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TechnoratiUS Won't Participate in UN Racism Conference
Objects to document's references to Israel and criticism of religion
The conference is a follow-up to the contentious 2001 conference in the South African city of Durban, which was dominated by clashes over the Middle East and the legacy of slavery. The U.S. and Israel walked out midway through that eight-day meeting over a draft resolution that singled out Israel for criticism and likened Zionism - the movement to establish and maintain a Jewish state - to racism.
![[Israel's Defence Minister Ehud Barak (R) meets U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) (L) in Tel Aviv February 19, 2009, in this picture released by the Israeli Defence Ministry. (Reuters/Ariel Hermoni/Israeli Defence Ministry/Handout) (ISRAEL).]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/durban_israel.jpg "durban_israel.jpg")
Israel and Canada have already announced that they will boycott the upcoming World Conference Against Racism in Geneva from April 20-25, known as Durban II, but President Barack Obama's administration decided to assess the negotiations before making a decision on U.S. participation.
Last week, the State Department sent two U.S. representatives to Geneva, where the final document to be issued by conference participants at the end of the conference is being negotiated, the U.S. officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not yet been made.
The representatives - Betty King, a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, and Felice Gaer, the chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom - held 30 meetings with representatives of different countries and attended the negotiations, the U.S. official said.
Drawing the line
While the U.S. presence was warmly welcomed, the U.S. official said that in the negotiations, a bad document got worse.
The United States has decided that it will not participate in further negotiations on the outcome document and will not participate in the conference itself on the basis of the latest text, the U.S. official said.
The Obama administration would reconsider its position if the document improves in a number of areas including dropping references to any specific country, references to defamation of religion which the U.S. views as a free speech issue, and language on reparations for slavery. It also wants a shorter text and does not want the final document for Durban II to reaffirm the final document from the 2001 Durban conference, the U.S. official said.
Further details on the issues in question were not available as the latest version of the final document being negotiated in Geneva has not been released.
European nations have expressed hope that the conference can go ahead with a final text that is acceptable. But they have also drawn lines they say may not be crossed.
French diplomat Daniel Vosgien said in December that his country was firmly opposed to the idea of banning criticism of religion. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said at the time that the Netherlands would walk out unless anti-Israel statements were scrapped.
47 Comments so far
Show AllObviously, Israel and the US are more than guilty and by not attending (including Canada) hope to keep sweeping this shame under the carpet. As the French saying goes...qui s'excuse, s'accuse.
How can Israelis stop repeating their old, worn out mantras of blaming and denial? They are addicted to something for sure. It will kill them but they will kill others over and over before they are gone. Is there a rehab place for these people?
Washington's "Free World" does not allow criticism of Israel.
Canada pulls out even before USA, so much for diversity. That neandrethal in Ottawa is doing as much harm in Canada as Bush did in the USA. The only reason our banks having totally failed is because he didn't have enough of a majority to carry out his privization polices and we are still fighting him.
Bill
The other day, on Democracy Now, Chris Hedges and an Israeli journalist both used the "r" word (racist) frequently, also fascism. Only American media and Zionist propaganda sees such identifications and usage as unacceptable. If racism is denying to another people the rights and privileges you claim for your people, Zionism has been racist for 112 years now in its first Zionist Congress avowal to forcibly displace Palestinian Arabs from a Palestinian Jewish homeland and its calculated and continuing execution of that determination, dehumanizing Palestinian Arab, oppressiing and imprisoning them, taking their land, homes, and livelihoods, and, finally, granting them only bantustans or prisons (Gaza), in full subjugation, on less than 15 per cent of Palestine, unsustainable space for as many Palestinian Arabs as there are Israeli Jews occuping the other 85 per cent of Palestine.
It's too bad that the U.S., Israel, and Canada won't participate in the U.N. conference on racism, but I can understand their problem: unlike in the U.N. Security Council, where the U.S. can veto anything no matter what the rest of the world thinks, in the U.N. conference, the U.S. would have no more power than any other nation.
Gulp. That means that instead of being able to shut down the discussion, the U.S. would have to be able to present facts and convincing arguments. Which, frankly, aren't there.
Even in the U.S., where the corporate media is biased toward Israel's point of view, people are starting to wake up to the truth about our support of Israel. Through the internet, we are learning what the rest of the world already knows: Israel is an apartheid state and their ongoing sadistic human rights abuses against the Palestinians are crimes against humanity that we are financing with our tax dollars, to the tune of at least $15 million dollars per DAY!
