Performers and Israeli BDS
I thought an omnibus thread about performers who are following or not following the BDS movement (that is, refusing or not refusing to play in Israel) might be useful, since there are a number of stories out right now about various performers who are either cancelling or being pressured to cancel performances in Israel.
Elvis Costello respects the BDS call and pulls out of Israeli concerts.
Only two weeks after British rock icon Elvis Costello told The Jerusalem Post that the only answer to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “dialogue and reconciliation,” he decided to take himself out of the equation by cancelling his two shows scheduled for June 30 and July 1 at the Caesaerea Amphitheater.
Costello posted an announcement on his Web site over the weekend explaining his decision to join the boycott of Israel. “There are occasions when merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted as a political act that resonates more than anything that might be sung and it may be assumed that one has no mind for the suffering of the innocent,” he wrote.
Saying he couldn’t imagine receiving another invitation to perform in Israel, Costello wrote that since the conflict was “actually too grave and complex to be addressed in a concert, then it is also quite impossible to simply look the other way… sometimes a silence in music is better than adding to the static.”
What I particularly like about this story is that he had made a statement two weeks ago saying he was going to play in Israel as planned, but then, after thinking about it, he came to a different conclusion -- and he had the courage to change his mind and say so. He's getting a rough ride from the Jerusalem Post article I quoted above (if you read on). The slant of the piece is clearly against his decision. And he must have known he'd be vilified.
Good for him.
Then there are occasions when merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted as a political act that resonates more than anything that might be sung and it may be assumed that one has no mind for the suffering of the innocent.
I must believe that the audience for the coming concerts would have contained many people who question the policies of their government on settlement and deplore conditions that visit intimidation, humiliation or much worse on Palestinian civilians in the name of national security.
Elvis Costello's full statement
I love the Elvis Costello show on CTV - he has on the most amazing guests, and he is incredibly talented. I don't have an Elvis Costello album yet - any suggestions?
ps: I apologise for the thread drift.
Oh. So Elvis Costello, the guy who once called Ray Charles a "blind, ignorant nigger", is boycotting Israel? Wow. I cower in awe of his moral authority.
Heh. And yet, apartheid supporters at the J-Post fawned all over him when he took the original position that he wasn't going to cancel. And I'll go even one further - I'll bet the usual apartheid apologists here would have too, had he not changed his mind and it was brought up here. But now, they'll be all, "Oh, Elvis said a racist word once."
His comment was made in 1979, 31 years ago. He apologized right away, and has probably been apologetic ever since when it's brought up. It was a a stupid and racist thing to say, and he deserved to be called on it.
In March 1979, Costello capped off this productive period in his extra-artistic life by getting himself into a scrap with Stephen Stills (of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young fame) and Bonnie Bramlett (a minor singer from the '60s) in a hotel bar in Ohio. Again motivated by an unclear principle, he did his best to offend them, finally resorting to a burst of profanity and bigotry, capped with the assertion that Ray Charles was a "blind, ignorant nigger."
There's no evidence that Costello was a racist -- he'd been active in Rock Against Racism before it was fashionable and was too smart in any event to let it show if he was -- but he was being as stupid, reckless and out of control as any of the broken-down '60s stars his energy, brains and invective were supposed to be an antidote for. In any event, Bramlett industriously publicized the exchange and Costello tried to explain and apologize. He took his lumps in a months-long transatlantic brouhaha; to this day some serious critics hold him in contempt.
Hands up how many people have never made a racist comment that they later realized (or even at the time realized) was completely unacceptable. Anyone? My hand isn't up.
Have your Israeli heroes apologized yet for the apartheid they're wreaking on Palestinians, SSC? I thought not. You should cower in awe of many people's moral authority, but not the people you stick up for regularly on babble. Elvis Costello got overrefreshed one night 31 years ago and used the N-word in a conversation and apologized for it after he'd sobered up and got rightfully called on it. Israel is murdering and ethnically cleansing Palestinians to this day and doesn't ever apologize for it.
You do the math.
My "Israeli heroes" consist of a bunch of research scientists and one tennis player. I don't know what they have to apologize for. Making medical breakthroughs? Being great at sports?
