How can people expect there to be respect and patience and dialogue when they cannot even listen to someone (that you don't agree with) speak?

Of course the news is calling it a "racist tirade" - but he isn't even talking about the people, he was talking about the actions of a government! WTF!

I mean I don't agree with the guy, but what the fuck kind of progress are you going to make by storming out the the room like a bunch of little bitches.

4/20/2009 12:30:44 PM

message_topic.aspx?topic=563953

for fun

4/20/2009 12:32:43 PM

Fox news says he is engaging in racism - fucking ridiculous.

4/20/2009 12:39:23 PM

Kinda like how in the history books we bash the Soviet Union for being evil commies for boycotting the 1984 Olympics in LA but conveniently forget that we skipped out on the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow.

We gotta show USA Numeral #1

4/20/2009 12:43:23 PM

That second clip from FOX said that Israel and Canada were the ones who walked out, but I don't think Israel and Canada aren't even there; according to the link below, they're boycotting the entire conference.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6132972.ece

4/20/2009 1:04:57 PM

The US is boycotting the conference, actually, fwiw.

4/20/2009 1:07:57 PM

I actually just read up on this today and the news is playing his comments to be far worse than they actually are. Ahmadinejad made two or three sentences worth of comments concerning that Israel has racist policies in place, which is true.

The commentator on the TV kept saying "this sure doesn't make Israel" happy, as if that should be a major concern of ours. Then the commentator noted that this has increased the war drums between Iran and Israel and that some Israeli diplomat stated "Iran's current regime under Ahmadinejad is at the same state of late 1930's" Germany. Given the abundant rights of the Jewish in Iran that could hardly be the case. Especially since they are far more egalitarian than those for Arabs (or even Christians) in Israel.

The latest buzz about it is the 'last-minute-removed-line' that was not included which was along the lines of the holocuast helped create the state of israel and this connection should be evaluated. A statement which, while disingenuous, is not entirely radical. However this is being reported as a case of holocaust denial.

Its sad how the media is used as a source to foment negative popular opinion and and provide unsupported didactic messages slanted to remove the credibility of a nation without good cause or reason.

4/21/2009 9:38:31 AM

I like how he calls out a bunch of racist pricks then their supporters get up and walk out. His point has been proven.

4/21/2009 10:04:32 AM

So because they refuse to listen to a racist tirade, they themselves are proven to be racist? Where does that make sense?

4/21/2009 10:24:20 AM

what about his speech was racist?

Please, if you can pick out the exact sentences that were racist and if you can't do then at least paraphrase what it is that was said which you find racist.


I believe what ^^ is saying is that Ahmadinejad called out certain nations for behavior and policy that is in some aspects can be viewed as racist and then they walked out.

Truth hurts, as the ol' adage goes.

4/21/2009 10:40:40 AM

^haha..really??

yellow people sure do smell bad.....racist?? no no....just telling the truth homie

4/21/2009 10:42:28 AM

Quote :

"^haha..really?? yellow people sure do smell bad.....racist?? no no....just telling the truth homie"

This isn't an argument that follows at all. The point is that Ahmadinejad did NOT say anything bad about the Jews, he said Israel's gov't has racist policies, and he was 100% right about that. He didn't call out a race of people, he called out a government.

Yellow people smell bad is calling out people, and it's also a very dumb way to try to make a point.

4/21/2009 10:47:56 AM

I'll admit I did not watch the speech. Just going by the major news outlet coverage (and I dont mean Fox).

4/21/2009 10:50:12 AM

good to know the left is still alive and kicking - i thought youd all be complete zombies by now...lord obama is calling you back..

4/21/2009 10:51:01 AM

youre a dumb way of making the point


ohhhh...got em.....

How can the government have racist policies and the people not be racist....thats like saying america wasnt racist in the 50's....the government is racist because the people are racist.....i cant believe yall are defending this dude...

4/21/2009 10:51:34 AM

His speech was inflammatory and inciteful.

Quote :

"How can people expect there to be respect and patience and dialogue when they cannot even listen to someone (that you don't agree with) speak?"

