Does Kim Jong Il have feelings?

A few years back some of the political science students in HSMUN thought it would be hilarious if the official quote for the conference was by Machiavelli, a man renowned for his strategic brilliance and political cunningness but also for his belief that the ends justified the means and focus on preserving power for the state, or more accurately, the prince. Their point, I think, was that the UN isn't all warm and fuzzy. Politics is messy and understanding what motivates states' actions can be difficult to understand even after being force fed political theory on the subject because let's face it, leaders are human, and sometimes totally crazy. However, as delegates you are at once a part of the action, and removed enough to examine it rationally. Reading accounts of situations like that in Rwanda, it is easy to see that the UN can easily fall into the role of being an ivory tower, where time is given to actually make rational decisions based on carefully compiled reports, blah blah blah but at other times, there is a very real sense of urgency and action is taken that has real consequences. Those in the Security Council best experience this type of extreme, but really it is experienced by any delegate who feels particularly passionate about certain topics.
I'm not sure where I was going with this other than I was reading an Economist article about Kim Jong Il and they mentioned that some considered him a brilliant Machiavellian but they were shocked to see him actually apologizing to his people and it reminded me that strong emotion is often what gets things done in the UN. Not in the Security Council maybe, but in its agencies and on the ground, it is a series of incredible people who are passionate about their missions that drive agendas forward. As a delegate you should try to find some passion about the topics you are debating and it will make this experience so much more enjoyable. Not too much emotion mind you, but just a little to give you some conviction.

Also, read this thought-provoking and short post on the resurgence of the AIDS epidemic in parts of Africa. The Wall Street Journal piece is interesting as well.