Canada Leads Boycott of U.N. Racism Farce

[Oleg Bach]

Mayor Miller is going to put dirt and weeds on the top of city hall...for a few million bucks..what other evidence do you need?

[g_bambino]

Mayor Miller is going to put dirt and weeds on the top of city hall...for a few million bucks..what other evidence do you need?

Ahem... That's my project you're talking about so sneeringly, and I'll tell you that the hours I and the rest of the team put in at the office to design that bitch resulted in something substantially more than just dirt and weeds, thank you very much. It's called a green roof, and in future you'll have more and more opportunity to look into them as the number of them around our cities increases.

[bush_cheney2004]

....Does Israel want peace?

I don't believe so. Not any more.

Peace is way overrated anyway....good for them.

[normanchateau]

Ahmadinejad told delegates at the summit in Switzerland on Monday, that after the Second World War the United States and other nations had established a "cruel, oppressive and racist regime in occupied Palestine".

Ahmadinejad's comments are absurd. Israelis and Palestinians are of the same race. It's a religious dispute. Ahmadinejad leads a country whose parliament voted overwhelmingly in 2008 to permit the execution of those who chose to convert from Islam to Christianity. Imposing the death penalty for changing religion blatantly violates one of the most fundamental of all human rights. The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and in the European Convention of Human Rights.

Ahmadinejad also claims that the Holocaust is a "myth".

Harper deserves credit for boycotting a conference where a Holocaust-denier is treated with credibility.

[Smallc]

Harper deserves credit for boycotting a conference where a Holocaust-denier is treated with credibility.

100% agreement.

[tango]

Peace is way overrated anyway

Only to arms dealers.

[jbg]

Peace is way overrated anyway....good for them.

Peace is always a good thing. But what's overrated and indeed flatly wrong is the "peace of the grave" created by appeasement and surrender. Peace is only peace if it's accompanied by freedom and human progress. Neville Chamberlain's and Jimmy Carter's "peace" are its antithesis.

[normanchateau]

100% agreement.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also deserves credit for stating that he deplored "the use of this platform by the Iranian president to accuse, divide and even incite. "

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...X7V6VwD97O4G082

And so does the Parliament of Canada for unanimous condemnation of Iran for persecution of the Baha'is who have been falsely accused of spying for Israel:

http://news.bahai.org/story/706

Yet the Canadian media and the UN seem to have little interest in how Iran treats their own religious minorities.

[Argus]

And you are suggesting that is discrimination rather than reality

Unquestionably.

Re Israel, Noam Chomsky says: "Security was always a lower priority than expansion.", referencing a study by Zeev Moaz.

Well then it MUST be true.

And "Israel is deliberately turning itself into perhaps the most hated country in the world..."

It is? How? Start with the understanding that on the world scale of such things, the Israelis' treatment of the Palestinians has been kind, gentle, tolerant and very, very restrained.

If the Palestinians were acting this way in most of the world's Arab countries - well, they wouldn't, plain and simple. Machine gun fire and tanks would have greeted the first demo, and there'd not have been another. Any mullah or community leader speaking out against the govenrment would be dead, and his entire extended family put into prison. What you and the other liberals can't quite seem to grasp is that you don't have repeated stone-throwing demonstrations and attacks on people in a dictatorship. You need a place with a degree of freedom for that to develop and be sustained. I mean, come on. What do you think would happen to a bunch of Chechins who decided to riot and throw stones at Russian troops?

It'd be an interesting experiment to pick up a few thousand Palestinians and send them to North Korea on an exchange visit. They'd probably come back and get down on their knees to thank Allah for their freedom.

Edited April 23, 2009 by Argus

[normanchateau]

The conference was boycotted by nine countries, namely Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, and the US. EU president The Czech Republic left on the first day and boycotted the remainder of the conference while 23 members of the union sent low-level delegations.

Among the concerns expressed by the western countries was that the conference would not deal with discrimination against homosexuals.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/fe...ism_83979.shtml

The media rarely report that many of the same countries which accuse Israel of "racism" also jail people for homosexuality.

[myata]

Since when is sexual orientation a race? I thought the conference was about racism, so how are the two issues related?

[normanchateau]

Since when is sexual orientation a race? I thought the conference was about racism, so how are the two issues related?

Officially, yes, the conference was about racism but the reality was somewhat different. Why would Israelis be accused of racism against Palestinians? Israelis and Palestinians are of the same race. Both are Semetic.

[jbg]

The conference was boycotted by nine countries, namely Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, and the US. EU president The Czech Republic left on the first day and boycotted the remainder of the conference while 23 members of the union sent low-level delegations.

Among the concerns expressed by the western countries was that the conference would not deal with discrimination against homosexuals.