The Ray Charles Incident
Costello and the Attractions toured the UK and Europe early in 1979 and then returned to the US for a third time to undertake their most ambitious tour yet. However, the pressures of life on the road, in addition to the turmoil of Costello's personal relationships, large amounts of alcohol, plus the hostility of Costello and his manager Jake Riviera to the press, all contributed to an unfortunate incident in Columbus, Ohio in March 1979. A drunken slanging match in a Holiday Inn bar between Costello (and the Attractions) and members of Steven Stills' entourage (including Bonnie Bramlett) led to both sides making ill-considered remarks about British and American musicians. However, only Costello's derogatory comments about certain African-American musicians were reported to the press. The subsequent press furore was reminiscent of the outrage generated in the US by the out-of-context rehashing of John Lennon's "We're more popular than Jesus" remark in 1966. Despite his performances at
Rock Against Racism
"Rock Against Racism" shows in the UK, and his anti-fascism songs "Less Than Zero" and "Night Rally", Costello was forced to hastily convene a US press conference and apologise for his statements. Ray Charles, who bore the brunt of Costello's reported remarks, certainly holds Costello no ill will, and commented that "drunken talk isn't meant to be printed in the paper." The tour was quickly wrapped up, despite "Armed Forces" riding high in the charts, and Costello did not return to the US again until 1981, this defusing any commercial momentum he had generated. It is likely that Columbia’s ultimate decision not to release either "What's So Funny ('Bout Peace Love and Understanding)" or "Olivers Army" as singles in the US may well have been made in the wake of the "Columbus Incident". Columbia certainly made no further attempt to promote "Armed Forces" despite its Top Ten chart placing, a decision which saw the album fall out of the Top Ten as quickly as it had arrived there. It is rumoured that Columbia executives even considered cancelling Costello’s contract at this time. For once, Columbia may have been grateful for Costello’s and Riveria’s "No Interview" policy, as the lack of Costello’s face on the cover of any major magazines probably helped the controversy to blow over more quickly. Subsequent events would demonstrate that Elvis Costello was certainly no racist, beginning with Costello’s work as the producer of The Specials, a multi-racial band, during 1979. Their self-titled album went on to top the charts in the UK.
From Elvis Costello's website
Obviously, having a multi-racial band is no get-out-of-racism-free card. But it's ridiculous to bring up a racist comment someone made while having a drunken pissing contest at a bar over thirty years ago and has apologized and tried to make up for since as a reason to discount a current anti-racist action they take.
When have you ever, even once, had anything critical to say about Israel, or people like Heather Reisman who support their military operations? You've sure got her back, don't you?
Meanwhile, you smear some guy who takes a principled stand against apartheid with a racist comment he made over 30 years ago and has apologized for since.
Maybe if you expended even a fraction of the energy you spend on criticizing Palestinian rights activists here, on criticizing the Israeli government and the people who support them, you'd have more credibility.
You would be right, except that I don't consider what he's doing now to be "anti-racist" at all. Anti-Semitic perhaps. Anti-racist? No.
Figures. And you're lecturing us on "moral authority"?
Whatever. I'm done talking to you in this thread. Maybe others won't bother with you either now that your little smear has been debunked.
When have you ever, even once, had anything critical to say about Israel, or people like Heather Reisman who support their military operations? You've sure got her back, don't you?
I've been quite critical of Heather Reisman and don't shop at Indigo when I'm back home because I don't like their effect on independent bookstores. That's a legitimate concern. I just don't think that the fact that she donates money toprovide college educations to people who've served in the Israeli army to be reasonable grounds for denying her a degree. As for the 'fraction of my energy", it seems like amny haters of Israel spend far more than a fraction of THEIR energy attacking a state which, no doubt, is severely flawed (like Canada, theUnited States and every other country) but whose human rights record is far less concerning than manyother countries in the world. I wish they would spend a fraction of the energy they extend to attacking people for accepting to literary awards to condemning, say, the Iranian government which executes teenagers on the suspicion of being gay.
Figures. And you're lecturing us on "moral authority"?
Whatever. I'm done talking to you in this thread. Maybe others won't bother with you either now that your little smear has been debunked.
Little smear? He called somebody the N-word, jsut about the most offensive thing one can say. Pointing out that it was in '79 is only an excuse if if it were 1879. Yeah, I've gotten drunk and said some silly things before. Never called someone that word. How bout you?
Excuse me, I wasn't calling what Costello said "a little smear". I said that you were smearing him by bringing up something terrible that he said 30 years ago, but has apologized and tried to make up for since. I already said above that what he said was stupid and racist and that he deserved to be called on it, so don't try and twist my words into some fantasy where you have me saying that it's not so bad to call people the n-word.
No, I've never calling anyone the n-word, drunk or sober, but I've certainly said some racist things in the past, either out of ignorance, or out of some sort of stupid politically-incorrect-joke bravado.
