(I rarely editorialize, so be forewarned. Another, more encouraging post is on its way soon…)
“What is truth?”, Pontius Pilate once quipped at the words of Jesus, just before he sentenced Him to death. If you ask the same question to UNESCO, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the reply would be something like, “The truth is whatever we decide, excuse the facts.”
Though somewhat softened in its wording, UNESCO’s World Heritage 21-member committee voted today to ratify a document declaring that the factual, historical, cultural, scientifically verified center and capital of ancient Israel, Judaism and Christianity never existed as such—never mind the vast and irrefutable scientific, historical, literary and cultural evidence to the contrary. In fact, if the wording of the declaration hadn’t been altered due to Israel’s last-minute diplomatic maneuvers, even the Western Wall—the holiest site in all Judaism—would have been declared a Moslem site that had been occupied by Israeli “aggressors”. Even so, the walled city of Jerusalem and the historical Temple Mount was claimed by UNESCO for Palestine and Jordan through the manipulation of a committee of nations who are no more concerned about Education, Science and Culture than a cat. “What is truth?” was the question posed right before the brutal execution of a rather significant Jew in Jerusalem a couple thousand years ago. Irony of ironies. Israeli diplomat Carmel Shama-Hachone, in his own assessment of the matter, said the whole thing belongs “in the garbage bin of history.”
On a personal note, I must express my gratitude to you, UNESCO, and your parent organization, the United Nations, for openly clarifying the quality and integrity of your Educational, Scientific and Cultural understanding of truth and facts. Now—what was it you saying about global warming…?
Jay McCarl 