The concern should have been that the ethnic butchery and/or enslavement that is an everyday occurence in Sudan, Pakistan, China and the like is off-limits.

[jbg]

Officially, yes, the conference was about racism but the reality was somewhat different. Why would Israelis be accused of racism against Palestinians? Israelis and Palestinians are of the same race. Both are Semetic.

But remember the U.N., your favorite group, defined Zionism as "a form of racism and racial discrimination".

Edited May 2, 2009 by jbg

[myata]

Officially, yes, the conference was about racism but the reality was somewhat different. Why would Israelis be accused of racism against Palestinians? Israelis and Palestinians are of the same race. Both are Semetic.

I'm sure the broad definition of racism includes any sort of ethnic discrimination. Would you mind consulting a dictionary to that extent?

Of, which, BTW, on the part of Israel in this conflict, there's very little doubt, from expropriation of property, to creeping annexation by building illegal settlements to restricting mobility. Whether Ahemenajad, whatever would make appearance, or not.

But I'm sure us, (otherwise) righteous and human rights conscious West would always find a "just cause" to walk out, from anywhere that doesn't suit our views.

[myata]

OK, I'll do it for you:

"According to the United Nations conventions, there is no distinction between the term racial discrimination and ethnic discrimination."

Wikipedia: Racism

[jbg]

Of, which, BTW, on the part of Israel in this conflict, there's very little doubt, from expropriation of property, to creeping annexation by building illegal settlements to restricting mobility. Whether Ahemenajad, whatever would make appearance, or not.

But I'm sure us, (otherwise) righteous and human rights conscious West would always find a "just cause" to walk out, from anywhere that doesn't suit our views.

By your logic, why is the ethnic butchery and/or enslavement that is an everyday occurence in Sudan, Pakistan, China and the like off-limits?

I know I made a similar post two above or so but you predictably ignored it.

[myata]

Because, unlike the examples cited, we officially (and proudly, as per O.P.) support ethnic discrimination aka racism in the definition of the UN, persistently perpetrated by one side in this conflict.

No such practices should be offlimit with anybody pretending to any credibility, and that is exactly my point. I doubt credibility's being the point here. It's just a load of bs for whoever happens to swallow.

[myata]

What a perfect example of what may transpire when you start setting "moral" standards (racism, etc), for others. Somebody may just ask to test it upon yourself, for a change. And then - you proudly walk away. Citing homosexuals; unrestricted right to eat in MacDonald; be brainwashed by advertising and bshitting democratic governtments; whatever other proud cause/reason.

Who cares to pick'n sort in the bs. It's all the same, whether coming from Ahemenajad, or truly democratic government.

[normanchateau]

OK, I'll do it for you:

"According to the United Nations conventions, there is no distinction between the term racial discrimination and ethnic discrimination."

Wikipedia: Racism

My point was that Israelis and Palestinians are of the same race, notwithstanding religious differences. Therefore one group cannot be accused of racism against the other despite whatever bullshit terminology the UN and Ahmadinejad spew.

Quotes from your very own Wikipedia source:

"The UN does not define racism."

"According to the Oxford English Dictionary, racism is a belief or ideology that all members of each racial group possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as being either superior or inferior to another racial group or racial groups. The Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular racial group, and that it is also the prejudice based on such a belief. The Macquarie Dictionary defines racism as: "the belief that human races have distinctive characteristics which determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others."

Changing the definition of racism in order to be able to accuse Israel of racism serves the purposes of those who would deny Israel's right to exist.

[myata]

My point was that Israelis and Palestinians are of the same race, notwithstanding religious differences. Therefore one group cannot be accused of racism against the other despite whatever bullshit terminology the UN and Ahmadinejad spew.

Well if you can't understand "ethnic discrimination = racism", I don't think I can do much for you here. Yes selective reading (and quoting) would certainly help to further the point further a few millimeters (which is, otherwise, undefendable).

[DogOnPorch]

Well if you can't understand "ethnic discrimination = racism", I don't think I can do much for you here. Yes selective reading (and quoting) would certainly help to further the point further a few millimeters (which is, otherwise, undefendable).

How about the term 'visible minority' and things like the Employment Equity Act? Are they also examples of racism?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_equity_(Canada)

[bjre]

By your logic, why is the ethnic butchery and/or enslavement that is an everyday occurence in Sudan, Pakistan, China and the like off-limits?

I know I made a similar post two above or so but you predictably ignored it.

And lies and cheatings in Canada everyday to fool Canadians.

[bjre]

By your logic, why is the ethnic butchery and/or enslavement that is an everyday occurence in Sudan, Pakistan, China and the like off-limits?

I know I made a similar post two above or so but you predictably ignored it.

