Why Not Go To The Racism Conference?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/04/20/racism.conference/index.html
To me, this doesn’t make sense, at least using the Barack Obama view of the world.
The Obama Administration led a multinational boycott of the United Nations meeting on racism, largely because of the draft resolution particulary attacking Israel as a ‘racist state’. This has been the case for many years, and why the previous administration always refused to sign on to any talks of this nature.
But I thought the Obama Administration stated that you should talk to those you disagree with, without preconditions? In the Obama view of the world, I thought this was exactly the type of conference you would go to, so you could talk to these people and tell them why they are wrong? And we are pulling out of this conference, but joining the UN Human Rights Council, which has such great defenders of human rights as China, Russia, Cuba, and the Sudan? Again, where is the logic in that?
The brilliant members of the Congressional Black Caucus said it was “deeply dismayed” by the decision made by the nation’s first African-African president, saying it was inconsistent with administration policies. “Had the United States sent a high-level delegation reflecting the richness and diversity of our country, it would have sent a powerful message to the world that we’re ready to lead by example,” a statement from the group said.
On Monday, Ahmadinejad spoke to the conference, calling Zionism a ‘racist ideology’. And despite what CNN says, although many in the public arena jeered him, there were a fair number of delegates who cheered him on, according to the BBC. Yes, some delegates, including Britain’s, walked out, but the vast majority of the delegates did not leave, and many were supportive of the Iranian leader’s claim.
Someone will have to explain to me the rational of talking to Iran, who wants to ‘eliminate’ Israel from the face of the earth, while drawing the line when it comes to a ‘draft resolution’ calling Israel racist. I think Obama has the ‘sticks and stones’ analogy backwards…
UPDATE: Please note, that despite this racism, today is Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel…a bitter irony.
Why wasn’t the KKK invited to speak? They are as “anti racist” as many of the Africans, Arabs and Muslims participating. That African American leaders are willing to overlook the most vile hate speech towards Jews at an conference that is supposed to be protesting bigotry just futher illustrates how nonexistent the morals and intergrity of African Americans are, even well off ones, have when there is an opportunity for a hand out. Standards? Not if there is a chance to get a handout. The President of Iran is a key note speaker. 2 years ago after organizing a Holocaust Denial Conference he gave a $20,000 cash prize to the funniest Holocaust Cartoon. Hopefully we will soon see a Slavery Denial Conference being held by a western leader, then give a huge cash prize to the funniest cartoon of Emmitt Till being lynched. The person hosting it should then be the keynote speaker at a UN Anti Racism Conference next year. Then we’ll all sit back and see black folks go ape sh*t crazy. Pathetic what the black man will overlook for a hand out.
Just for your info, there is much more to that conference than Israel. I.E. Moslem countries want to ban all public criticism of Islam as a form or racism — a direct conflict with the freedom of speech guarateed by the Bill of Rights — and they could get the votes to have that in the final resolution.
President Obama and the other countries in the boycott are doing the right thing. The boycott is also a message to the UN whose agencies are sometimes manipulated by the non-western majority. Such was the case of UNESCO in the 1970′s and 1980′s.
Muslims want Islam off the table at this conference. The muslims want to be able to bad mouth any one of their choosing but any reference to Islam in a negative light is banned. Sounds stone aged to me and shame on all of us if we even begin to tolerate such behavior. My thinking is that we did not attend this conference partly due to speaking with these fools only makes them legit and will give them license to rant and rave all the more. Frightening to know that these fools want their hands on nukes, we had best hope for some improvement in relations while we prepare for the worst.