Yeah, you got me to respond by twisting my words. Congratulations.
31 years ago. And apologized. But he should not be cut any slack? What if he had performed in Israel? Then it would have been okay?
Let's remember that in 1979 Israel was in an alliance with South Africa providing them with arms to crush the resistance to apartheid. I guess it was OK to help kill people as long as they never used the "N word".
Yeah, I've gotten drunk and said some silly things before.
Good try.
I think it's crossing a line for any babbler to label people who support BDS "anti-semitic", even with weasel words like "perhaps".
There are a lot of babblers who support BDS. That post is indirectly accusing them of anti-semitism too.
I thought an omnibus thread about performers who are following or not following the BDS movement ...
blah blah blah yawn
[poop pic removed by moderator. So sue me.]
Now, first and foremost, one has to realize that if Israel, and the organizers of this event Costello is now boycotting, had issues with Costello's use of the N word over 30 years ago, they would not have invited him to play there, or allowed it.
For Israeli apologists to use his use of the N word, to bash him for following the boycott, is hypocrisy at its worst.
Really, if such was the case of outrage over it, he should not have been invited in the first place.
Did they think they could use his past faux pas to pressure him to play once invited? As he would have to be aware that he would be targeted with it should he refuse...
..am now thinking of the impact on Atwood's book sales, had Chapters Indigo, refused to carry them anymore.....not that I am saying that happened or anything, but it would have been good leverage....
Language is interesting.
People who support BDS are sometimes called anti-semitic.
People who do not support BDS are sometimes called Zionists.
I find both characterizations to be unacceptable.
....Aaand Noveyea is gone.
Too bad about the pic being removed though. It's not often we get a new poster showing ID.
Hmph...I was trying to decide what type of poop it was, and had settled on horse, but was going to ask other babblers what they thought.
And.... I thought it an apt picture of the poop that is now trying to be spread about Costello.
And thanks Michelle, for dispelling that, as I had not heard about that 1979 drunken pissing match, so would not have know about the background to the attempted smear by SCC. Was involved in the BC election heavily that year, and was heavily pregnant.....so my world was not that big.
As I too watch Costello's show, when opportunity arises. The music is great and so are the stories, so I would have hated to have to boycott it, had he stayed on the tour ticket.
[aside]Costello plays himself on Treme a new HBO series about post-Katrina New Orleans. I saw the 1st two episodes and quite liked the show.[/aside]
Looked like bull to me.
Language is interesting.
People who support BDS are sometimes called anti-semitic.
People who do not support BDS are sometimes called Zionists.
I find both characterizations to be unacceptable.
I think there is a difference between these two statements though. The first is generally a smear with no bearing in truth when it is applied to Palestinian solidarity activists instead of actual anti-semites.
The second, it seems to me, isn't that far from the definition of "Zionist". Part of the definition of Zionism, at least modern Zionism, is support of the state of Israel and its apartheid practices. It seems as though opposing BDS falls under that column, unless you have a really good explanation for why you don't support the oppression of the Palestinians but actively oppose doing something about it.
It's okay to refer to a liberal as a liberal. It's okay to refer to a Feminist as a Feminist. It's okay to refer to a Zionist as a Zionist. It's not okay to refer to a Palestinian solidarity activist as an anti-semite.
SJ, it looked to flakey to be bull... :D
Ruminant's poop just isn't that flakey and undigested.
Some people use "zionist" as a smear but there's no clear definition of "zionism". Which zionism are people referring to? The secular, socialist zionism of the Israeli founders? THe religious zionism of Rabbi Kook? If someone supports Israel's right to exist, are they, ipso facto, a zionist?
I liked My Aim is True and This Year's Model when they first came out. I waited in rapt anticipation for Emotional Fascism, but wasn't keen on Armed Forces. Get Happy! is garbage, and was released at about the same time that McManus made his Ray Charles comments, after which time I quit listening to his music.
I think it's crossing a line for any babbler to label people who support BDS "anti-semitic", even with weasel words like "perhaps".
There are a lot of babblers who support BDS. That post is indirectly accusing them of anti-semitism too.
So what? I've been called an anti-feminist for having somewhat nuanced opinions at least a half dozen times on this board when I certainly felt it wasn't justified, and I don't recall anyone losing their hair over it. Maybe people should get thicker skins. In fact, I recall someone being told to do just that in the last couple of days...
