UNITED NATIONS DAY: Henry Steele Commager, a professor of history at Amherst (massachusetts) College, presents to the “Declaration of Interdependence” to the World Affairs Councils of Philadelphia, pennsylvania: 

       When in the course of history the threat of extinction confronts mankind, it is necessary for the people of the United States to declare their interdependence with the people of all nations and to embrace those principles and build those institutions which will enable mankind to survive and civilization to flourish.

       Two centuries ago our forefathers brought forth a new nation; now we must join with others to bring forth a new world order.  On this historic occasion it is proper that the American people should reaffirm those principles on which the United States of America was founded, acknowledge the new crises which confront them, accept the new obligations which history imposes upon them, and set for the causes which impel them to affirm before all peoples their commitment to a Declaration of Interdependence.

       We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that the inequalities and injustices which afflict so much of the human race are the product of history and society, not of God or nature; that people everywhere are entitled to the blessings of life and liberty, peace and security and the realization of their full potential; that they have an inescapable moral obligation to preserve those rights for posterity; and that to achieve these ends all the peoples and nations of the globe should acknowledge their interdependence and join together to dedicate their minds and their hearts to the solution of those problems which threaten their survival.

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       Narrow notions of national sovereignty must not be permitted to curtail that obligation. (emphasis added)

       [added 11/16/2022]