Some good sources for information about what Israel is doing, 24/7, that is outraging the rest of the world:
The Occupation Magazine http://www.kibush.co.il/index.asp Established in October 2004 by a group of Israeli anti-occupation activists who were disturbed by the growing discrepancy between the reality which they observed in the Occupied Territories , and the way in which it was (and is) being misrepresented by the Israeli and US media.
International Middle East Media Center http://www.imemc.org/
The Free Gaza Movement http://www.freegaza.org/
The Palestine Chronicle http://www.palestinechronicle.com/
Haaretz Daily Newspaper http://www.haaretz.com/ (from Israel).
What is "racist" and "racism" precisely?
Is it, "We're "better" than you are because you don't have my gene collection?"
And since you're not born with my gene collection, you will NEVER EVER be as "good" as I am. (sounds like a caste system, doesn't it -- with the UNTOCHABLES at the bottom of the heap.)
Is it, "We're better than you are because we have a true religion, in fact, the only TRUE religion. And God has ordained me and mine, with the genes that ONLY we have, the very BEST that can be, "his" CHOSEN people.
(What kind of God is it we have? Kind, cruel, vengeful, autocratic)
Does a person innately feel "SUPERIOR" or is it because HIS/HER Superiority has been drummed in the person's head since infancy?
I've read over the resolutions and such in prep for this conference reviewing what came out of the Durban Conference. I can't find any mention of Israel or Zionism. I found one item mentioning an increase in anti Arab, anti Christian, anti Jewish, anti Muslim incidents around the globe. I found another mentioning discrimination against people of Asian and African background. I couldn't find anything more specific than these that I mentioned.
I get the idea that if there are charges of racism in Palestine, they should be addressed. It is only one area in a list of many around the globe. If there is no racism in a situation, then why not attend the conference and make that case?
What is it, I ain't talking unless we agree first that I am the good guy?
Isn't talking about Zionism, religion, slavery a free speech issue?
If telling the truth about a country, a religion, Zionism or slavery is not defamation, why are they forcing conferees to hide the truth?
Again I am ashamed that our right-wing Canadian Gov't (abetted by the Opposition's silence) caved in to the AIPAC-type Jewish organizations and failed to at least attend the conference if it wished to counter anti-Israeli criticism.
These influence that these nefarious pro-Zionist organizations that provide so much financial assistance to the political parties has to be curtailed in some way.
Who makes these decisions? I wasn't asked! That might sound pretty stupid, but you weren't asked either! How can a member of the world not attend a conference on world issues? How can we state our policies if we aren't there?
Who determines our policies, anyway? Once again, I wasn't asked, and neither were you! This government does so much in my name with which I don't agree, and have no say. Never has it been more apparent than under the previous administration, and now everyone is paying attention. I think this country needs a policy referendum. Every issue needs to be on the ballot, and everyone in this country needs to have a say. I, for one don't back the Israel's over the Palestinians. I don't side with the Iranian President that Israel should be wiped off the map(if that is even what he said), but everyone worldwide needs to give a little in order to have a civilized compromise. No one country should be able to hold total sway over the rest of the world simply because they (we) have the largest military. We are humans before we are Americans, or at least should be. I know that everyone doesn't agree with that statement, and they have a right to that belief as I have a right to mine. Unfortunately, this country has been acting (apparently) as American's(unfeeling, selfish, self-centered, bullying)rather than human. If our past behavior is what it means to be American, then I am American by birth ONLY. I have ceased believing in the mutated ideals. They are not the propaganda that I was taught in school. Killing for Peace should have been my tip off. NEEDING to have a civil rights bill(rather than it already being a part of the American experience)should have been another. And, how about that Native American genocide and the need for workers rights? This country has a long way to go. I hope the road stretches that far.
I agree wholeheartedly with these statements! The reality, the real reality, is that we are humans before we are citizens of any political entity. I love the world, its natural beauties, its birds, animals, rocks and rills...and I think that the United Nations definition of Human Rights should pertain to all persons on the planet. I do not hold to the concept of "being number one" in any regard!
I welcome the possibility of peacemaking as one among equals. I know that there are persons who are dedicated to violent means in order to have their way. I will take peaceful action always, to bring abundance to everyone.
And the US is made to be Israel's "Bitch" once again to the rest of the world-especially the mideast. Something that as a american am offended by.
Not a moment too soon.
