U.S. should not withdraw support from UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has voted to admit Palestine as a member. Because of an American law from the 1990s, the United States must withdraw its support and participation from UNESCO and its significant educational programs around the world.

In Iowa City, we know about our own UNESCO City of Literature. UNESCO's mission is “to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.”

It is not hard to figure out why Palestine was admitted. It was done on the basis of principle - inclusion of a people into making the world a better place to live through education. It is very hard to figure out why the United States would have to withdraw.

This is serious not only because of UNESCO and its important work, but because this scenario is likely to be replayed with other U.N. agencies such as UNICEF, the U.N. Environmental Program, the World Food Program and many others.

It will be us Americans who suffer from this move, and it is impossible for me to understand how we can use perfectly valid actions of others to determine our own withdrawal of participation. Our senators and representative should repeal the law requiring us to withdraw support.

Kathryn Hansen

Johnson County U.N. Association

Iowa U.N. Association

Iowa City