Published on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 by the Washington Post
US Appears Set to Boycott UN Session on Racism
Conference Stance on Israel Is at Issue; Advocacy Groups Criticize White House
The Obama administration appears to be standing by its decision to boycott the World Conference Against Racism next week in Geneva, despite efforts to focus and tone down language in a draft conference document viewed as hostile toward Israel.
The preliminary conference document ran 45 pages and called for reparations for slavery, condemned the “validation of Islamophobia,” and asserted that Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians is grounded in racism.
In response to objections raised by negotiators from the Obama administration, the document has since been dramatically shortened and many of its sharp statements have been removed. Still, the administration seems uninterested in attending, stoking frustration among activist groups who have said that it is ironic that the nation’s first black president would choose that course.
“For his administration not to be present at this global conversation is a disappointment,” said Imani Countess, senior director for public affairs at TransAfrica Forum, an advocacy group that focuses on U.S. foreign policy. “For President Bush not to participate, that would have been expected. For Barack Obama’s administration not to participate sends a disappointing signal. It says these issues are not important.”
TransAfrica sent a letter to Obama late last week urging him to send a delegation to the United Nations-sponsored meeting, saying that to do otherwise would contradict his promise to engage even with nations that hold views that are contrary to those held by the United States. Moreover, the letter said, U.S. participation would send an important message to the rest of the world.
“U.S. participation in the conference is critical for both symbolic and political reasons,” said the letter, which was also signed by other leaders, including Jesse L. Jackson and the heads of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.
“Nations are watching your administration and will decide either to withdraw, or to lower the level of their participation, if the U.S. doesn’t participate,” the letter continued. “Reduced global participation would mark a significant setback to efforts to overcome racial inequality around the world.”
White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said that although progress has been made in revising the draft text, concerns remain. “We hope that these remaining concerns will be addressed, so that the United States can reengage the conference negotiations in the hopes of arriving at a conference document that we can support,” he said.
The White House offered no further details. But last week a bipartisan group of House members sent a letter to Obama congratulating him for deciding to boycott the meeting, which is scheduled to begin Monday.
“We applaud you for making it clear that the United States will not participate in a conference that undermines freedom of expression and is tainted by an anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic agenda,” said the letter signed by seven members of Congress.
Israel and several Jewish advocacy groups have urged the United States and other nations not to take part in the conference. Canada and Italy have said they will not attend, and several other U.S. allies, including Australia, are considering not participating, according to representatives of several advocacy groups.
The week-long conference is expected to bring together delegations from countries around the globe and representatives of hundreds of nongovernmental organizations to take stock of the progress made in fighting bias since the last World Conference Against Racism was held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001. At that gathering, much of the discussion focused on Israeli treatment of Palestinians. The United States walked out of that meeting to protest an effort to compare Zionism to racism.
The United Nations has been working on next week’s conference for the past three years, mostly without input from the United States. After Obama took office, he sent a delegation to Geneva, raising hopes that his administration would become a full partner in the effort. Hopes were lifted further when Obama had the United States rejoin the U.N. Human Rights Council.
But after sending the delegation to a preliminary meeting in Geneva, the administration declared the meeting’s document unfocused, hostile to Israel and essentially not salvageable. After that, the document was heavily edited. Its original length was cut by half and specific mentions of Israel and the need to pay reparations for slavery were deleted.
The new draft created a sense among advocacy groups that the administration would reverse its decision. But the changes have apparently not been sufficient to win Obama’s support.
“This is a big blow,” Countess said. “Given the high priority the administration places on international engagement and multilateralism, this is just a little bit baffling.”
The Obama administration appears to be standing by its decision to boycott the World Conference Against Racism next week in Geneva, despite efforts to focus and tone down language in a draft conference document viewed as hostile toward Israel.
Did you expect any other action from the ZOG occupied government of Obama? The downfall of the US will be from the jews, perhaps the aggression from states like Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan seem appropriate to balance the scale of influence of the jews within the US.
