Musings on the United States

The United States of America stands now at a fork in the road of international diplomacy. There are two paths that stretch out before the United States and its people. One, is the path that leads ultimately to the United States remaining a relevant force on the international stage and retaining its leadership role within the community of nations. The second path leads down the road that will lead in the final analysis to irrelevance and result in the United States becoming a lesser power that longs for the glory, power, prestige, and honor of days forgotten in the mists of time.

Individuals may ask themselves what can be done to prevent the United States from sinking into total irrelevance. The answer my friends is very simple the United States must take the lead on issues where they have long been seen as neutral or acting contrary to the will of the international community.


There are at least four examples of actions that the United States Congress can readily and easily take without violating the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America

1. Ratify the Convention on the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities of 2006, and its Protocol A/RES/61/106 because, nothing within the text of the Convention in violates the Constitution or the laws of the United States. I would argue that words of the Declaration of Independence and those word inscribed on the Statute of Liberty demand that we the United States take a proactive stand to defend the rights of those who cannot defend themselves.


2. Ratify the 1971 Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, G.A. res. 2856 (XXVI), 26 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 29) at 93, U.N. Doc. A/8429 (1971), and the Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illnesses and the Improvement of Mental Health Care, G.A. res. 46/119, 46 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 189, U.N. Doc. A/46/49 (1991) because, the protection of all individuals is enshrined within the Declaration of Independence

3. Ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, G.A. res. 34/180, 34 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 46) at 193, U.N. Doc. A/34/46, entered into force Sept. 3, 1981, and its Optional Protocol Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, G.A. res. 54/4, annex, 54 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 5, U.N. Doc. A/54/49 (Vol. I) (2000), entered into force Dec. 22, 2000 and the
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women G.A. res. 48/104, 48 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 217, U.N. Doc. A/48/49 (1993). because, the principles contained therein are in accord with the First, Fourteenth, and Nineteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

4. Ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, G.A. res. 44/25, annex, 44 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 167, U.N. Doc. A/44/49 (1989), entered into force Sept. 2 1990 because the Declaration of Independence is the heart of the Republic and it proclaims the right of all mankind to life liberty and the pursuit of happines and to rob children of the ability to pursue these goals in in my mind akin to crime against humanityand conscience.