Bush administration exhibits poor judgment

Last Friday, the United Nation's conference on racism ended with a pitiful whimper. Sadly, the United States was not there to witness it.

The conference was wrought with countries using their political weight to avoid sensitive issues of race and discrimination. India lobbied successfully to prevent mention of caste system discrimination, many countries refused to consider gays as victims, and the United States refused to discuss African-American slave reparations, right before they packed their bags and left.

The Bush administration made the decision to leave the conference early in the proceedings because of anti-Semitic attitudes exhibited among the countries in words and written declarations. The United States was absolutely correct with its fury and condemnation of these prejudices. This was a conference with the goal of ending racism and the delegates themselves were discriminatory. But, the Bush Administration's decision to leave was a cowardly and contemptuous one.

The United States incontrovertibly is the most powerful country on the planet. That position carries with it the crucial responsibility of world leadership. The United States, which is a country that claims to defend human rights and freedom for all, must set the example to all countries that racial discrimination is one of the most abominable of human characteristics and steps must be taken to eradicate it.

The Bush administration claims that the conference was more directed to issues of the past "and it is better to look forward and not point fingers backward," according to Condoleeza Rice, the national security adviser. This is a preposterous stance. Injustices committed must be dealt with in order to look to the future, they can't be simply forgotten or we'll never achieve equality.

The Bush administration should have stayed in the fight and championed the cause to eradicate racism. We should have used our unparalleled political weight to lead the conference to achieve its goal and set the example for dealing with past injustices committed on its people.

The Bush Administration should hold its own conference on racism in the U.S. where groups suffering from discrimination within our borders would be provided a forum for discussion and grievances can be heard. Then goals for the next U.N. conference can be made and the U.S. will be compelled to stay to accomplish a specific agenda, rather than be tempted to withdraw and avoid conflict.

Hopefully future conferences on racism will be comprised of more open-minded delegates and the United States' leaders will not be such cowardly politicians.

n Editorial Board: Keith Thomas, Tom McHenry, Erica Sagon, Matt Poston, John Wakefield, Shawn McGann.

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