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August/September 2001

UNO World Conference against Racism and Intolerance Yin-yang religious symbolism and the principle of moral equality.

Dear Friends,

From 31 August to 8 September, 2001, the Third United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance took place in Durban. It was preceded by a Youth Summit (26-27.8.01) and an NGO Forum (28.8.-1.9.01). "Participating in the World Conference were 2300 representatives from 163 countries, including 16 heads of state, 58 foreign ministers and 44 ministers. Nearly 4000 representatives of NGO's (non-governmental organiza-tions) and over 1100 media representatives were accredited." 1) Prominent among these were Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Fidel Castro of Cuba and Yasser Arafat of Palestine. The cost to the South African tax payer was R100 Million. At a colourful flag raising ceremony the International Convention Centre and other conference venues were placed under the jurisdiction of the UN. This body had brought in "highly trained UN security forces" to assist the 3500 soldiers/police provided by South Africa. In ad-dition there were armoured vehicles, concrete balustrades, surveillance cameras, and a 10km no-fly zone. 1) Once again, one wonders: If the UN conferences are so beneficial for mankind, why such extreme security measures? By comparison, the "Transformation" rally of 45.000 Christians in Cape Town in March 2001 was protected by only 80 police officers.

According to the conference president, Mrs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the South African Foreign Minister, "each country came there with their own position and they looked so irreconcilably diverse. In the end, nobody really got what they wanted." 2) Most dramatic was the walk-out of the USA and the non-participation of Israel because of the conference demand that America make apologies/reparation for the trans-atlantic slave trade, and that Zionism be declared "racism". The Palestine/Israel issue overshadowed everything, and the conference ended without the heralded "Magna Charta" Statement on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. This was completed afterwards.

South Africa had been chosen as a venue because it had vanquished Apartheid and established a Black socialist government. But the struggle, it was said, must continue. Only, South Africans do not see racism as their most pressing problem. Accord-ing to a survey conducted by the Institute of Race Relations all races want first and foremost "more jobs, better education, and less crime." 4) Nevertheless, the African leaders want to continue the "struggle", instilling and manipulating guilt feelings in the rich western nations, and asking for development aid in lieu of "reparations" for colonialism and slavery. This guilt mani-pulation was done with great skill, using methods designed by former Archbishop Desmond Tutu's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC - 1995-98) Every day, specially selected victims (called "Voices") told their heart-rending stories, having been carefully instructed beforehand. As in the TRC, trauma counsellors sat behind passing them tissues for drying their tears.

But what is "Racism" ? Who has ever defined it clearly? Is it racial hatred? Is it economic disparity? Is it ideological incompatibility? Is it divergent spiritual/moral standards? The South African Commission of Inquiry into Racism in the Media says: "Racism in South Africa is essentially a societal system based on the belief… that white people are superior to black people: they are more intelligent, competent, far-sighted, inventive, self-controlled, advanced, attractive, spiritually favoured, morally good and so on." 3) - To the ordinary observer it looked as if the 3rd UN Conference against Racism was designed to encourage a "race struggle" against the Western peoples, with the aim of effecting a new "distribution of wealth." This economic struggle is being waged against capitalist nations by "victims" who seem to owe their victimhood to socialism or communism. It gave the impression, that here was arrayed the combined envy of the Third World against the prosperity of the First World. There appeared to be little help for genuine victims suffering at the hands of wicked men and systems. In fact, the Christian approach of "loving one's neighbour" was nowhere evident, and many real victims went home disappointed.

Religious Symbolism
In fact, in the Convention Centre press studio, just behind the interviewer, there was the symbol of a large fallen cross, such as one sees in occult publications. The major Conference symbol was the Chinese Yin-Yang, which had been submitted to the UN by the South African government. It is a circle containing two tadpole-like shapes embracing one another. This sign re-presents the 'universist' religion of China comprising Confucionism and Taoism. It shows the two basic forces of the universe which oppose and yet complement each other. Yin is the dark passive female force bringing forth the earth, and Yang is the light active male force bringing forth the heavens. Their embrace signifies that light and darkness, male and female, heaven and earth, are always interacting and inseparable from one another. In honour of the Conference this symbol featured on a special postage stamp with the inscription "Tolerance and Diversity." Its New Age connotation was explained by Mr Cassie Aucamp, a South African Parliamentarian and former minister of the Dutch Reformed Church: "The underlying message," he said, "is that there is no antithesis between Good and Evil, but that Good and Evil are essentially two sides of the same universal coin… Satanists have adopted this symbol to express the equalization of God and Satan. The amalgamation of male and female which is symbolized by the Yin-Yang, is the Satanists' human model for the era which is to come." 4)

The United Nations are known for actively displacing Biblical Christianity. Though they occasionally make use of "spiritual leaders" of all religions, they promote Humanism, the religion of Man as his own god and saviour. The principles of this religion are laid down in the Humanist Manifesto II of 1973 which, in paragraph 11, says: "The principle of moral equality must be furthered through elimination of all discrimination based upon race, religion, sex, age, or national origin… " Here, then, is the explanation for the Yin-Yang symbol: The principle of 'moral equality'! It is not racial hatred which one wants to abolish, but "moral superiority." Because a man who prospers by virtue of obedience to God and the Moral Law, makes another who remains poor because of spiritual and moral wantonness feel inferior. To 'cause' such inferiority feelings is "racism" . - If one takes this principle to its logical conclusion; i.e. if all men are regarded as morally equal, if the criminal is equal to the good man, then murder can become good, and saving life can become evil - all depending on the cause and circumstance. People who defend this principle of moral equality show that they reject God. For God is the author of the Moral Law and the judge of all moral behaviour. To abolish the contrast between Good and Evil is the ultimate revolutionary strategy, destined to disturb and destroy every human relationship and ultimately all human society. - Humanity can only prosper in peace if it accepts the Sovereignty of God and His absolute Commandments. For it is God's Law which prescribes how we must treat our fellow man. If we obey His Law of love, our fellow man will be treated well. That is why the Bible says: "Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:10)