Its sad that US soldiers die as ‘patriots and heros, while Palestinian women and children die a ‘collateral damage and terrorists’. I hope Obama has upped the production of body bags.
” Did you expect any other action from the ZOG occupied government of Obama? The downfall of the US will be from the jews, perhaps the aggression from states like Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan seem appropriate to balance the scale of influence of the jews within the US.” (Garfield said)
Garfield, I listened to a wonderful interview yesterday on Ring of Fire which I wish I could post here for you to listen to but I can’t. David Bender interviewed Nobel Peace Prize-winner Elie Wiesel who wrote the book night and talked about many topics of interest to me and even inspired me with how his experience in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II inspired his activist work over the last 60 years. If you go to the site you could listen to part of the interview.
My question for you Garfield is will you listen with an open mind? Will you as a dedicated White Nationalist who supports the President of Iran in achieving his goals really listen to the point of understanding that you White Nationalists are playing with fire. Yes, the radical Muslims agree and share your goals of destroying the United States and Israel off the face of the earth because of your hate toward Jews and for us supporting the state of Israel?
I know the enemy of my enemy is my friend and like Hitler who made pacts with the Muslims during his reign of power in Nazi Germany because of that common hate toward the Jewish people. I know you White Nationalists taught me that the Jews were a race, but thinking about it, I don’t think they are a race but a religion like Catholic, Muslim, Pagan, Protestant etc religions. I have to remember to stop thinking of White Jewish people as a seperate race from me. All races can believe in the Jewish religion. I will try harder not to use the term Jewish race any longer because I think that that is just left over brainwashing.
Do you really trust the President of Iran and the other radical Muslims not to turn on you White Nationalists after they have used you to achieve their goal of the destruction of the WEST and ISRAEL? Do you really think that they would let White Nationalists who do not convert to their RADICAL MUSLIM FAITH that believes that if one doesn’t convert that they must be killed? You don’t believe in a GOD so in their eyes you are worst than a Christian who believes in some GOD. I know your brother converted to the faith to marry the woman he loves, but do you know what they do to Muslims who convert to the Christian faith? They kill them.
Yes, you share the common goal and I do understand that many of you know that by joining and working together toward your common goal that you will be in a better chance to gain the political power to bring into reality your vision for the world. I do understand that it is actually your best shot of getting the political power you want. To not be working to gain political power for White Nationalists is a waste of time and energy as John Tyndale pointed out at the 2004 Euro Conference. His speech was powerful and motivated everyone there who was there. Gathered there was the best of the White Nationalists. Garfield the enemy of my enemy is not always your friend either.
One of the biggest problems you White Nationalists have that are smart, shrewd, and like David Duke, Don Black and others who I have met is that one of your biggest hurdles is controling some of those within your own ranks. Don Black has said it time and time again, but I don’t think a lot of you guys understand what he is saying. Your Cause is full of nuts, criminals, loosers, women haters, Catholic haters, clowns in nazi uniforms and white sheets, people who think armed and violent revolution over working to gain political power on the world stage, and wrapping yourselves in symbols of the Third Reich that FAILED. You do not always attract the best and the brightest because of the stupid idiots who say they support your Cause and quality leaders like David Duke and Don Black, but don’t listen but go their own way and do STUPID IDIOT STUNTS that normal Americans are turned off by.
Yes, the American teabaggers are angy and the climate in American politics is that they will listen to your message. Yet, if you can’t control the idiots than whatever gains you made will be lost in an instant. Don’t think that Progressives won’t FIGHT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They may have taken you guys for granted in the past, but the time is coming where they will not be laughing at your Cause and leaders as a BIG JOKE!!!!!! They will finally understand that to continue on the path of taken you guys for granted is the path to the fall of the United States and Israel. They are waking up to the truth that this is a WAR they are fighting for their very survival.
It is also true that David Duke has more international clout than clout in America. HE speaks many languages and can speak directly to heads of state. He is smart, well educated and has taught some of the brightest future political leaders in Russia, Europe, and America. When he speaks to people in the radical Muslim states and the ARAB world he is greated with cheers and support for what he is saying. They are listening to him.
