Ban Ki-moon

I'd like to share with you something that has upset me. For those who don't know, a gunmen walked into a Jewish Seminary in Jerusalem and began firing on students, much like we've seen at Columbine, Dawson College, Virginia Tech University, Northern Illinois University, and elsewhere. (This is upsetting enough, but I will focus on something else that bothers me.) In response to the attack, leaders all over the world have condemned the attack. And good for them. Then there is the response from the Secretary-General of the United Nations - the top administrative official in the world. His name is Ban Ki-moon. This was the statement released on his behalf:

"The secretary-general is deeply concerned at the potential for continued acts of violence and terrorism to undermine the political process, which he believes must be pursued to achieve a secure and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, based on a two-state solution."*

I have no doubt in my mind that the Sec-Gen is sincerely concerned. But play close attention to where his concern lies. He's concerned about the violence and terrorism because it puts yet another stumbling block along the road to peace in Israel/Palestine. But that seems to be where his concern ends. His concern is not for the safety of the people in Jerusalem. His concern is not for the fact that Anti-Semitism is alive and well. (Remember, it was a Jewish Seminary that was targeted, as opposed to a public place such as a shopping mall.) He does not extend any condolences to the family, friends, and classmates of the victims.

Instead, he expresses remorse that the political process has been set back. He's disappointed that a tricky situation has become more difficult. He should be. But more than that, he should be appalled that a gunman would walk into a Seminary and target totally innocent civilians who were studying peacefully. And if we want to take this farther, he should be mentioning that the attack was tantamount to attempted genocide, as the attack was strictly against Jews.

But he doesn't do any such thing. When other world leaders are condemning the attack and calling it "vicious", "barbaric", and "appalling", the man at the top does nothing of the sort. He does not issue one word of condemnation. Not one word of disapproval in the actions of the killers. Shame on him. Look at the statement again. Half the statement is simply expressing his political opinion about the Israel-Palestine conflict. He barely even acknowledges the atrocity that took place. Again, shame on him.

As a concerned global citizen, I am disappointed in his apathy toward a humanitarian issue. As someone who loves the nation of Israel, and cares deeply about Jews, I am appalled and offended by the racist indifference Ban Ki-moon exhibits. Once more I say, shame on him.

-Bernier

* http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7282567.stm