 Why don't Harry's parents want him to join the UN?
It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man—but the ones he refrains from making. But he had set his life on a well-oiled track and he couldn't get off until they reached Geneva. Two types of recruits are accepted by the UN Inspector Corps: those with a fanatic loyalty to the ideals of peace and world order, and those who are loyal to nothing but themselves. It was the home of factory workers, clerks, semiskilled technicians, all who do the drudge work of civilization and know they will never do more. No one knew how many times he nearly ran from other clubs, how carefully he picked the safest spot on the battle line. He joined the UN Inspector Corps at eighteen, in 1978. "You could join the American Army," his mother said. The UN Inspector Corps had been founded to enforce the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty of 1966. Trained to use small arms and gas weapons, they guarded certain borders, bodyguarded diplomats and UN officials, even put down riots that threatened international peace. As the UN evolved into a strong world government, the UN Inspector Corps steadily acquired new powers. Read went through six months training on Madagascar. Twice he nearly got expelled for picking fights with smaller men. Rather than resign, he accepted punishment which assigned him to weeks of dull, filthy extra labor. One power implied in the UN Charter no Secretary General or Inspector General had ever tried to use. The power to arrest any head of state whose country violated international law. Could the World Court try and imprison a politician who had conspired to attack another nation? Colonies became democracies. Democracies became dictatorships or dissolved in civil war. Men planted bases on the moon and in four years, 1978-82, ringed the world with matter transmitters; but the black population of Africa still struggled toward political equality. For years he had preached a new Africa, united, free of white masters, the home of a vigorous and perfect Negro society. His critics called him a hypocritical racist, an opportunist using the desires of the African people to build himself an empire. He began a propaganda war against neighboring South Africa, promising the liberation of that strife-torn land. Most Negro leaders, having just won representation in the South African Parliament, told him to liberate his own country. China called the uproar a vicious slur on a new African nation. The United States and Russia, trying not to get entangled, asked for more investigation by the UN.
 Harry's parents feel that joining the UN means he is turning his back on America.
 Harry's parents think he is too lazy to succeed in the UN.  Harry's parents want him to go to trade school.  Harry's parents feel that joining the UN means he is turning his back on America.  Harry's parents don't want him to be a soldier.