Umm yeah, so what kind of progress are you going to make with someone who makes this sort of speach? They walked out because they wanted to make a statement and not give any sort of credibility to him, or a credible platform for him to speak. They didn't shout him down, they didn't do anything to stop him, they merely left. That is the perfect response imho. When Iran and it's leadership are willing to be reasonable, I'm sure the West will be as well.

Look at the countries that walked out, many of them have been critical of a lot of the policies and actions of Israel, but that doesn't mean they have to listen to this guys garbage.

4/21/2009 11:00:50 AM

I'm no Ahmadinejad supporter, or even an apologist for the most part, but I do think that this was an overreaction. I don't see what he said that was as big of a deal as it's being made out to be.

He's certainly been a troublemaker with some previous comments and decisions, but to be perfectly honest, we've screwed away some opportunities with him/Iran, too. I am not willing to ever allow Iran to possess any nuclear weapons for any reason, but aside from that, I'm not convinced that he is pure evil incarnate the way he's portrayed sometimes. I disagree with him a lot, but if you read some of the things he says in full context, I think you'll find that he's a fairly thoughtful and intelligent man, and not a raving nut-job like he's often made to appear.

4/21/2009 11:03:53 AM

Whatever happened to the time-honored tradition of "coughing" obcenities into your hands ala "Animal House"?

4/21/2009 11:06:24 AM

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=92046

Just read a transcript of the speech. It really isnt a racist tirade, but it is a tirade agaisnt Western nations and principles. Basically blames the UN Security Council for the world's evils.

4/21/2009 11:07:33 AM

^^ha, if you wanted to undermine his credibility, that would work better than walking out. turn his speech into a huge joke, not the international talk of the town.

[Edited on April 21, 2009 at 11:08 AM. Reason : ]

4/21/2009 11:07:40 AM

I do agree with theduke though. If you read the text of the speach and if you look at what he has said in the past, he really isnt a complete loon like sean hannity will tell you.

I think he is insanely wrong about basically 100% of the things he says but he I dont think he is crazy. (I say think halfheartedly since i know that he has talked about wiping isreal off the map...i meeeean)....but i dont have a problem with talking to him and trying to work something out....

4/21/2009 11:17:24 AM

not that i agree with him, but that "wipe israel off the map" quote is somewhat out of context, if i remember correctly.

4/21/2009 11:32:11 AM

i agree with theDuke866 in full.

Quote :

"how can the government have racist policies and the people not be racist."

Do you really believe that the actions of a government represent the true personal and independent desires of the citizens of that nation? Does all of the US want to go to war with various nations? Did everyone in the south own slaves? Truly you're trolling and not really this pedantic.

Quote :

"I'll admit I did not watch the speech. Just going by the major news outlet coverage (and I dont mean Fox)."

I respect your honesty, and your perception of the events at hand highlight how slanted the media is about this event.

^its entirely out of context. The quote stated that the government of Israel should be replaced with another government. wiped off the map is an english idiom and would not exist in farsi. The words for map and wipe/destroy/blow-up are no where to be found in the speech.

[Edited on April 21, 2009 at 11:34 AM. Reason : ^]

4/21/2009 11:33:24 AM

It's not just Fox news offering that take on it, though. I mean, I heard the same things on NPR yesterday while driving home from FL.

4/21/2009 11:35:52 AM

the problem isn't who said it. The problem is that anyone pointing out the issues with Israel and its policies is taboo. The power Israel holds over the west for being such a small nation is to say the least impressive. But also sad for the west.

4/21/2009 11:46:37 AM

All of that said, part of why Israel enjoys that treatment despite being so screwed up is that their enemies are significantly worse.

4/21/2009 11:55:05 AM

Not all of them

4/21/2009 11:58:20 AM

The question is how would Fox News spin the story if last year Bush went on his "Axis of Evil rabel rabel; Bring it on!" speeches at a similar type meeting; at which point the diplomats from Turkey, Syria, Iran, Pakistan all walked out.

4/21/2009 12:24:53 PM

keep the whine going!

4/21/2009 1:33:38 PM

Quote :

"Not all of them"

Care to back that up?

