United Nations Day, 24th October

 Each year I try to write something  on what in my view should be one of the most important anniversaries: the founding of the United Nations.  Sadly  it now passes almost without notice.  

Rather than a group akin to "Raise the Flag" draping our lampposts with Union Jacks and St George's Crosses, and leaving them there to become tatty, it would be nice if our town halls and other civic buildings  flew  the UN's blue and white standard each year for a few days.  This  would be a useful reminder of the hopes o the survivors  of the tragic wars of the last century had for the future.  

We desperately need to revive some of that optimism if human life on our planet is to have any future at all.  Shamefully, there is no sign of any present day statesmen or stateswomen willing to "lift up their eyes to the hills" and give a lead. 

 

 Post Script (added Monday 26th October. I published the above post first thing on the moring of  24th October, before the paper was delivered.  Later in the weekend I attempted the  Sy crossword in the weekend magazine  section of the Guardian and was delighted to find not one bu two clues recognising the important anniversary.    

"United Nations Day" was the answer to 4/12/13 (down)  and Trigve Lie to 2 down15 across (the first secretary general.) It is significant that, although I was barely  adolescent  when he was in office (1946 -52) I knew the answer to that.  To my shame I will find it hard to name the present secretary general without first consulting Google ) 

For good measure  the crossword setter threw in The Hague as the answer to 17 across,( Dutch City, home to the International Criminal Court,) showing that  international  optimism was still alive in this century - it was founded in 2002.

So thank you, Guardian and Sy for a token attempt to keep hope alive. 

 I should be pleased to hear of any other sighting via the comments below