Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Global-Village Elders   [Mark Steyn]

Old boomer slogan: Never trust anybody over 30.

New boomer slogan: Never trust anybody under 80.

From the Los Angeles Times:

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Nelson Mandela celebrates his 89th birthday Wednesday, launching a humanitarian campaign along with former President Jimmy Carter, ex-U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and other "elders" of the global village.

The initiative stems from an idea by British entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel to create a world council of elders to tackle issues such as conflict, AIDS and global warming.

A “world council of elders” is just what we primitive global village tribesmen need to put the village in order– and Peter Gabriel himself, along with Sir Elton John and Sir Mick Jagger and His Grace the Cat of Stevens, must surely be eligible himself by now.

But wait: What about all those elders who are too old and have already died? No problem: Meet the world council of elders’ offspring! They’re the Teen Titans to the council of elders’ Superfriends. Nick Clooney ––  father of George and brother of Rosie — reports:

Martin Luther King III is, today and tomorrow, hosting the sons and daughters of world leaders for global peace initiatives.

But these are not the sons and daughters of just any world leaders. They are sons and daughters of men who risked everything, including their lives, for the cause of non-violence in the world. Their descendants have decided - collectively - to hold aloft the torch of peace lit by their parents. In the shorthand of communications, they are called the "Gen II Peace Team."

Who are they..?

Christine Chavez-Delgado, granddaughter of Cesar Chavez, the tireless leader for labor justice…

Arun Gandhi, grandson of the legendary spiritual leader Mohandas Gandhi...

Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert and Ethel Kennedy…

Justin Trudeau, son of former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau…

It is the intention of the Gen II Peace Team to build on the cumulative moral authority of their parents and grandparents to focus the current generation on non-violent ways to solve problems that now seem insoluble… Tonight there will be a dinner. Tomorrow, a morning group discussion of peace initiatives at the House of Lords.

The venue seems appropriate. As for the “moral authority” of Pierre Trudeau, don’t get me started…

07/18 08:31 AMShare