longings of the human spirit, those for freedom of belief and expression, are fully realized."

Last year, President Obama added his voice:

"In the 63 years since the global community came together in support of human dignity and adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, our futures have grown increasingly interconnected.  We have a stake not only in the stability of nations, but also in the welfare of individuals.  On this anniversary, we recognize human rights as universal, and we stand with all those who reach for the dream of a free, just, and equal world."

Although Senator Coburn's limited view of rights may be out of step with modern American presidents, it does seem to be a sincere expression of his political philosophy. For example, it is consistent with an opinion he expressed at a Town Hall meeting in Tulsa earlier this month when he questioned whether Medicare and Social Security are legitimate functions of the federal government.

"If you look in the Constitution," Coburn asked the Town Hall attendees, "where is it the federal government’s role to do that? That’s number one. Number two is the way I was brought up that’s a family responsibility, not a government responsibility."

We respect Senator Coburn's right to hold his beliefs, even though we politely disagree with him.

We believe Americans in the 21st century deserve much better. We support the full scope of human rights as described in the Universal Declaration.  And, we will never retreat from our goals of peace, basic rights for men and women, and the full realization of "the most noble longings of the human spirit." 

We hope you will join us!

"The advance of freedom is the story of our time, and new chapters are being written before our eyes." 
--President George W. Bush
Human Rights Day, 2006

More Coburn Town Hall Meetings This Week

Senator Tom Coburn has announced four more Town Hall meetings with constituents. Each of them will take place on Monday, August 13th:


Sapulpa Town Hall
9:00am-10:00am
Collins Building (2nd Floor)
317 E Lee
Sapulpa, OK 74066

Stillwater Town Hall
12:00pm-1:00pm
Wes Watkins Center
207 Wes Watkins Center
Hall of Fame and Washington
Stillwater, OK 74078

Perry Town Hall
2:00pm-3:00pm
Exchange Bank (Horizon Room)
523 Delaware Street
Perry, OK 73077

Ponca City Town Hall
4:00pm-5:00pm
City Hall, Commission Chamber
516 E Grand Ave
Ponca City, 74601


If you're able to attend any of these meetings, please ask Dr. Coburn to support the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Thanks!

Bill Bryant, President
Oklahoma City Chapter
United Nations Association of the USA
405-760-5322

Will Senator Coburn Support Liberty?

Discussions Continue on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Have You Called Senator Coburn's Office Yet?  202-224-5754

The U.S. Senate went into recess until after Labor Day without taking any action on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

During August, discussion about ratification of the treaty will continue -- but it will take place in our own communities in Oklahoma rather than in the halls of Congress.  We expect the treaty to be a topic at some of the Town Hall meetings that Senator Coburn will host this week.  You can see his Town Hall meeting schedule here ... He is planning for meetings with constituents in Tulsa, Vinita, Grove, Claremore, Poteau, and McAlester.

So far, we haven't found any statements from Senator Coburn promising that he will vote for ratification. But, we think he will be supportive.  Here's why.

First, Coburn is a champion of individual freedom.  We know this because he has written about his commitment to protecting liberty.  This is from his website:

"Liberty and freedom for the individual... are what make the United States and our Constitution unique in the history of man. America, like no other nation before, is founded on the principle that the individual has basic rights that are granted by our Creator that no government may take away or compromise."

Also, Senator Coburn issued a report last month that praised the work of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services for its efforts to help people with disabilities gain employment.  So, we know he is a supporter of equality in the workplace -- one of the major goals of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Second, Senator Coburn has a well-known reputation as a budget hawk.  We think he will be pleased by another feature of the CRPD: "The treaty comes at no cost to the United States."  

Those are the words of former Senator Bob Dole, writing in the Salt Lake City Deseret News. You can read the full text of Senator Dole's commentary here.

Mr. Dole, who has lived with a disability since World War Two, has thought deeply about the benefits of the CRPD.  He points out that the treaty not only helps to protect the rights of people with disabilities.  It will also expand the market for accessibility devices:

"In fact, it will create a new global market for accessibility goods. An active U.S. presence in implementation of global disability rights will promote the market for devices such as wheelchairs, smart phones and other new technologies engineered, made and sold by U.S. corporations."

This is an angle that might appeal to Dr. Coburn, who was the manufacturing manager at the Ophthalmic Division of Coburn Optical Industries during the 1970's. We think he knows a thing or two about the value of assistive technology.

If you get a chance to attend one of Dr. Coburn's Town Hall meetings this month, please ask him to support the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  And, please report to us on the Senator's answer.

Thanks!

Bill Bryant
President, OKC Chapter
United Nations Association of the USA
405-760-5322