Opening Remarks
By Mariel Leonard

Good morning, and welcome to the second World Federalist Institute forum. I hope you all have enjoyed the conference, and will leave here feeling reinvigorated in the search for global solutions to global problems.

Throughout this conference, we have discussed what issues are important, why they are important, and how to prompt action. Today, with the WFI forum, we turn the conference theme inside out, and offer a way of thinking of possible solutions that draws on America’s history of radical thinking, experimentation and advocacy.

Two centuries ago, some forward-thinking Englishmen fought a momentous war for independence because they believed that the government should serve the interests of the citizenry, not the monarch, and it should do so by expressing and actively promoting their ideals. Having won their cause, they began the process of designing their ideal government, one that would balance both liberty and security. Their first attempt, the Articles of Confederation, failed because no man-made government can ever be flawless. Recognizing this, on their second attempt, they sought only to forge a ‘more perfect union’, one that would realize their ideals into perpetuity.

Early America, the America of our Fathers, was meant to be a beacon of hope, freedom and justice that its light might shine over the rest of the world. But we have fallen from that mission. For too long we have used that light to cast shadows over others, all the while pledging to drive out the dark. But now is the time to change. Now we must burn our lights bright that they may serve as a beacon to others, a guide in the treacherous waters of the 21st century. And we must expose our own dark corners. Being the light of the world is an enormous privilege, with weighty responsibilities. It requires not only sound and just leadership, but an engaged and confident public that is open to the pursuit of new ideas, and to dredging up neglected theories from the sea bottom of our collective consciousness. Citizens for Global Solutions, the World Federalist Institute, and all of us today, we are here to produce that public. We are here to raise the level of public debate in this country, in search of a foreign policy that reflects not only our interests, but our ideals.

Our panelists today remind us of those ideals: Paul Kimmel tells of our respect and understanding for the wide range of humanity’s achievements; Martin Resick speaks of the desire for individual growth and opportunities for success, and businesses’ role in fostering these; Saul Mendlovitz of our respect for human life and Steve Damours reminds us that, sadly, the desire for security can be corrupting, and that those who are willing to sacrifice liberty for security do not deserve either, and are guaranteed neither.

In order to promote dialogue amongst our panelists and the audience, each speaker will have several minutes, after which we will have a guided discussion. Following that, we will open questions up to the audience, and I request that you please write your questions on a piece of paper and pass them along to Erica or Scott.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who submitted abstracts for our consideration, and to highlight two individuals: Jerry Tetalman and Joe Schwartzberg. Jerry so perfectly answered our prompt question that we couldn’t use his presentation for fear that there would be nothing left to discuss. He reminds us that the oil in the lamp of our freedom is the philosophy of federalism. Without federalism, America would not be able to be America, and our beacon would be lost. His book, One World Democracy, co-authored with Byron Belitos, was featured during our authors’ salons. Joe, who spoke at last year’s WFI panel, is Professor Emeritus at the U of Michigan, and a leading expert on how more democratic and effective voting system can be devised for the UN General Assembly and Security Council. His excellent monograph, Revitalizing the UN, was featured alongside Jerry’s on Friday and Saturday.

Without further ado, I would like to introduce our first speaker….
 

WFI EVENTS

FROM IDEA TO IMPLEMENTATION

BACKGROUND READING

BACK TO WFI HOME 

WFI PANEL PRESENTATIONS

A UNITED NATIONS EMERGENCY PEACE SERVICE: TO PREVENT GENOCIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
By Saul Mendlovitz

DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS
By Paul Kimmel

TRIBALISM, GREED, AND THE ARROGANCE OF POWER:
THE MOTIVES OF AMERICAN MILITARISM
By Steve Damours

Corporate Social Responsibility – Time for CGS to get Involved?
By Marty Resick