4/21/2009 1:53:29 PM

Quote :

"The problem is that anyone pointing out the issues with Israel and its policies is taboo. The power Israel holds over the west for being such a small nation is to say the least impressive. But also sad for the west."

What prompted the walkout though wasn't the criticism against Israel but the accusation, if I remember correctly, that Europe, the US, and the rest of the Security Council created Israel at the expense of the Palestinians to mollify their own guilt for screwing over the Jews. There's some basis to the accusation though its a much more complicated history than that.

4/21/2009 2:15:28 PM

Quote :

"Care to back that up?"

DO I REALLY HAVE TO? wtf is wrong with you???

4/21/2009 2:18:31 PM

^^thats my point. If you mention Israel in a negative way all hell breaks loose.

4/21/2009 2:46:59 PM

But from what I gather, the European nations there were okay with the bashing Israel part. Its when they were blamed for creating Israel is when they got touchy.

4/21/2009 6:00:13 PM

Quote :

"DO I REALLY HAVE TO? wtf is wrong with you???"

Okay, so I take that as as a no, you can't. Usually, it's best if you can back up random quips with some sort of logic, but I guess I should just take your word for it.

4/21/2009 6:33:38 PM

Was AJ the only speaker during this session? If so maybe i can understand else if they just pouted in the library for 15 mins during his speech; I find this kind of childish even if Khrushchev himself was damning the US and its western allies to hell.

4/21/2009 7:14:20 PM

WESTSIDE WALK IT OUT

4/22/2009 3:05:51 AM

Ahmadinejad is a religious zealot, a fascist, and an ignoramus. But don't let that spoil this little pity party you guys are throwing.

4/22/2009 5:39:27 AM

Quote :

"Was AJ the only speaker during this session? If so maybe i can understand else if they just pouted in the library for 15 mins during his speech; I find this kind of childish even if Khrushchev himself was damning the US and its western allies to hell."

The reports I read was that he was the keynote speaker for the opening session. I don't think the US and the other Western nations left the entire conference, just this session.

4/22/2009 10:26:28 AM

^ From the article:

"Nine Western countries including Israel and the United States had already decided to boycott the conference entirely because its draft declaration endorsed the conclusions of an anti-racism conference in South Africa eight years ago in which Islamic nations pushed through a text equating Zionism with racism."

4/22/2009 10:36:49 AM

"Zionism" could technically be construed as racism, depending on how you define "Zionism."

4/22/2009 11:05:51 AM

The next time the production supervisor starts bashing engineering or says something I don't like; I think I will standup and walk out of the room. All while sticking my tounge out and poking my fingers in my ears.

4/22/2009 11:37:57 AM

I, too, think it would have been much better if he was just drowned out in a fit of harrumphing

4/22/2009 12:06:40 PM

yay, another tsb thread that bashes america

4/22/2009 12:09:36 PM

^ I guess you're joking, or you just don't know that the US wasn't even there.

4/22/2009 12:15:39 PM

it says 'Western Diplomats'

I assumed it was talking about us, I did not watch the video

4/22/2009 12:16:46 PM

so you spoke out of pure ignorance?

regardless, commenting on the actions of a nation isn't necessarily bashing, berating or trashing that nation.

4/22/2009 2:19:39 PM

Quote :

"^ From the article: "Nine Western countries including Israel and the United States had already decided to boycott the conference entirely because its draft declaration endorsed the conclusions of an anti-racism conference in South Africa eight years ago in which Islamic nations pushed through a text equating Zionism with racism.""

Misspoke. The other Western nations that stuck around for the conference. From what I heard, the ones who didn't boycott the session didn't walk out when Ahmadinejad was bashing the Israelis, just when he started to pin the blame on European nations and the Security Council.

4/22/2009 5:08:49 PM

Is zionism not racism, if not by definition at least de facto

4/22/2009 8:31:06 PM

Quote :

"Ahmadinejad is a religious zealot, a fascist, and an ignoramus. But don't let that spoil this little pity party you guys are throwing."

well sure, but so is Israel.

4/22/2009 8:55:23 PM