Standing against racism

Conference: Bush administration should attend international event and make a difference.

THE UNITED STATES belongs at the international conference on racism in Durban, South Africa.

Although the Bush administration is hinting that it may skip the event, which begins Aug. 31, U.S. interests are better served by dialogue, not avoidance.

The United States has expressed concern about an emerging attempt by some Arab countries to once again equate Zionism with racism. But organizers are already backing away from that, and the best way to fully quash the notion would be to attend the conference and speak up against it.

Bush administration officials also are reluctant to confront the issue of reparations for slavery. But it's high time the United States and the world soberly explore that topic. And the United States ought to be at the forefront of that conversation.

There's much more to the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. It has three goals: to form a declaration that acknowledges past and present wrongs; to develop a forward-looking program of action and to form an alliance among governments; and to continue the struggle against racism.

Skipping the conference would signal that the United States has no interest in confronting racial horrors that have caused so much pain. That would be a mistake.