We are living in interesting times Garfield, I do believe that David knows that the time is right for him to come back to the States and work on building a base of support from the tea baggers on top of the large base of support he already has. I do not write him off or any of the smart, bright young men I knew, worked with, and know that for much to long Progressives have allowed you guys to work under the radar. It won’t be easy, but if he can reign in the stupid idiots who do more harm than help him, and seperate himself from the nuts who don’t understand that Hitler would have wanted this generation of White Nationalists to toss out the third reich symbols etc and find a way to bring that same message of hate but packaged in a new way that this generation will respond to; then you guys will LOOSE!!!!!
We the United States of America and not zog. Garfield, even David Duke and Don Black know that to use the term zog hurts them. Why do you think that they are working so hard to educate you all not to fit into the image that the mainstream media and Progressives paint you as. You are not the trailor park trash who are stupid and marry your first cousains. You are not poor and are anything like what you see on the Jerry Springer show. Many of you are well educated Southern men who love your Southern heritiage and culture. Many of you have the income and means to support your cause with money, time, wisdom, and power. They love the Confederate flags and still believe in states rights over federal rights and talk of succession from the United States. Their love for the South is as strong as my love for the United States as one union.
I don’t know what is going to happen Garfield. But I do know that we must continue to support Israel in whatever why we can to make sure that she is not destroyed off the face of the earth like you and your Muslim friends desire and dream of.
Progressives know that what is happening to the people in Gaza and the West Bank is WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of the most honest and honorable Presidents Jimmy Carter spoke out and told the truth. He didn’t say what he said because he HATE ISRAEL or the Jewish people but because he knows that what is happening is inflaming the situation and not bringing the world any closer to finding a real and lasting peace.
Secretary of State Mrs. Clinton is not stupid and being that her husband was also President who had to deal with the situation; will hopefully in a loving way tell Israel that they are making some mistakes, but at the same time, we must understand why Israel is doing what they are doing. There is a head of state who has called for their destruction. They have to fight sucide bombers who attack their cities and their citizens die!!!!!!! Both sides have truth on their side. Yet, it seems that many people just harshly judge Israel and do not try and help her find a solution that will keep the citizens of Israel SAFE!!!!! What kind of nation would Israel be if it allowed its citizens to be killed, bombed, etc and did nothing to try and PROTECT their PEOPLE?
Right now, I feel that someone has to speak out for ISRAEL and it just happens to be us the United States. Someone has to speak out about ISRAEL’S right to exist and live in peace and safety. Yet, we must be firm and speak out against their actions that only hinder the goal of a lasting peace that is fair to all sides.
Yes, our brave troops are being killed. I am sure that no PRESIDENT wants to see American soldiers killed in battle. I am sure that no PRESIDENT wants to be the one to give the order to send the troops into battle knowing that our soldiers could be injured or killed. It should not be easy!!!!!
We are living in dangerous times. The battle is coming that we all know must be fought one day. The times are different the people are different but it is the same battle we fought in WWII of if we as a world are going to allow a whole group of people to be killed and wiped off the face of the earth because they are Jewish or because they support the Jewish State of ISRAEL!!!! In America it is the same battle that the North and South have been fighting since our creation of states rights vs federal rights. The issue is not slavery but do the states of the right to make their own Laws or do we as a federal government have the right to come into states who make laws that deny other Americans the same basic rights as White Americans. Our country is young compared to other nations in the world. Many times the issues that divide us come to play with each generation though many times in a different way.
Garfield, I do enjoy your comments and talking to you. You are smart, well educated and love your family. You only want what is best. We come from different nations and that has shaped us to be the people we are today. I have a better idea of what you are living under and I am glad you are moving to the UK and your children will be able to leave South Africa and have a chance for hopefully a better life. I want all children in the world to have a better life than our generation had. I think all generations want the next generation to have a better life than we did. I would hope that someday Jewish and Arab children would see the day when they can live at peace with each other side by side and not have to live in FEAR.
