Kendrick Meek: “next month's U.N. World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa is an extremely important conference which…”

“next month's U.N. World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa is an extremely important conference which offers the world community an unprecedented opportunity to address racism and global discrimination. For this dialogue to be constructive, it must take place in an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect. Thus, it is essential to ensure that the Conference does not degenerate into a sideshow of hateful and extreme views that revives such lies as the shameful assertion that Zionism is racism. The Conference attendees must not be diverted from the essential task of confronting racism through a Draft Declaration for the Conference that revives the despicable falsehood that Zionism is a ``movement which is based on racial superiority.'' Nor can the United States sit idly by and passively accept language that minimizes the historical significance of the Holocaust and the evil of anti-Semitism, or which in any way questions the legitimacy of our long-time ally, the State of Israel. I completely reject the false choice between abandoning the United States' participation in this Conference and supporting the State of Israel. There is no inconsistency in attending this Conference and rejecting anti-Zionist, anti-Israel or anti-Semitic rhetoric. The United States can and must do both. As Mr. Lantos so cogently observed, racism is at the root of countless international conflicts, and is a formidable barrier to international cooperation.”