Sorry, I did not know you are from US before I know it from your profile. (You said you are from near NYC).

Let's see the human right situation in US last year:

I. On Life and Personal Security

Widespread violent crimes in the United States pose serious threats to its people's lives, property and personal security.

According to a report published in September 2008 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the country reported 1.4 million violent crimes, including 17,000 murders (The Washington Post, June 10, 2008), and 9.8 million property crimes (The World Journal, September 16, 2008) in 2007. Throughout 2007, the estimated number of robberies counted 445,125, a 7.5 percent rise over the last five years (The Washington Post, September 16, 2008). In cities with 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants, the number of murders increased by 3.7 percent than 2006 (The Washington Post, June 10, 2008). In those with populations of 10,000 to 30,000, the number of violent crimes rose 2.4 percent than 2006 (The Washington Post, September 16, 2008). U.S. residents age 12 and older experienced an estimated 23 million crimes of violence or theft. The violent crime rate in 2007 was 20.7 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older; for property crimes it was 146.5 per 1,000 households. (Criminal Victimization, 2007, U.S. Department of Justice, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cv07.htm). Among cities with relatively high violence and murders rates, New Orleans reported 95 murders per 100,000 population, Baltimore 45, Detroit 44, St. Louis 40, Philadelphia 27.8, Houston 16.2, and Dallas 16.1 (The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 10, 2008). In the United States, one murder is committed every 31 minutes, one rape in every 5.8 minutes, and one burglary every 14.5 seconds (The Washington Post, September 16, 2008).

Guns are widespread in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court asserted that Americans had an individual right to possess and use firearms, even when the guns are not related to service in a government militia, the Christian Science Monitor reported on June 27, 2008. Statistics show that the U.S. citizens own about 200 million private guns, including 60 to 65 million pistols. A total of 48 states in the United States allow its residents to bear guns (The China Press, October 16, 2008), while it is believed that one can buy a gun at gun shows in 35 states without a background check (United Press International, October 3, 2008). A gun store outside Nashville, Tennessee, sold 70 guns on November5, 2008 alone (http://www.usqiaobao.com). More than 20 airports in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities allow people with gun permits to carry firearms in the general public areas of the terminal (The China Press, October 15, 2008). A local high school in north Texas even let some teachers carry concealed weapons (The New York Times, August 29, 2008). The Washington Post reported on December 5, 2007 that 10 states, including Virginia, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Mississippi, supplied 57 percent of the guns that were recovered in crimes in other states in 2007. The 10 states with the highest crime-gun export rates had nearly 60 percent more gun homicides than the 10 states with the lowest rates.

The frequent occurrences of gun killings were a serious threat to the lives of U.S. citizens. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.35 million high school students in 2007 were either threatened or injured with a weapon at least once on school property (United Press International, October 3, 2008). Young people represent an expanding proportion of all shooting victims, from 13 percent in 2002 to more than 21 percent in 2007. According to a Harvard University survey of high school students in 2006, a fifth of the 1,200 questioned in schools across Boston had witnessed a shooting. More than 40 percent believed it was easy to get a gun, and 28 percent said they did not feel safe on the bus or train (The Boston Globe, September 18, 2008). In the 2007-08 school year, a record 34 Chicago Public School students were killed (The Chicago Tribune, April 2, 2008). Within a week from February 7, 2008, the United States had seven shooting incidents, leading to 23 deaths and dozens of injuries. On March 27, 2008, five people in Georgia and Kentucky were shot dead (The Associated Press, March 27, 2008, March 28, 2008). On the night of April 18, nine shootings were reported in a period ofless than two hours in Chicago (The Chicago Tribune, April 21, 2008). In November, Baltimore had 31 shootings (The Baltimore Sun, December 2, 2008). On December 24, 2008, a man dressed in a Santa costume shot at a Christmas Eve party at his ex-parents-in-law's house, causing eight deaths, three injuries and three missing persons (The China Press, December 26, 2008).

Edited May 4, 2009 by bjre

[bjre]

II. On Civil and Political Rights

In the United States, an increasing number of restrictions have been imposed on civil rights.

According to a report on the Washington Post website on April 4,2008, the deep-packet inspection, a brand new surveillance technology, which has been applied, is able to record every visited web page, every sent email and every online search. Statistics indicated that at least 100,000 U.S. Internet users had been tracked and the service providers had conducted tests on as many as 10 percent of the U.S. netizens (The Washington Post, April 4, 2008). The FBI has been engaged in illegal surveillance launched by the U.S. government nationwide, obtaining thousands of people's phone records, bank accounts and other personal information by unwarranted means.