I am a Progressive because I believe that Progressives really do want to find a way for peace.
Chrisy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V6sWEl6ZFI
Once you get there, I hope you can listen to part two. It is a historic interview and I encourage you as a well educated man to listen to.
Garfield, I would hope that you White Nationalists would really listen with an open mind and heart. I know you love your family and want your children to have a better life. You guys never think of Jewish children and the quality of their life.
I do not agree with you as you do not agree with me. We might even be fighting against each other, but I still love and care for your children as I love all children in the world. I don’t want any children to suffer and Progressives don’t want Arab children to suffer, but you White Nationalists along with the radical Muslims who want to see Israel destroyed to not care about the future for Jewish children. You don’t want real peace you only want to see the destruction of Israel because your HATE is blinding you. There can be no real and lasting peace until your side agrees that Israel has the right to exist.
You and your White Nationalists like to say that the United States is hated and attacked because of our support for Israel. There is some truth, but it is also more complicated than that. I as an American am glad that the United States supports and defends Israel’s right to exist and live in peace in the middle east and should not have to fear because there are people in the world that want to see Israel and the Jewish people destroyed off the face of the earth.
The Holocaust is past and yes, I think the to much time and energy is spent on the past and not enough focus is placed on the current threat that faces Israel, The United States, and the Jewish and American people. The Man (The President of Iran) that many of you White Nationalists support, approve and talk to and give advice to is not a man of peace and good will. He is a man who because of hate is spreading that hate and together with White Nationalists who share his goal will cause much suffering and I believe is an evil man.
If God is love, than hate is from the evil one. White Nationalism is not about love but hate. No matter how much you try and twist it and fool people to think it is about love; those of us who grew up in that twisted poison playground because our parents or one of our parents is White Nationalists and filled with hate toward others who are different or believe different and are one of the few who see through the lies know it is truly about hate. I don’t hate anyone, but White Nationalists do.
The radical Muslims that you White Nationalists support also do not show the world that they are a people who love others and want peace. How does one find a peaceful solution where all the people in the Middle East live in peace when the other side wants to see you destroyed off the face of the earth and kill you because of your religious faith? These evil men deny women human rights, murder Christians, Jews, Americans and others of the West, journalists, and will not stop until they have achieved their goal of a Middle East without Israel and a world without Jews and the United States.
Garfield, yesterday when I couldn’t post the link directly for you and your fellow White Nationalists to listen to I did mention that I had suggested you come and listen to the interview. I also posted our exchange. If you decide to comment, you know you will most likely be treated like before. Is what I do, is I post but don’t interact to much but post my story so that Progressives will WAKE UP and START FIGHTING. If you have any comments to me, please make them here as I won’t respond to you on Ring of Fire as I don’t interact because I don’t want to get into the drama. People can say whatever they want about me there and I do not respond.
Garfield, as you may have read I am dealing with some health problems and I don’t have time to waste on drama, drama, drama. My work is to important to me to waste whatever time I have left on the world in fighting with those who do not understand my mission. As long as I am alive to fight I will work to WAKE PROGRESSIVE MEN UP TO THE TRUTH THAT WHITE NATIONALISM IS NO JOKE and IF THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN AND ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD INCLUDING JEWISH CHILDREN TO HAVE A WORLD OF PEACE AND SAFETY THEY MUST START TO GET REAL AND NOT CONTINUE TO DENY THE THREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also know that people don’t understand why I enjoy talking to you or you enjoy talking to me, but you and I both know that it is IMPORTANT to know what the other side is thinking. What better way than talking to each other and sharing with each other. I respect you and others like Don Black who are dedicated to what you believe. One can respect someone from the other side if you think they have courage, and have passion and try to be fair and are willing to seek a solution so that all people can live in peace. I know some will never understand our relationship and how I can enjoy our conversations, have real and caring feelings for your family and children and wanting them to have a good life, or even respect you for your intelligence and thoughts. You and Don Black or one of the few people who I respect. There are others but I will not name them. I name Don Black because he is public and one of the top leaders. It does not mean Garfield that you and I are buddies who are going to meet in real life and share a beer among friends. It does not mean I will invite you to my house for dinner and a night of fun and fellowship. It does mean that by talking to each other that there is a link open for us to reason and hopefully find a solution so that there can be real peace in the world. If we burn all bridges with the enemy than there is no way a reasonable solution can be found that will ensure that all the children in the world, who we should love and put before us adults can be explored. I do hope you will keep this link open with me.
