U.N. Racism Conference: ‘Carnival of Hate’

Re “Divisive U.N. Race Talks End in Accord,” Sept. 9: The only end I see is of the United Nations as a constructive force for peace, conflict resolution or race relations. The conference was hijacked by states that sponsor terrorism.

That these merchants of misery were allowed to put forth their carnival of hate under the auspices of the U.N. is a sad commentary in itself. Then again, this is the same world body that voted the U.S. off the U.N. Commission on Human Rights and voted in Sudan.

Richard Dorenstreich

Aliso Viejo

Brilliant is the only way I can describe Michael Ramirez’s Sept. 9 cartoon regarding the hypocrisy of the U.N. conference on racism [showing a “No Zionist Pigs” sign hanging on a U.N. “Office of Tolerance” door]. This should become the logo for the U.N.

Allyson Rowen Taylor

Valley Glen

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Zionism as an abstract concept is not necessarily racist. However, its initial realization caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and its continued implementation has resulted in the segregation, impoverishment, brutalization and humiliation of millions in an ongoing 34-year military occupation.

However noble Zionism’s original motivation may have been, its fulfillment by successive Israeli governments has entailed such disregard for the rights and welfare of one ethnic minority by another, more powerful ethnic majority that one can only conclude that, in practice, it is steeped in racism.

Khaled Galal

San Francisco

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The Palestinian and Arab demands at the World Conference Against Racism once again suggest that they don’t understand the most basic principle of negotiations: Both sides have to win--have to have some of their needs met--for a negotiation to succeed. The alternative is unconditional surrender of one side to the other, which they’re not in a position to dictate--not in Durban and not in Israel.

Rabbi Moshe ben Asher

Khulda bat Sarah

Los Angeles