The Toronto Star

Rebuffing Iran’s hatred,

Editorial April 22

I was saddened to see the Star condemn Canada for leading the world in the struggle against Jew hatred by being the first to walk away from the farce that is the Durban Review Conference.

Your premise that Canada should not have boycotted the Durban II so-called anti-racism conference could not have been more misguided. By refusing to give credence to a group of despots and demagogues led by the world’s most notorious anti-Semite, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Canada stood with the victims against the victimizers.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper long ago demonstrated a visceral understanding that one cannot feed the monster of hate. That both the Liberals and NDP supported him is testament to what Canadian civil values are really all about.

Bernie M. Farber, CEO,
Canadian Jewish Congress