Chrisy
Back to part one.
Elie Weasel. Perhaps you should google a man named Miklos Gruner and read what he has to say about the man he was with the camps called Lazar Wiesel, when Miklos was reunited with ‘Lazar’ he didn’t recognize him but remember his tattoo number A 7713. When he asked Elie to show he his tat he wouldn’t.
Miklos recalls:
“I was very happy at the idea of meeting Lazar but when I got out of the plane, I was stunned to see a man I didn’t recognize at all, who didn’t even speak Hungarian and who was speaking English in a strong French accent… so, our meeting was over in about ten minutes. As a goodbye gift, the man gave me a book titled “Night” of which he claimed to be the author. I accepted the book I didn’t know at that time but told everyone there that this man was not the person he pretended to be!”
Miklos says:
— After that meeting with Elie Wiesel, I did research everywhere I could for twenty years and found out that the man calling himself Elie Wiesel has never been in a Nazi camp since he doesn’t figure on any official list of detainees.
Miklos also found out that the book Elie Wiesel gave him in 1986 as something he has written himself was in fact written in Hungarian in 1955 by Miklos old friend Lazar Wiesel and published in Paris under the title “A Világ Hallgat”, meaning approximately “The Silence of the World.” The book was then shortened and rewritten in French as well as in English in order to be published under the author’s name Elie Wiesel in 1958, under the french title “La Nuit” and the English title “Night.” Ten million copies of the book were sold in the world by Elie Wiesel who even received a Nobel prize for it in 1986 while — says Miklos — the real author Lazar Wiesel was mysteriously missing…
“Elie Wiesel, so admired by many U. S. Catholic leaders, is in fact a con man who has enriched himself with his tall tales. Although courted by various misguided Church representatives, he is actually an outspoken enemy of traditional Catholicism, and should play no role whatsoever in Catholic life in this country. It is also evident that both Wiesel and the NYT [New York Times] are comfortable using true lies to promote the Jewish holocaust story and, in turn, Israel.”
– David O’Connell
Enough said about this weasel, he is a fake and has been exposed as such. He laments the holocaust to all who will hear him, he talks of “of peace, atonement and human dignity” to humanity”. What a joke, he condemned the Goldstone report and claims the jews have sole right to Jerusalem.
Next……………………
“I as an American am glad that the United States supports and defends Israel’s right to exist and live in peace in the middle east and should not have to fear because there are people in the world that want to see Israel and the Jewish people destroyed off the face of the earth.”
It is really sad why you don’t offer the same support to other nations, the only reason the US offers such support is because they are jews. The truth is the US government knows that by funding the jews they keep the attacks off US soil, and they can manipulate the situation to their own gain. History has shown us your Vietnam, Korea and most other countries you have invaded was for selfish US gain, and you still wonder why the world hates the US?
You refer to progressives the know its wrong…………………. all that rhetoric is mere lip service, you are an American and what your government does is by your popular ‘democratic’ vote, you can’t be a RC when it only suites you, you are RC through thick and thin right? So hence the actions of the US are your actions as citizens of that nation.
“If God is love, than hate is from the evil one. White Nationalism is not about love but hate”.
That is merely a matter of opinion, truth is relative whether religious or ideological. Their is no true religion only followers that assume it to be THEIR truth.
“, and will not stop until they have achieved their goal of a Middle East without Israel and a world without Jews and the United States”.
Agreed and the problem is?
“I do hope you will keep this link open with me”.
Why wouldn’t I, we each have our own ideas. I am not here to impose my beliefs but merely offer my opinion to what is offered as truth.
