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word of the day

word of the day

11 arrested at U.N.:

Eleven activists with local anti-war group No Blood for Oil were arrested outside of the United Nations today while trying to hand deliver a letter to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Signed by 1,300 people from around the world, the letter calls upon Annan to uphold the principles of peace upon which the UN was founded. Originally sent last month, no reply or acknowledgment to the letter was ever received.

May I offer a word to the 1,300 people who signed the letter?


ir·rel·e·vant
adj.
Unrelated to the matter being considered.
Synonyms: extraneous, immaterial, impertinent

This applies to both the letter and the U.N.

You may move on now.

Comments

Calling the UN irrelevant isn't exactly helping it become relevant.
Also, 1,300 people whose opinions differ from yours are irrelevant?
I personally think all opinions are relevant, whether I agree with them or not.
S'why America is the best coutnry in the world.
Refuse to remove your link, no matter what you say! Even..EVEN if someday your own opinions become "irrelevant"!

Sylvain, what I am saying is it doesn't matter anymore. The decision has already been made and the voice of 1,300 people is not going to make one iota of a difference. Thus, the petition is rendered irrelevant.

You know damn well if you remove my link I'll come over there and umm...do something to you! I'll steal you socks of the day!

I'd love to ask a member of "No Blood For Oil" if there's anyting they'd be willing to fight for. How about freedom and liberty? This has never been a fight about oil. Rather, it's a fight about our survival. Islamofacists hate America because of our freedom. Besides, if all the oil disappeared tomorrow, good ol' American capitalism would lead the world in new energy technologies in no time.

I'd love to ask a member of "No Blood For Oil" if there's anyting they'd be willing to fight for. How about freedom and liberty? This has never been a fight about oil. Rather, it's a fight about our survival. Islamofacists hate America because of our freedom. Besides, if all the oil disappeared tomorrow, good ol' American capitalism would lead the world in new energy technologies in no time.

Sylvain, NOT calling the UN irrelevant doesn't make it relevant, either.

Given variable definitions of "relevant", of course.

Now, I'll agree that everyone is entitled to an opinion, and should have an /informed/ opinion whenever possible.

That said, just because a bunch of Trekkies managed to delay the cancellation of Star Trek a couple of seasons via a petition back in the 60's doesn't mean that every piece of paper with a lot of signatures on it is relevant.

No hard feelings. Not a personal attack, just a persnoal opinion. ;)

Oh, and Michele, I have to tell you, I read this post 10 minutes ago, and I'm still laughing. Had I been drinking, it would have been a spit take. Brilliant.

Well said. I sometimes feel the same way about the voting process-vote for whomever you want, it really doesn't matter because the electorate or the Supreme Court will decide for you anyway.
Not that I'd prefer Gore in office right now--noooooo.
And I will still vote.
Steal Socks Of The Day?? I'm tempted to send you a nice pair just for being such a loveable grouch!(like me)
You'd have to show them off on your blog however.........
BTW-I do think the UN is irrelevant, but doesn't have to be.
Also-it IS about oil, not entirely or exclusively, but it is a factor to be sure. And there's nothing wrong in the US admitting that.

You made a cute little pun that only lefties and those who used to work for their software companies will get. Move on. Heh.

The problems of talking of blood for oil are further explored in this article in the Sunday NYT. The relevance of such a petition is, as you suggest, perhaps more trendy than substantial. Anyone who marched in protests against the first gulf war should get that.

irrelevant is a relative term. Just like blood for oil is a relative concept. If Iraq had no oil whatsoever, Iraq would be mostly ignored. Because they have oil, they have means and relationships with other nations that we are concerned about. Like Sylvain said - it's a factor. To ignore it, is as disingenuous as Microsoft's claim that the open source movement is a threat to national security and they're just concerned with our well being.

The letter may do nothing of consequence now, but a voice, even one that is ignored, can initiate influence over the long run, if it holds any credibility.

Iraq's oil is a factor. A small one.

We've done without Iraqi oil in the US for oh, eight or ten years. Doing without it for another 20 years more wouldn't be a problem. This is not a war for oil.

Please, let's wait till Hussein manages to place Anthrax in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, or Denver to kill millions of people. Or just simply gas them, like he has at home.

I'm sorry, Saddam needs to be stopped, however it can be done.

I'm sure that millions of people also supported Neville Chamberlain when he said that he brought "Peace in our time." Did his appeasement bring peace?

My bet is that in the search through the rubble after the war, plenty of incriminating evidence will be discovered; this will include not only WMDs we didn't expect, but also documents implicating certain European nations cough*France*cough*Germany*cough in their production -- both with materiel and expertise...

Iraqi oil has been important to many nations who now really, really don't want the truth to come out. Just watch.

You can bet that some members of No Blood For Oil were driving their SUVs to the U.N.

Unfortunately, those on the Right fail to perceive that those of us who are opposed to the war with Iraq are not necessarily opposed for it in the long-term.

Me, I'd rather see us FINISH our damned work in Afghanistan, and hunt down Al Qaida before we open up the can of worms called Iraq.

But no, the Right refuses to believe that people can feel that way.

Well, I have news for y'all -- 100,000 people marched on DC last weekend, opposed to this war. A lot of people I know are opposed to it, and frankly, the White House simply used the war resolution to obscure other political issues.

Hussein is no more dangerous today than he was at the time he supposedly tried to kill Poppy.

I want the fuckers who brought down the WTC, which used to be outside my window here at work. Once we have them, then think about the rest.

Scott-
So what you are saying is that the US military can't chew gum and walk at the same time?

I believe that Iraq is part of the same war. Does he not finance terrorism? Does he not hide terrorists within his borders?

Michele, I think you need to link back to the speech given by GWB shortly after 9/11. It was a clear warning to terrorists around the world. Not just AQ.

Yawn. Same old hysterical carping by the Right. Keep us fearful, because Da Bad Man have some bug-bombs.

Fact is, Hussein hasn't budged outside of his own borders since 1993. He's not a madman; if he were, he wouldn't still hold the reins of power.

When we invade and the shit hits the fan, I'll be raising my hand, saying "I told you so."

Scott-

When we invade Iraq, and millions of Iraqi's dance in the streets free men and women, and you are wrong, what will you say?