UN Racism Conference has nothing to do with racism. The conference's action plan could be summarized in three points:
1. Islamophobia, as the major form of racism.
2. Free speech is a form of racism. All nations should replace free speech with Islamic anti-blasphemy laws.
3. Single out only Israel as a racist state, where in-fact many countries, including most of the Middle-Eastern countries, are equally or more racist than Israel. (Including the organizers, Iran and Libya)
http://www.unwatch.org/site/c.bdKKISNqEmG/b.4135779/k.64D7/Preparing_for_Durban_II.htm
I'm against all forms of racism. But its important to point out that UN Watch works with AIPAC and is an AIPAC affiliated group Letto so quoting them does not lend credibility to your argument.
http://www.unwatch.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=bdKKISNqEmG&b=1319279&ct=3923061
The absolute Irony of boycotting a conference on Racism because the Most Racist Country on Earth's name was mentioned is staggering.
Like boycotting a conference for medicine because Disease will be examined.
This is one Parasitic Disease that does all possible to suppress truth, and failing that, twist it unrecognizably.
Should we make the conference?
Gonna be busy killing a lower life form.! Are we racists? We are exterminators! Let's Dance!
Joe.
True Religion must unite humanity. How is it possible to express a belief in the existence of One Supreme Power (which all major religions claim) and then to kill and destroy those on a differing team? There are those spiritual folks who quietly build bridges rather than walls, without wasting their energy in the ratrace of greed for money and power. Peace is not dramatic and we have become a culture addicted to violence. Some of us aren't buying it. We have choices.
We can rant and rave and blame, or we can build co-operative communities while voicing views on the wisdom or stupidity of elected officials to those officials. Building community is tough work, but if you know the kind of world you want it's good work - and everyone wins.
The present system is collapsing. Will we create a better system? Or will we keep bandaging the wounds and weeping for the dead on our chosen team?
To err is human, and so is learning from your errors - and admitting them.
Internet commentary is a gift. Some use it to vent anger. Some share information and seek more information. I am grateful.
People take note....
“…we must appear to be as mad dogs…to create worldwide hatred fot the jewish Diaspora to force them to flood to Israel…”
Quote from Ariel Sharon:
“Even today I am willing to volunteer to do the dirty work for Israel, to kill as many Arabs as necessary, to deport them, to expel and burn them, to have everyone hate us, to pull the rug from underneath the feet of the Diaspora Jews, so that they will be forced to run to us crying. Even if it means blowing up one or two synagogues here and there, I don’t care. And I don’t mind if after the job is done you put me in front of a Nuremberg Trial and then jail me for life. Hang me if you want, as a war criminal. Then you can spruce up your Jewish conscience and enter the respectable club of civilised nations, nations that are large and healthy. What you lot don’t understand is that the dirty work of Zionism is not finished yet, far from it. True, it could have been finished in 1948, but you interfered, you stopped it. And all this because of the Jewishness in your souls, because of your Diaspora mentality. For the Jews don’t grasp things quickly. If you open your eyes and look around the world you will see that darkness is falling again. And we know what happens to a Jew who stays out in the dark. So I am glad that this small war in Lebanon frightened the Yids. Let them be afraid, let them suffer. They should hurry home before it gets really dark. So I am an anti-Semite? Fine. So don’t quote me, quote Lilienblum instead [an early Russian Zionist - ed.]. There is no need to quote an anti-Semite. Quote Lilienblum, and he is definitely not an anti-Semite, there is even a street in Tel Aviv named after him”.
By their fruits ye shall know them….and they sure got some frootz.
This was no doubt his reponse to charges of being a war criminal after attacks on a refugee camp Yailla, it was decades ago, so forgive if I have the name wrong or spelled incorrectly Anyway why shouldn't the Palestinians have (back) their country. Perhaps if Isreal didn't try to settle on already occupied lands we wouldn't be in this predicament today. And the USA put Isreal there as a proxy state right from the get-go-have no illusion about that.
President Obama Should Send Representatives To The U.N. Conference On Racism
"Why?"
"No nation has more experience with racism than ours."
"And on the question of whether or not Israel is racist, how should the U.S. representatives vote?"
"Guilty as charged."
"Based on?"
"Israel's having turned Gaza into the Warsaw Ghetto."
"What does that say about American Zionists?"
"Accomplices in genocide."
"And the rest of us?"
"Same as in Germany after WW II."
"'Oh, we had no idea what was happening.'"
"Which was?"
"A lie."
Why are they drafting a resolution BEFORE the meeting? Have the meeting, and then come to an agreement on a resolution, or not. Of course, these things must be decided before any public meeting, since the outcome must be controlled to meet what has been pre-determined.
Thank you, Obama!
Sorry, but Zionism is not the equivalent of antisemitism - not by a long shot!
This is a nice balance to Clinton remarks about Gaza. It just goes to show that the Obama administration cares about all sides in the conflict and is seeking the best outcome for everybody involved.
