‘Vision of One World’

Why did the peoples of the world found the League of Nations and the United Nations following the insanity of two world wars? Why the Helsinki Human Rights Accord? Why have human rights (freedom of speech being one of them) become a decisive element of U.S. foreign policy? All the above institutions and policies express the acknowledgement that all of us share basic rights. They also represent the universal hope of securing those rights for those who have been denied them. These institutions and policies are ultimately ineffectual however, because “to secure these rights governments are instituted among men. . . .”

Hardin’s article is a plea for world government, not an argument against. There shall never be global respect for human rights until they are placed under the protection of global law--enforceable law.

Those of us whose memory includes 1945 may now hustle the cynics from the halls of reason. They mocked us when we said it was time for Europe to put aside the accumulated rancor, prejudice, and enmity of ages. They said it couldn’t be done!

Has Mr. Hardin forgotten recent U.S. history? Certain states were found to be denying the rights of a portion of their citizenry. Because these states belonged to a federation in whose central government reposed the duty to protect the human rights of all, these certain states were called to account before the laws of the federation and the court of public opinion. The rights of the blacks were protected, Mr. Hardin, because their home state belonged to a supra-government.

We need have no fear of democratic world government. It is rogue nationalism we must fear.

VAL BETTIN

Hermosa Beach