Useless Nations (United Nations nickname)
“Useless Nations” has been a nickname of the United Nations applied by critics since at least 1961. Many Americans criticize that the United States pays the most to support the UN, but that agreements (such as for climate change) require the United States to pay disproportionately again.
The nickname “Useless Nations” became popular in 2009, when U.S. president Barack Obama spoke before the UN and vowed to support its international agreements. Critics of the UN (or “Useless Nations”) argued that speeches by the un-democratically elected leaders of Iran, Libya, Venezuela and Cuba made the “Useless Nations” a forum for anti-American dictators.
Other United Nations nicknames include “United Nazis” and “United Nuts.”
Wikipedia: United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world peace. The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue. It contains multiple subsidiary organizations to carry out its missions.
There are currently 192 member states, including nearly every sovereign state in the world. From its offices around the world, the UN and its specialized agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout the year. The organization is divided into administrative bodies, primarily: the General Assembly (the main deliberative assembly); the Security Council (decides certain resolutions for peace and security); the Economic and Social Council (assists in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development); the Secretariat (provides studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN); the International Court of Justice (the primary judicial organ). Additional bodies deal with the governance of all other UN System agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The UN’s most visible public figure is the Secretary-General, currently Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, who attained the post in 2007. The organization is financed from assessed and voluntary contributions from its member states, and has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Wikipedia: United Nations headquarters
The United Nations Headquarters is a distinctive complex in New York City that has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1950. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood, on the east side of Midtown Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River.
The United Nations has three additional, subsidiary, regional headquarters or headquarter districts. These are located in Geneva (Switzerland), Vienna (Austria), and Nairobi (Kenya). These adjunct offices help represent UN interests, facilitate diplomatic activities, and enjoy certain extraterritorial privileges, but only the main headquarters in New York contains the seats of the principal organs of the UN, including the General Assembly and Security Council.
Though it is in New York City, the land occupied by the United Nations Headquarters is considered international territory, and its borders are First Avenue on the west, East 42nd Street to the south, East 48th Street on the north and the East River to the east. However, according to the Agreement Between the United States and the United Nations Regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, Pub. L. No. 80-357, 61 Stat. 756 (1947): “Except as otherwise provided in this agreement or in the General Convention, the federal, state and local courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over acts done and transactions taking place in the headquarters district as provided in applicable federal, state and local laws.” Thus, “the district remains under the law and judicial jurisdiction of the United States.”
FDR Drive passes underneath the Conference Building of the complex.
The United Nations Headquarters complex was constructed in New York City in 1949 and 1950 beside the East River, on 17 acres (69,000 m2) of land purchased from the foremost New York real estate developer of the time, William Zeckendorf. Nelson Rockefeller arranged this purchase, after an initial offer to locate it on the Rockefeller family estate of Kykuit was rejected as being too isolated from Manhattan. The $8.5 million purchase was then funded by his father, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who donated it to the City. The lead architect for the building was the real estate firm of Wallace Harrison, the personal architectural adviser for the family.
23 October 1961, Reno (NV)
By the time this is bathed in the hot light of day, Mongolia is on the way to being a member of the United Nations., and I resent it. I want out native Indian population to be a member of the United Nations, too. Our satellites can lick their satellites, yah, yah, yah.
(...)
Maybe the chief is only part Cherokee, but he has as much claim to the community of useless nations as the Mongolian candidate.
8 August 1967, Lebanon (PA) Daily News, Walter Winchell column, pg. 17, col. 2:
Wags at the U. (for Useless) Nations now refer to it as the “Insecurity Council.”
24 April 1968, Kingsport (TN) Times, pg. 6B, col. 4:
FOR THE National Defense report, Mrs. Henry selected excerpts from the Indianapolis Star. One dealt with the referral to the United Nations as “Useless Nations” and giving examples of the monetary support proportion of the United States who has no more voting power than nations with no more population than Denver.
Google Books
The Cross and the Flag
By Christian Nationalist Crusade
v. 27
1968
Pg. 18:
Taxicab drivers and numerous natives of New York now refer to the UN as the “Useless Nations” instead of “United Nations.”
SciForums.com
Jerrek
03-27-03, 01:49 PM
Btw, I *want* the U.S. out of the Useless Nations.
22 November 2004, Elyria (OH) CHronicle-Telegram, “Time to cut ties with the Useless Nations” (letter), pg. A6, cols. 2-3:
Personally, I think that the time is LONG overdue to tell the Useless Nations that they are totally useless and pull out.
(...)
To sort of steal a tag line from Zell Miller, it is a United Nations no more! It is a truly Useless Nations, divided by those who accept illegal compensation for all.
Google Groups: soc.culture.thai
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: “Noi”
Date: 1 Jan 2005 21:11:05 -0800
Local: Sun, Jan 2 2005 12:11 am
Subject: Disgusting The Useless Nations (aka U.N.) is a Sham
The U.N. (Useless Nations) will stop at nothing to promoting themselves, below is an article written by a career diplomat.
Castro Death Watch
Useless Nations Make Castro a ‘Hero’
September 5, 2009 – 1:09 pm
There’s a reason I call them the “Useless Nations.” They’ve declared the decrepit Fidel Castro a “World Hero of Solidarity.”
Google Books
Canada in Afghanistan:
The War So Far
By Peter Pigott
Toronto, ON: Dundurn Group
2007
Pp. 124-125:
“They proved to me that UN stands for ‘Useless Nations.’”