GENEVA, Switzerland (The Dissociated Press) - The 2009 UN Conference on Racism (or "Durban II" as it is being called, to honor the famous 19th century South African racist, George Durban) was the scene of a dramatic, albeit staged, diplomatic protest today.
Representatives from the UK and France abruptly walked out of the vast auditorium at the Palais des Nations when Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (or "Ringo," as his friends like to call him, apparently because of a perceived resemblance to the affable former Beatle) stepped up to the podium and, in a move that was unanticipated by exactly seven living organisms on the planet, all of which are mushrooms, spoke unkindly about the state of Israel. Delegates from Finland also left the hall in protest, but they did so on cross-country skis.
The demonstration threatened to further undermine the chances for progress to come out of the proceedings, which had already suffered the loss of key participants. Last week, nine Western countries, led by Israel and the United States, announced plans to boycott the conference, because they anticipated their representatives "being made to feel uncomfortable" there, and they also felt it had "nothing to do with" them.
"We just elected a schvartzer for president, for Christ's sake!" said White House chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel. "What the hell do these people think they're going to teach us about combatting racism??!!"
Comments