The resolution passed, and it was a good day for alliance-nurturing and burden-sharing - for the burden of doing nothing was shared equally by all. And we are by now used to the pattern. Every time there is an ongoing atrocity, we watch the world community go through the same series of stages: (1) shock and concern (2) gathering resolve (3) fruitless negotiation (4) pathetic inaction (5) shame and humiliation (6) steadfast vows to never let this happen again.
The "never again" always comes. But still, we have all agreed, this sad cycle is better than having some impromptu coalition of nations actually go in "unilaterally" and do something. That would lack legitimacy! Strain alliances! Menace international law! Threaten the multilateral ideal!
It's a pity about the poor dead people in Darfur. Their numbers are still rising, at 6,000 to 10,000 a month.
A bit of Monty Python's The Life of Brian sprang immediately into my mind when I read this NYT op-ed. (Thanks, Nomad Tavern)
Reg: Right! Now, item four: Attainment of world supremacy within the next five years. Ah, Francis, you've been doing some work on this?
Rogers: Yeah, thank you, Reg. Well, quite frankly, siblings, I think five years is optimistic, unless we can smash the Roman Empire within the next twelve months!
Reg: Twelve months?
Rogers: Yeah, twelve months. And let's face it, as empires go, this is the big one. So we gotta get up of our arses and stop just talking about it!
All in PFJ: Yeah! Yeah! Hear!
Loretta: I agree! It's action that counts, not words, and we need action now!
All in PFJ: Yeah! Yeah!
Reg: You're right. We could sit around here all day, talking, passing resolutions, making clever speeches, it's not to ship one Roman soldier!
Francis: So let's just stop gabbing on about it! It's completely pointless, and it's getting us nowhere!
All: Right!
Loretta: I agree! This is a complete waste of time!
Door: [Sound of Opening]
Judith: They've arrested Brian!
All: What? What?
Judith: They dragged him off! They're gonna crucify him!
Reg: Right! This calls for immediate discussion!
Judith: What?
Sibling: Immediate!
Sibling II: Right!
Loretta: New motion?
Reg: Completely new motion! Uh, that, uh, that there be, uh, immediate action…
Francis: …uh, once the vote has been taken.
Reg: Well, obviously once the vote has been taken resolution the oh —— resolution!
Judith: Reg, let's go now, please!
Reg: Right, right!In the - in the light of fresh information from sibling Judith…
Loretta: Ehm…not so fast, Reg.
Judith: Reg, for God's sake! It's perfectly simple! All you've gotta do is to go out of that door now and try to stop the Romans nailing him up! It's happening, Reg! Something's actually happening, Reg! Can't you understand? Oooh!
Door: [Sound of Closing]
Reg: Yeah, hello. Another little ego trip from the feminists…
Rogers: Hrm.
Loretta: What?
Francis: [Whistle]
Reg: Oh, sorry, Loretta. Uh, read that back, would, you?
Funky Dung
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