On the Shelf – 10/22
By Paul Guffin
3 min read
Famous Documents Quiz
Throughout the history of humankind, people have created documents that have helped set the course of society and of history, itself. Some of them are probably more familiar to us than are others. Here’s an opportunity to get acquainted — or reacquainted — with some of them. I’m giving you the opening words in several documents. It’s up to you to name the document, and, for your own extra-credit, supply its date and any other relevant information about it. Have fun! (Note: these are listed in no specific order.)
“The Parties to this Treaty reaffirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments.”
“John by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland and duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, and count of Anjou, to the archbishop, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, justiciaries, foresters, sheriffs, stewards, servants and to all his bailiffs and liege subjects, greetings.”
“The high contracting parties, In order to promote international co- operation and to achieve international peace and security by the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war by the prescription of open, just and honourable relations between nations by the firm establishment of the understandings of international law as the actual rule of conduct among Governments, and by the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one another Agree to this Covenant of the League of Nations.”
“Out of love and zeal for truth and the desire to bring it to light…”
“The Parties to this Agreement, being Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change…”
“We the People…”
“Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:…”
“A spectre is haunting Europe — the spectre of communism.”
“The International Committee of the Red Cross has, from the outset, been the sponsor of the Geneva Convention for the protection of wounded military personnel, and of the humanitarian Conventions which supplement it.”
“We the peoples of the united nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war…”
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…”
“When on board H.M.S. Beagle, as a naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts in the distribution of the organic beings inhabiting South America…”
“When Anu the Sublime, King of the Anunaki, and Bel, the lord of Heaven and earth, whom decreed the fate of the land, assigned to Marduk, the over-ruling son of Ea, God of righteousness, dominion over earthly man, and made him great among the Igigi…”
“To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send greeting.”
“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world…”