The UN Racism Conference is just a big anti-Israel, anti-Jewish hate-fest. Remember how bad Durban was?
Why do you even bother?
Why do I bother?
Is the US attending the conference? No.
Why do you bother?
We bother because cowards who insist on conflating a religion (Judaism) and a political movement (Zionism) persist in their lies.
The fact that the US is not attending the conference is a reflection on the cowardice of American politicians and not on the rectitutde of their policy.
q
As a Jewish person, I feel the need to correct you. We are more than just a "religion", we are also a people. In fact, we were a people before we were a religion. For example, even though I'm Jewish, I am also a practicing Christian. S although, I have been studying Judaism (I'm even thinking about converting) I do not currently practice the religion.
Zionism is more than a mere political movement, it is a movement for self-determination for the Jewish people. This is nothing to be ashamed of. It's about pride and solidarity as a people, not racial supremacy, as the UN conference attempted to claim.
There is no scientific basis to distingush human beings as far as some sort of genetic or racial characteristics, and thus no basis for "race" As for religion, well, like race, there is no scientific basis to any of the truth claims that any of these religions make,religion is a sociological phenomenon. You would think that since we supposedly left the dark ages when religion ruled the world and we entered the era of the Enlightenment we would have gotten past these twin pillars of oppression for that is precisely what the historical record demonstrates about these two phenomenom-they are both used by a more powerful groups to oppress a less powerful group, just as they are both being used here. Capitalism does not care which race or religion it exploits and members of any race or religion or sex for that matter, can be accomodated by capitalism and why we have President Obama and Mrs Clinton in power today. It is also why these topics are continually recyled on the political agenda, it keeps out eyes off the issue of CLASS (n oh we are all some mythical middle which I wouldn't mind as long as they said middle working class) which can be scientifically measured both relationally and objectively. Get your heads together people, in a global world, these isms are not in the least useful. We are all human beings and the only "race" we belong to is the human race or species if you prefer.
Cheers,
RR
Paul Siemering
well yeah, those things like you said plus the massacre of Gaza,
the blockade, the wall....
You just contradicted yourself. How can anyone take you seriously?
?
you are a fake. A wannabe. Zionism is the ultimate form of racism. You just have not realized it as you do not live in that apartheid state.
?
joe dope is more than a fake, he's a fruitcake.
the truth must be told
Israel is now concerned that they will be called racist and the true antisemites.
What was funny was that I did not think twice when I first learned of the USA boycott of the conference; because stuff like this has been going on for eight years. Then I read the posts and thought Oh Yea this is Obama not bush.
We have to give it to Obamba for coming out fighting with a feint to the right and then a big social left hook.
Tax percentages do not lie(if they are collected).
Money spent honestly does not lie either.
Omaba still has draconian laws on the books.
It is a FULCRUM MOMENT to keep USA out of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
NPR did a good job of covering the conference the last time around - in 2001:
http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/racism/index.html
Well if the storm god is a figment of human imagination, than the qualities he possesses are a reflection of what is in the human heart.
Jesus was something of a bastard too. He made deals with demons to send them into peaceful swine, told his followers that the poor would always be with you and he never condemned human slavery.
Kinda a big oversight from the son of the One True God.
Webber : What specifially Jesus himself condemn ?
I guess the old war and storm god, Yahweh, is still in charge.
Remember, He told the Jews many times to destroy a country or a people utterly, to the last man, woman, child, animal, or blade of grass. On at least one occasion, when they had saved a few choice animals to sacrifice to Him, He punished them severely for not following orders.
What can the world's opprobrium or opinion hold against that? It is devinely inspired, while the rest of the world are just appalled, caring humans who object to such things.
Who are you going to listen to, the war and storm god, or humanity?
Any conference on human rights violations that wasn't rigged with absurd stipulations and riddled with lies would by nature obviate American participation.
What other racial bigot is boycotting this Racism Conference?
Pan
They are still in control of us and our money, billions and billions forever.
justice and liberty for ALLLL
The US shouldn't be involved in a UN conference unless Israel is included in the finial document condeming racism!!!
Zionist are self centered because they think "God" made them better than anyone else! And are willing to kill others to make their point! "God" made them the SAME or in their case ...as stupid, as anyone else but not better!
Wow. What a surprise.
A violent, racist, bigoted, religiously intolerant state (the US) refusing to participate in a conference on racism unless criticism of a client state that is also violent, racist, bigoted and religiously intolerant (Israel) is dropped.
And to think the present leader of the US promised 'Hope (tm)' and 'Change (tm)'...