Thanks! Maybe I'll just stick to watching Costello's show on CTV - the only thing on CTV worth watching, besides QP every Sunday.
Some people use "zionist" as a smear but there's no clear definition of "zionism". Which zionism are people referring to? The secular, socialist zionism of the Israeli founders? THe religious zionism of Rabbi Kook?
What's "socialist" about colonialism? What's "secular" about establishing a religious state?
I would say opposing campaigns against Israeli apartheid such as the BDS campaign would qualify
Depends. What do they mean by "Israel's right to exist"? Do they really mean "Israel's right to exist as an apartheid state"? And do they ask questions and demand others support "Israel's right to exist" while the only nation whose right to exist is seriously threatened and trampled is Palestine? Do they ask this question only to delegitimize the point of view of those who support a one-state solution? How is Israel defined - is it the Israeli state in its current configuration? What about anarchists - is it not logically consistent that those who oppose the existence of all states oppose the existence of the Israeli state?
there is nothing anti semetic about BDS, first of all because palestinians are semetic and BDS is in support of them, and on top of that it is nothing more than a personal choice to not financially support institutions that profit from others suffering, like boycotting gilette when they tested on animals etc.
The other thing is that Israel is all about BDS when it comes to people they don't agree with....iran sanctions, gaza blockade etc. They only think it's negative when it's used against them, instead of BY them. think israel would have objected to BDS against 1930's germany? doubt it.
I just dug up an article by Robert Fisk in which he enumerated some of the many comparisons by Israeli leaders of Palestinians to animals, insects, diseases, etc. And there was the following quote as well:
Long after the war, the ruins of the Cite Sportif were torn down and a brand new marble stadium was built in its place, partly by the British. Pavarotti has sung there. But the testimony of what may lie beneath its foundations--and its frightful implications--might give Ariel Sharon further reason to fear an indictment.
Sharon fears nothing now, being in a permanent vegetative state after a massive stroke.
What artist wants to do a concert in Israel and discover that the bodies of the victims of Israeli atrocities and torture were dumped underneath the very stage they played on?
There are plenty of reasons for an artist NOT to perform in Israel, not to go to Israel at all. And those reasons may not all be clear for some time.
After 19 years, the truth at last? Fisk (back in 2001) on the Sabra and Chatila massacres.
I have read some more and must acknowledge that I've made an error here. The Cite Sportif was the site of terrible Israeli atrocities. But it was also just outside Beiruit, Lebanon. My argument here, is still sound however.
The other thing is that Israel is all about BDS when it comes to people they don't agree with....iran sanctions, gaza blockade etc. They only think it's negative when it's used against them, instead of BY them.
Not to mention that Israel supports an academic boycott... of Noam Chomsky
Actually, there are quite a few scary quotes by Zionist leaders around the time regarding Nazism, the Holocaust, and the situation in Germany. I think in the back of their minds, some of them thought that Hitler was doing them a favour by increasing anti-semitism, forcing more Jews to move to Israel and giving some intellectual backing for the Zionist project, namely the idea that Jews aren't safe anywhere but in a Jewish state. Some Zionist leaders even went so far as to oppose attempts to save Jews which would have brought them to safety outside of Palestine.
I think it's crossing a line for any babbler to label people who support BDS "anti-semitic", even with weasel words like "perhaps".
Just thought I'd point a certain "animal" word out that no-one seemed to object to.
I'm sure no words have been offended.
<quote>In a statement posted on his website, Costello described his decision as a “matter of instinct and conscience.” Israel’s culture minister, Limor Livnat, responded by saying that Costello “is not worthy” of performing in Israel.
<quote/>
Yeah, this guy hasn`t so much as shoplifted from a Palestinian, never mind stealing her home or killing her.
http://www.forward.com/articles/128185/
Israeli Actors Boycott Stirs Settlement Debate
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9241120
"Dozens of Israeli actors have signed a pledge not to perform in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank where a theater opens this fall.."
Tutu urges South African opera to boycott Israel
"Just as we said during apartheid that it was inappropriate for international artists to perform in South Africa in a society founded on discriminatory laws and racial exclusivity, so it would be wrong for Cape Town Opera to perform in Israel," he said.
"Only the thickest-skinned South Africans would be comfortable performing before an audience that excluded residents living, for example, in an occupied West Bank village... while including his Jewish neighbours from an illegal settlement on occupied Palestinian territory."