Garfield, I am glad you are keeping the link open because I think it is important for reasonable people who truly do want the children of the world to have a bright future try and sort out the issues that seem to make real peace a dream that has failed to become reality.
On the news today, CNN had the story of your friend and ally the President of Iran who visted a university there who was greeted not with cheers but with angry students who are very unhappy with the lack of freedom in Iran. Students have been killed for protesting the oppression. Yet, White Nationalists seem to think this same man is this glorious man who is a hero for standing up to the Jews and the United States. You guys cheer, support, talk to and give advice to this man who is one head of state who shares your hate for Israel and the United States. Yet, his own people do not support him and if given a chance for a free election would vote him out. He is not the hero that White Nationalists think he is. He is useful to you White Nationalists achieving your political goals because you share those very same goals.
Yes, we are all Americans, but inside of America we have two major parties. Elections do have results. Inside America there is a big difference between Progressives and American White Nationalists that tend to be Republicans; where as Progressives tend to be Democratic. Our policy changes depending who is elected into office. It is also true that when Americans travel overseas we support the President who is in power and know that he is the one who speaks for America and Americans.
On the internet, I could see where it would get confusing to non Americans seeing us fight among ourselves because of the different political views. When I talk about Progressives vs White Nationalists I am talking about within the United States and fighting for our National political values to be the ones in power as to determine how we will deal on the international stage.
Right now after 8 years of the Republicans in charge of the international stage we have had close to 2 years of the Democrats in charge of the international stage. We have a mid term election in Nov. It won’t change who is head of our state but might change the make up of the Congress and other state and local issues.
It has always been considered un patriotic and un American for an American citizen to travel to other nations and condemn American policy in the world, condemn our President, and act like he is speaking for America and Americans. That is one reason Garfield, I have so little respect for David Duke and his speeches where he acts like he is talking for America and Americans.
I hope this helps you to understand a little better our political system within the United States. Our system of government is very different than what you have in South Africa. I do like the British system and find it interesting because third parties have a chance to gain political power whereas in the states we are still for the most part a two party system though there are some of us who are third party like me who is in the Green Party. With the results of the British election it looks like their might be changes in their government. What did you think of the results in the British election being that you are going to be moving to the UK soon?
Yes, one is a Roman Catholic all the time and is not a Catholic only when it suit them. The Catholic church has always been a church that has believed and fought for human rights for all people around the world. We have sent priests, nuns, and lay people to help the sick and poor. We have built Catholic hospitals to heal the sick. We have built Catholic schools and universities to educate the young. Many of us believe in the social outreach that Jesus would have us do.
We also have more traditonal Catholics which I consider myself to be. I am old fashion and believe in the traditonal role of a woman. I believe that the husband is the head of the home and the wife the heart of the home. They both work together for the common goal and she is to be his helpmate and to be his best friend, companion, and his most trusted person as he is to be her protector, provider, teacher, leader and her best friend, companion, and most trusted person in her life. I have always been to strong willed and need one person in my life I respect enough to obey without question and I have always needed a protector. So I believe in the old wedding vows of the woman saying she will love, honor and obey, and the man saying he will love, honor and protect.
There are other Catholics who are not so traditonal and that is fine too. Woman must be allowed to choose the role she wants in life without being made to feel guilty. More modern Catholic woman should be allowed to choose their life without being made to feel guilty and old fashion woman like myself should not be made to feel guilty for choosing a role is more to our liking.
I know you don’t see it as a problem for the destruction of Israel and the United States. You agree with me in my assessment. You then must admit that no matter what Israel or the United States offered at the table to build a peace aggreement that everything we offered would be rejected or accepted but with fingers crossed as your side would not live up to the agreement. So there can be no peace until your side is willing to accept that Israel is a state that has a right to exist and live in peace in the Middle East.
You can’t play it both ways and accuse the United States and Israel as being the bad guys when no matter what is offered your side will not live up to the aggreement and there will be no peace. We are trying to find peace and your side only wants WAR.
Chrisy