Mirror, Mirror on the wall..

...who's the fairest of them all?

As my dissertation comes to a close (thankfully), I am constantly reminded of just how important definitions are. International institutions, as well as local ones, are governed by their charters--or the equivalent. Those ruling documents are the result of much debate and compromise. The words have been carefully chosen and have been selected deliberately.

Although the documents may appear simple in text form, the interpretation and application process often reveals the true complexity each word contains. Who knew there were multiple meanings of the word "chicken" [reference to Frigailment]?

Did you know that it is the very definition of the word "genocide" that has permitted the continued cycle of reoccuring genocides around the world? Did you know that if we could adequately come up with a sufficient definition for precisely what the international crime of genocide is, then states would no longer be able to avade their responsbilities under the Convention for the Prevention and the Punishment of the Crime of Genocide?

A definition. One word.

Seems simple enough, eh?

But who defines it? Who gets that power? That's what it all comes down to; the drafters have significantly less power than those interpreting what the drafters "intended". The power held by the "big wigs" of today's international community far outweighs the power of the post-World War II founders of the United Nations.

Scary, huh? Flawed humans will determine who deserves protection. Imperfect people with personal views and political intuition will decide who to afford the protection originally desired by creators of the convention, but because of the ambiguity of the word "genocide", someone completely unrelated to the drafting and negotiation process will decide instead.

Who's the fairest of them all?

While I could talk about this issue and propose my own solutions, they are far less important than what I will say next.

Definitions are important.

Simple enough, huh? But think about it. Who are you? How would you describe yourself? What defines you? Or perhaps the better question is "Who defines you?" Who gets that power?

I would like to suggest that you have been carefully chosen to be where you are, right now. You have been deliberately selected to be you. Sure, today's media and arguably the majority of society would have you believe that this is all chance, that this life you are living is a set of amazing consequences that just happen to bring you to where you are today.

This is wrong.

He picked you. Long before you were born, He had a plan for you.

So, who better to define you and your place in this world than Him? Why do we listen to a society comprised of imprefect individuals? Why do we give them the power to determine something they had no part in creating? Why not recognize that there is no one better to surrender to than the Creator of the Universe? Who's the fairest of them all?



Mirror, Mirror on the wall,
Have I got it?
'Cause Mirror you've always told me who I am
I'm finding it's not easy to be perfect

So sorry you won't define me
Sorry you don't own me
Who are you to tell me
That I'm less than what I should be?
Who are you? Who are you?

I don't need to listen
To the list of things I should do
I won't try, I won't try

Mirror I am seeing a new reflection
I'm looking into the eyes of He who made me
And to Him I have beauty beyond compare
I know He defines me
You don't define me, you don't define me

--"Mirror" by Barlow Girl

Just something to think about.

Selah,

Nanette