Message from Yuhanna Edwards, President (continued)
The United Nations was founded upon the mission of keeping global peace. Nearly three quarters of a century later, the UN and all its organs and agencies remain resolute toward that charge. This past October, on UN Day, our UNA Westchester Chapter hosted an amazing virtual event, which included a former Special Envoy for Peace, Ambassador Francis Okelo. The Ambassador could have easily focused his remarks on the many instances where pursuit of peaceful resolutions to conflict failed, but he didn’t. Instead, the Ambassador provided a message of hope…a message of moving toward unity…a message of, yes, peace. And this in the midst of all of the challenges listed at the beginning of my remarks above.
These are all challenges we face together, as one human family.
They know no arbitrary borders, they care not about political party, and they ignore our race, color, creed, or whom and how we choose to love. These are common challenges, and we must seek common solutions.
Solutions that favor peace, not war. Unity, not division. Equity for all, not privilege for some. Solutions that favor love, not hate.
We can do it. We can find those solutions. We can—together--help create the world we want, and the future we want for our progeny. But only if, like Ghandi, we draw upon the strength of our indomitable will to do what is right—not just for ourselves, or our own families, but for everyone.
I close with my sincerest thanks to each and every one of you for your support throughout this year, and indeed for your indomitable will as you have tackled the most daunting challenges of our lifetime. A couple of weeks ago, many people celebrated the Diwali holidays, the light of the Diwali lamps representing the triumph of good over evil. As we put 2020 behind us, let’s use that light as the hope for a new beginning…a beginning that we together build as humanity.
Blessings,
J. Yuhanna Edwards
President
UNA Westchester
The United Nations was founded upon the mission of keeping global peace. Nearly three quarters of a century later, the UN and all its organs and agencies remain resolute toward that charge. This past October, on UN Day, our UNA Westchester Chapter hosted an amazing virtual event, which included a former Special Envoy for Peace, Ambassador Francis Okelo. The Ambassador could have easily focused his remarks on the many instances where pursuit of peaceful resolutions to conflict failed, but he didn’t. Instead, the Ambassador provided a message of hope…a message of moving toward unity…a message of, yes, peace. And this in the midst of all of the challenges listed at the beginning of my remarks above.
These are all challenges we face together, as one human family.
They know no arbitrary borders, they care not about political party, and they ignore our race, color, creed, or whom and how we choose to love. These are common challenges, and we must seek common solutions.
Solutions that favor peace, not war. Unity, not division. Equity for all, not privilege for some. Solutions that favor love, not hate.
We can do it. We can find those solutions. We can—together--help create the world we want, and the future we want for our progeny. But only if, like Ghandi, we draw upon the strength of our indomitable will to do what is right—not just for ourselves, or our own families, but for everyone.
I close with my sincerest thanks to each and every one of you for your support throughout this year, and indeed for your indomitable will as you have tackled the most daunting challenges of our lifetime. A couple of weeks ago, many people celebrated the Diwali holidays, the light of the Diwali lamps representing the triumph of good over evil. As we put 2020 behind us, let’s use that light as the hope for a new beginning…a beginning that we together build as humanity.
Blessings,
J. Yuhanna Edwards
President
UNA Westchester