Hence, the World Conference against Racism did not move forward. It dwelt on past wrongs, blaming especially the West. "Slavery, the slave trade and colonialism," it said, is responsible "for the current underdevelopment in Africa and elsewhere." The "growing gap between rich and poor in the era of globalization is a legacy from the era of slavery… People of African descent have for centuries been victims of racism, discrimination and enslavement…" 5) Instead of acknowledging that Africa might have caused its own problems, all guilt was imputed to the ex-colonial powers. But imperfect as these were, did they not bring to Africa houses, roads, schools, hospitals, electricity, transport etc? Did they not increase wealth by mining and farming? African genocide, poverty, and destitution are a more recent phenomenon.

Time and again participants spoke about "reparations for slavery". But who engaged in slavery? In every business deal there is a buyer and a seller, and slavery has always been big business in Africa. Fred L.M. Moir, manager of the African Lakes Company, was only one man who described and acted against the slave trade. He wrote in the 1890s, when the slave trade had long been outlawed: "It was at Kasakalawa that I encountered the largest slave caravan I ever saw [3-4000 slaves]. Kabunda, probably the despoiler of the country I had passed through, had strong fortified villages in the Liendwe Valley not many miles from the London Missionary Society's station. He cultivated large tracts of land by means of his slaves, and there for a time was peace and plenty. The native villages in the valley were not raided, but were rather protected by him. - When the time came to make his journey to the coast of Zanzibar, he secretly made his preparations. Then he sent out his ruga-ruga (warriors) to surround the native villages and captured all the men, women and children with whom he had lived on terms of friendship…. The strong men most liable to escape or cause trouble were fastened in a gori or slave-stick, consisting of a straight tree or branch, seven or eight feet long by four or five inches diameter, divided into a fork at the thinner end. The slave's neck was inserted into this fork, and a rod of iron driven through the two ends and riveted there, leaving only sufficient room for the neck... Other slaves were secured in strong iron collar-rings riveted on their necks and fastened at intervals of a few feet on a long chain… If… any of us were tempted to think with longing of all that we had left at home [in England] the consciousness that we and our Company were doing something to render such a hideous scene impossible was a splendid incentive to persevere in our work." 6) Who, then, should apologise - Africa or the West? Who should pay reparations?

There is only one solution to the "human rights" dilemma, only one remedy for the "race struggle". We must go back "to the law and the testimony." (Isaiah 8:20) God is the Sovereign. He alone has rights, and He grants them to men through His Law. Through the Ten Commandments He grants the right to life (6), to family (7), to property (8), to reputation (9), to possessions (10). But He also demands the duties of honouring Him, respecting elders, protecting the life of others, building up a clean family life, working hard for a living, speaking well of one's neighbour, and rejoicing in others' well-being. A person who holds to the Commandments will have no problems with "racism." It is only when one departs from them that problems arise.

Mathatha Tsedu wrote an interesting article for the Cape Times, asking: Was the Conference against Racism useful after the US walkout? - "The eradication of racism" he said, "depends on changing the mindset of both, (the ones who feel superior and the ones who feel inferior), but more so of those who see themselves as inferior. They have to stop feeling inferior… Racism incapacitates its victims…" 7) Indeed, lack of self-worth incapacitates. Resentment, envy, and jealousy, make a man unproductive. If he seeks honour and wealth he should not clamour for a hand-out of "rights" by the United Nations. Honour and wealth are "blessings" given by God to those who hope in Him and obey His commandments. God alone gives power to overcome. "Since we have been justified through faith," says the Bible, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God… We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Rom. 5:1-5) Yes, our only helper and Redeemer is Jesus Christ who says: "You are my friends if you do what I command you."

May God bless you richly,
D. Scarborough.

Footnotes:
1.World Conference against Racism…, Dept of Public Information, press release, 8.9.2001, Internet www.un.org/WCAR/pressreleases/rd-d45.htm. 2. Sunday Times, No winners at racism conference, 16.9.2001. 3. South African Human Rights Commission, Faultlines: Inquiry into Racism in the Media, An SAHRC Report, August 2000. 4. Institute of Race Relations, Changing Priorities, a national survey conducted by Prof L Schlemmer, Fast Facts No 9/2001. 5. Cassie Aucamp, Rassisme-konferensie onder (Satanistiese?) New Age-embleem, Impak, 7.9.2001. 6. World Conference against Racism…, Dept of Public Information, press release… as above. 7. Fred LM Moir, After Livingstone - an African Trade Romance, published in the 1890s.. 8. Mathatha Tsedu, "Durban indaba was an opportunity for humanity to point out the wrongness of our ways." Cape Times, 10.9.2001. Mathatha Tsedu is the chairperson of the SA National Editors' Forum and also Deputy Chief Executive: News at the SABC.