This is what combatting racism looks like

This evening marks the beginning of Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel. It is also Adolf Hitler’s 120th birthday. What an appropriate day, therefore, for the United Nations to convene its international conference on racism and to have as its only head of state to attend the event the Holocaust-denying, anti-Semitic, gay-bashing, trade-union repressing president of Iran — Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
I was very proud of the fact that Israel and the United States chose not to attend, and that they were followed by other democracies including Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

I am also delighted that those democracies which have attended — including the United Kingdom — chose to walk out shortly after the Iranian president began his speech.
Watching all those delegates get up out of their seats, walking with determination toward the doors, in one case waving a fist at the Iranian dictator, I could not help but feel delighted.
This is what the real struggle against racism looks like.

2 Comments on "This is what combatting racism looks like"

  1. Robert | 27/04/2009 at 07:59 |

    SO we turn our backs and walk away, I’d have rather seen Gordon Brown get up and tell us what this idiot said wrong, we have to fight racism not walk or stay away.

  2. Hi Eric!
    Am I mistaken in thinking it would actually be accurate to say the U.S. followed Canada in deciding to boycott this masquerade, and not the the way you phrased it?
    As a Canuck, I’ve been bragging about this. Have I been wrong?

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