When I was a senior in high school I participated in the model united nations program. As thousands of students do each year, I chose a country to represent as part of the student program. In my case I chose Norway, the home of my mother's ancestors. I was very excited to receive mailings from the Norwegian embassy, which I diligently researched in order to accurately represent my country of choice. Sitting in our high school library we passed resolutions to abide by strategic arms control and non-proliferation issues.

When Bernard Kouchner, the French Foreign Minister, addressed the United Nations for the first time today he showed not only a healthy sense of humor, but also an open mind about dissent. He was only a few minutes into his speech when a woman rushed the stage. Security wrestled her away, but she struggled. The minister stopped speaking for a moment.