NEWSLETTER ARTICLE: CEO's Corner - Walking in Cronkite's Footsteps

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We recently lost "the most trusted man in America," Walter Cronkite. Walter was more than just an iconic reporter. He was a voice of reason and inspiration for global citizens.

You might be one of our many members who joined our movement in response to a letter you received from him.

In 1999, we honored Walter and bestowed upon him the Norman Cousins Global Governance Award, which he accepted saying, "the first priority of humankind in this era is to establish an effective system of world law that will assure peace with justice among the peoples of the world."

He believed that "Those of us who are living today can influence the future of civilization. We can influence whether our planet will drift into chaos and violence, or whether ... we will achieve a world of peace under a system of law where individual violators of that law are brought to justice."

A decade ago, Cronkite's short term priorities were eerily similar to those that we focus on today. His "three suggestions for immediate action that would move us in a direction firmly in the American tradition of law and democracy" were:

1. "Keep our promises: We helped create the UN and to develop the UN assessment formula. Americans overwhelmingly want us to pay our UN dues, with no crippling limitations."
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2. "Ratify the Treaty to Ban Land Mines, the Law of the Sea Treaty, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the Convention to Eliminate All forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Most important, we should sign and ratify the Treaty for a Permanent International Criminal Court. That Court will enable the world to hold individuals accountable for crimes against humanity."
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3. "Consider, after 55 years, the possibility of a more representative and democratic system of decision making at the UN. This should include both revision of the Veto in the Security Council and adoption of a weighted voting system for the General Assembly."

Had Cronkite given this speech today, perhaps he would have added addressing climate change and reforming our tattered global financial system to his list.

Fortunately, he lived to see his first objective accomplished. Because you worked hard to keep it on our national agenda, President Obama requested and Congress delivered all of the U.N. arrears that accumulated since 1999 as part of an "emergency supplemental" funding bill in May.

I believe Walter was pleased that, after a decade lost trying to stop the fear-based erosion of our basic values that led to an unjust war, the use of torture, and other unforgiveable actions, global citizens can now shift from defense to offense. It's time to complete Cronkite's past due "immediate action" items, and progress from there.

Walter believed that to succeed we must overcome "a handful of willful senators" who chose to "pursue their narrow, selfish political objectives at the cost of our nation's conscience." This is still true. Fortunately, we have a plan to succeed, and you are part of it.

In the months ahead you will be asked to help lead an effort to bring together advocates of responsible policies for arms control, climate change, global poverty, and peace and security as part of a "50-State Strategy." We know, from President Obama's successful example, that we can dramatically change U.S global policy if we engage Americans from all parts of our nation and all walks of life.

In your community, and in communities in every state of our great nation, we shall build a solid network of global citizens to work together to "influence the future of civilization." This will be difficult but rewarding work. And it will be worth your time and resources. After all, our need is great, but our goal is greater.

"And that's the way it is ..."

In Peace,
Don Kraus