A Peace Talk at a Dining Table

Once in the evening, I sat opposite this lady working for the UN at a dining table. I asked: 'What is the UN for?'

'To save the world. To keep the world's peace.' She answered smugly.

'I see no peace in this world. We still have wars and terrorism. UN isn't working.'

Quickly she got offended and agitated. Then I was under attack and fired throughout the evening. She kept grilling me for a world peace solution. Throwing a bunch of politics and histories that I don't know, just to give me some 'lessons'. Patronising me by calling me 'young man' nonstop (I was already in my 40's by the way) and forcing to say UN is indeed 'working'.

'Look at animals. Birds fly without borders', I added.

'Humans are more evolved. Animals are less evolved. We are an intelligent species. They are not.' She said.

So finally I realised the conversation was not worth carrying on further.

She picked up a piece of chicken from her plate, had a taste, and told the rest of us on the table: 'The chicken is very tender. Very delicious.'

I'm not a vegetarian, but hearing that and seeing the piece of chicken shoved into her mouth, I suddenly found it utterly disgusting.

Animals evolved equally with humans. Humans are animals too. Humans are still evolving so are the rest of our brethren. We just mistakenly think that we are complete and more superior to our brothers and sisters.

Looking at the world today. Looking at the flames in the destroyed cities. I wonder if I would get the same attack if I asked the same question and commented the same comment? Would it be a peace talk at a dining table?

What is the UN for?