Sunday, November 03, 2024

Haile Selassie United Nations Speech - Oct. 4, 1963

 


On October 4, 1963, Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia, delivered a speech to the United Nations General Assembly. In his speech, Selassie discussed a range of topics, including: 
  • The United Nations
    Selassie praised the United Nations for its actions in places like Palestine, Korea, Suez, and the Congo, and noted that it had provided a basis for hope for the future. 
  • Nuclear testing
    Selassie supported the atmospheric nuclear test ban treaty, but noted that nations could still develop weapons of mass destruction through underground testing. 
  • Racial discrimination
    Selassie praised the Kennedy administration's efforts to eradicate racial discrimination in the United States. 
  • Africa
    Selassie spoke about the importance of giving smaller nations a voice in world affairs, and of ensuring that Africa's struggle for equality was reflected in the United Nations. 
  • Peace
    Selassie emphasized that peace required the united efforts of all, and that the rights of the least should be protected as much as those of the greatest. 
  • Equality of representation
    Selassie argued that equality of representation was essential to the United Nations, and that the hungry, naked, and ignorant should be provided for. 
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Haile_Selassie_in_full_dress.jpg
Selassie also presented an ivory replica of the obelisk at Axum, Ethiopia, to the United Nations Headquarters, and deposited the Charter of the Organization of African Unity with the Secretary-General. 
Some of Selassie's words were immortalized in Bob Marley's song "War".

Generative AI is experimental. 



Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie, who once addressed and warned the League of Nations (precursor to UN) of Italy's (Mussolini) attack on his nation, "It is us today, it will be you tomorrow." Three years later, September 1, 1939, Germany under Adolph Hitler invaded Poland, sparking World War II. 

And so, the prophesy of a wise and dignified African nation leader, whose warning and pleas for assistance against fascist Mussolini went unheeded by European leaders, came to fruition. The resulting war cost an estimated 35-60 million lives lost worldwide, majority being civilians. 


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