What an extravagant sham! Think about it. As long as each of these semitic religions claim that "theirs' is the ONLY TRUE GOD and rest are false, theirs' is the only path to salvation, others go to hell and such crap" there is no scope for accomodation and acceptance of the other and thus racism fuelled by religious dogma will continue to persist in this world. How can these countries with history of racism ever come clean on this and 'attend' a conference. I agree with the reasons why these nations are boycotting with something glaringly missing. We need to add one more item to this list i.e Racism rooted in claims of Christian superiority sometimes called 'white man's burden' - it's the worst form of racism that prevails in this world today.
US boycotting, Iran starring, at UN racism meeting
AP – Protestors carry a banner reading 'fight racism' as they take part in an anti-racism demonstration in … By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER, Associated Press Writer Bradley S. Klapper, Associated Press Writer – 34 mins agoGENEVA – The United Nations opens its first global racism conference in eight years on Monday with the U.S. and at least six other countries boycotting the event out of concern that Islamic countries will demand that it denounce Israel and ban criticism of Islam.
The administration of President Barack Obama, America's first black head of state, announced Saturday that it would boycott "with regret" the weeklong meeting in Geneva, which already is experiencing much of the bickering and political infighting that marred the 2001 conference in Durban, South Africa.
The Netherlands and Germany announced their boycotts Sunday, while Australia, Canada, Israel and Italy already had said they would not attend.
"I would love to be involved in a useful conference that addressed continuing issues of racism and discrimination around the globe," Obama said in Trinidad on Sunday after attending the Summit of the Americas.