In theory, there are 6 official languages at the United Nations. However, it's a popular joke that the 7th UN language is "UN-ese". It turns out that in order for the UN to successfully make any decisions or statements, they have to water down the way they word things, otherwise various parties (ie: countries) would object, and nothing would ever get done.
I was part of a workshop this weekend in which various groups (pretending to be UN delegations) discussed the construction of a new campus dormitory. There were 3 groups, one wanted a fancy dorm, one wanted only the basics, the third didn't want a dorm at all, it's too much money.
Our task was to create a document, proving that each group was committed to improving the student housing problem. The catch was that we had to make the wording vague enough so that each group, with their opposing views, would agree to the document. We did it brilliantly. Here's my favorite line from the document:
Each group reaffirms it's commitment to ensure the potential for an improved housing situation for students.
Rather pretentious, no? No one an agree on whether or not to build the dorm, so we might as well make it look like we're doing something by guaranteeing a potential for an improvement. My hat's off to the UN (and other international organizations) for proving that it really is how you say something that truly matters.
I was part of a workshop this weekend in which various groups (pretending to be UN delegations) discussed the construction of a new campus dormitory. There were 3 groups, one wanted a fancy dorm, one wanted only the basics, the third didn't want a dorm at all, it's too much money.
Our task was to create a document, proving that each group was committed to improving the student housing problem. The catch was that we had to make the wording vague enough so that each group, with their opposing views, would agree to the document. We did it brilliantly. Here's my favorite line from the document:
Each group reaffirms it's commitment to ensure the potential for an improved housing situation for students.
Rather pretentious, no? No one an agree on whether or not to build the dorm, so we might as well make it look like we're doing something by guaranteeing a potential for an improvement. My hat's off to the UN (and other international organizations) for proving that it really is how you say something that truly matters.
That's actually a little scary.....
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