The Seattle Times reported on July 15, 2008 that President Bush signed a bill on July 10 that overhauls government eavesdropping and called it "landmark legislation that is vital to the security of our people." The new law grants legal immunity to telecommunication companies that take part in wiretapping programs and authorizes the government to wiretap international communications betweens parties outside the U.S. for anti-terrorism purposes without court approval. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security disclosed in July 2008 that as part of border search policies, federal agents may take a traveler's laptop computer or other electronic device to an off-site location for an unspecified period of time without any suspicion of wrongdoing (The Washington Post, August 1, 2008). The New York Times reported on December 8, 2008 that the National Security Agency illegally wiretapped a Muslim scholar named Ali al-Timimi in Northern Virginia and intentionally withheld materials gained through eavesdropping during a 2005 trial, in which the scholar was convicted on terrorism charges. These materials may provide evidences that the U.S. government's eavesdropping program has violated its citizens' civil rights.

Police abuse of force infringed on the civil rights of Americans. According to a report by the Chicago Tribune on June 25,2008, Chicago witnessed eight shootings by police officers in two weeks in June, causing five with fatalities. Shapell Terrell, a 39-year-old sanitation worker, was fatally shot by police officers on June 22 at the entrance of a two-story building, where all four apartments were filled with family members (The Chicago Tribune, June 23, 2008). Luis Colon, an 18-year-old man in Chicago, was shot and killed by a plainclothes police officer on June 24, when he was walking with his girlfriend to meet friends and eat at a restaurant (The Chicago Tribune, June 25, 2008). Daryl Battle, 20, was shot dead in his Brooklyn apartment in New York City on the morning of August 2, 2008. Michael Mineo was sodomized by a police officer's baton on October 15, on a busy Brooklyn subway platform (The New York Times, December 10, 2008). Gilberto Blanco was shot and killed when he was swinging a folding chair in front of a policewoman named Dawn Ortiz in a parking lot near the Coney Island church (The New York Times, December 1, 2008).

The proportion of U.S. prisoners to its population has hit a new high. The Washington Post reported on July 11, 2008 that the United States has 2.3 million criminals behind bars, more than any other nation in the world. A report issued by the U.S. Department of Justice on December 11, 2008 said that over 7.3 million people were on probation, in jail or on parole at the end of 2007, equivalent to 3.2 percent of all U.S. adult residents or one in every 31 adults. (The United Press International, December 11, 2008). For black men aged between 20-34, one in nine was in jail. (The Guardian, March 1, 2008). The rate of prisoners, higher than any period in the U.S. history, was almost six times the world average (125 in every 100,000 people). According to statistics, the recidivism rate stayed high in the United States. Half the people of previous convictions were sentenced to prison again within three years.

There is no proper protection of prisoners' basic rights. Information released in August 2008 by the U.S. Department of Justice showed that the rate of conviction by U.S. courts has been on a rise since 1993. Convicts who committed violent crimes accounted for more than 50 percent of the total. California had 172,000 inmates in its 33 prisons, which were designed for just over half that number, leaving each inmate a space of only 6 square foot (Prison overcrowding blamed for health woes, http:// www. sfgate.com, November 19, 2008). In Prince George of Maryland, the Upper Marlboro jail held an estimated 1,500 prisoners while it was designed for about 1,330 (The Washington Post, July 25, 2008).There were frequent reports inmates dying from prison officers' violence. An Amnesty International report in 2008 said Taser was widely used to control inmates in the U.S. prisons and detention centers. It had tracked more than 300 cases since 2001 in which people died after being shocked by a Taser. Among them, 69 died in2008. According to a report by the Washington Post on July 25, more than 10 jail officers in Prince George of Maryland have arrest records. At least six officers were suspended in the past seven months and nine others still worked in the prison though they were accused of crimes or violence. Baron Pikes, arrested on a cocaine charge, died in January 2008 after a police officer had shocked him nine times with a Taser (The CNN website, on July 22, 2008). Ronnie L. White, 19, died of strangulation on June 29, 2008,when he was held in solitary confinement at a correction center in Prince George County, Maryland (The Washington Post, September 23,2008). According to the latest statistics released by the U.S. Department of Justice in June 2008, 1,154 inmates in the federal and state prisons died of AIDS between 2001 and 2006 (Ming Pao Daily, July 3, 2008). Some U.S. jails have become the "new asylums" for drug addicts and mental patients, with six out of 10 people in jail living with a mental illness (Jails bulging with people with mental illnesses, the homeless and people detained for immigration offenses; costing counties billions, http:// justicepolicy.org). The Economist reported on May 10, 2008 that the U.S. was one of the few countries where the felons were deprived of rights. Some U.S. states even forbid felons to vote.

Edited May 4, 2009 by bjre