Racism in Durban
From: Mr Clemens
N Nathan
Joint Chairman, Consultative Council of Jewish Organisations
I hoped you would
be interested to receive copies of the seven keynote pamphlets
that the CCJO has commissioned to promote debate at the ongoing
UN Conference on Racism, August 31-September 7 2001 in Durban,
where these papers were well received.
The series of
essays include contributions from distinguished academics
and promoters of Human Rights. We are particularly honoured
to publish Prince El Hassan of Jordan’s call for people
of all faiths to reach out across the religious divide and
build on their common values in the fight against racism.
As an organisation,
we have worked throughout our history to promote the cause
of Human Rights and we hope these pamphlets will help to focus
minds on this goal both in Durban and its aftermath.
Enclosures:
Racism, Xenophobia
& Discrimination – Humanity’s need for a new
ethical Code of Conduct
His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan Bin Talal
Perceptions of
the Other: Lessons from the Jewish Christian Dialogue
Dr Edward Kessler
Judaism as a source
of Human Rights
Professor Asher Maoz
Slavery &
Piracy – The Case for Reparations for Slavery
Professor Geraldine Van Bueren
Racism & Xenophobia
in Virtual Russia
Dr Stella Rock
Unease in the
Global Village: German language racism on the Internet
Rebekah Webb
The European Race
directive: A bridge so far?
Ferne Brennan
Reply:
Many thanks for
your letter and enclosures. It seems to me that the Jewish
people have become an endangered species and we should apply
to the United Nations for protection, like the elephants of
Vietnam.
Naim Dangoor
Dear Naim
I fully agree
with you that we are now “an endangered species”.
The depression which my delegation had at the UN Conference
against Racism in Durban was beyond belief.
I had never
imagined that the Palestinians could mobilise all the Black
Marxists and make a parade of over 10,000 people there with
the worst German Nazi propaganda which I thought was dead
and buried. What shook us more than anything else was that
whilst all these things were taking place, including the
destruction of any meetings of the Jewish UN groups discussing
anti-Semitism, let alone Israel, was that our friends, the
other non-Governmental organisations mostly just stood by
and did nothing. At least some of them rejected the motions
which were passed and which fortunately Mary Robinson threw
out. It shows that one has very few friends at every level
in world affairs.
This is why
I constantly encourage to highlight how Jews care about
other people’s human rights. We have a fairly good
track record going back to Moses - and probably even earlier!
It does not seem to help in this situations. I am sometimes
wondering why they can’t find someone else to attack
and not us.
I do cherish
The Scribe and above all, your wonderful sense of
humour.
At the Centre
for Jewish Christian Relations at Cambridge where I am Chairman,
we have now 100 students learning about Judaism from all
over the world. The Russian and Polish students are finding
out that Judaism has a great deal to offer them, particularly
those from the Russian Orthodox Church who are quite difficult
to deal with but I believe that only by dialogue do we stand
the slightest chance of things improving for the next generation.
Clemens Nathan
Reply:
I share your
frustrations with our situation in the world.
God may have
better plans for us in the future. In the meantime I console
myself by thinking that, as Chosen People, our role is to
suffer, for God, the wickedness of mankind.
If
you would like to make any comments or contribute to The
Scribe please contact
us.
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