Racism, Israel and Muslims/Arabs
Reader comment on article: Columbia University Celebrates Edward Said

Submitted by Johnno (Australia), Apr 22, 2003 at 23:08

Isn't it strange that so much of what gets labelled under the banner of racism is in reality religionism: bias to outright hatred of people not belonging to others' chosen religious belief? Of course, not all racism is religiously based but religionism does certainly seem to be the single largest subset today and over many, many centuries. One of the greatest things that a reborn UN could now do for the world would be to tackle state endorsed to legislated religionism by sanctioning against religiously biased nations - in all their shades: slightly distasteful to outright rougue states. Seems to me Israel gets itself onto that list on its rights to citizenship alone. But so too do even the sleepy, Western friendly, resort based Muslim countries like the Maldives where it is a criminal offence to practise any other form of religion apart from good old Islam. The law is not enforced at the Hyatts, Four Seasons, etc., etc. but it still exists. But, I'm not holding my breath waiting for this one. By the time that happens I will have joined old John Lennon for a verse or two of "Imagine"......and I bet you can guess my favourite line of all .......

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