I thought an omnibus thread about performers who are following or not following the BDS movement (that is, refusing or not refusing to play in Israel) might be useful
According to the website of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, these performers have honoured the cultural boycott:
• VANESSA PARADIS - February 2011
Vanessa Paradis is an international singer model and actress of French origin, scheduled to perform in Israel on February 10, 2011. She became a child star at 14 (in the mid-1980s) with the worldwide success of her single "Joe le taxi." Since then, she has been successful as a singer, as an actress and in modeling.
• TINDERSTICKS - November 2010
Tindersticks is an indie rock band from Nottingham, England that has been active on the music scene since 1992. On November 23rd 2010, Tindersticks announced the cancelation of its December 1-2 shows in Tel Aviv. In an official statement explaining their decision, they said ""When agreeing to play our music in Israel we, perhaps naively, believed that the music we make is beyond political considerations. Over the past weeks, the pressure exerted on us by people and organizations, some close to us, has shown us that this is not the case. It is difficult to defy a rapidly growing movement with whose aims we agree, even if we are not wholly convinced by their methods."
• MIKE LEIGH - November 2010
Filmgoers have come to love British director Mike Leigh's films (Life is Sweet, Secrets and Lies, Vera Drake, and Happy-Go-Lucky, to name just a few). Now we all have two other reasons to appreciate him: he cancelled a master class he was scheduled to teach in Israel in November and had the courage to announce that he had done so because of Israel's conduct toward the Palestinians.
• ELVIS COSTELLO - May 2010
Every once in a while, someone puts ethics above financial gain. Elvis Costello is one such person. In May 2010 he cancelled two summer concert dates in Israel. In Mr. Costello's statement, he said, "There are occasions when merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted as a political act ... and it may be assumed that one has no mind for the suffering of the innocent... It is a matter of instinct and conscience."
[Too bad Diana doesn't agree - see below]
...and these performers have not (so far):
• THE FALL - January 2011
The Fall are an English post-punk band, formed in Prestwich, Greater Manchester in 1976. The group has existed in some form ever since then, and is built around its founder and only constant member, Mark E. Smith. Smith is proudly working class and anti-authority. The Fall have released 58 albums and 50 EPs and singles, as well as appearing on dozens of compilation albums. The group is known for its witty lyrics and caustic social observations. The Fall have played for Rock Against Racism concerts. The group is scheduled to play in Barbi, Tel Aviv, on January 20.
• JEFF BECK - October 2010
Jeff Beck is a British rock guitarist, ranked 14th in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 100 top guitarists. He has been inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of fame twice. Beck has given benefit concerts for tsunami victims and research on multiple sclerosis.
• OZZY OSBOURNE - September 2010
Ozzy Osbourne is an English heavy metal singer, who divides his time between England and L.A. He rose to prominence as the leader of Black Sabbath. He and his family had a reality TV show from 2002 to 2005, with the highest ratings in MTV history. All of his solo albums have gone platinum. Osbourne has said, "I've never seen any intelligent military person, nor I have seen any sense in the bloody stupid wars." He has been involved in benefit concerts for Live Aid, the homeless and Haiti earthquake victims.
• LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - August 2010
LCD Soundsystem is the stage name of dance-punk musician and music producer James Murphy. In live concerts he is usually accompanied by six other musicians. He has released three critically acclaimed albums, including 2010's This Is Happening, which made Billboard's Top 10. LCD won Grammy Awards in 2006 and 2008. Has participated in a concert to fund Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders' work in Darfur.
• PUBLIC IMAGE LTD. - August 2010
Public Image Limited is a British post-punk band led by former Sex Pistol John Lydon. They entered a hiatus after being very active from 1978 to 1992, but reformed in 2009 and hit the road for a new string of concerts. Lydon indicated in a recent MoJo interview that sanctions against Iraq and Iran have not worked, therefore he saw no reason they would have any impact on Israel, therefore he would proceed with the concert scheduled there, despite pressure to cancel.
• THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS - August 2010
Thirty Seconds to Mars is a Los Angeles - based rock band composed of Jared Leto, his brother Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicevic. To date they have released three studio albums and two EPs. The group has won three MTV Europe Music Awards and four Kerrang! Awards. It has been involved in charitable work for Haiti earthquake victims and Habitat for Humanity projects in Malaysia and publicly expressed alarm about global warming and the dissolution of the Arctic shelf.
• DIANA KRALL - August 2010
On August 4, 2010, Diana Krall performed in Israel, despite the fact that her husband, performer Elvis Costello, had chosen not to do so two month earlier for reasons of conscience. Diana Krall is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer. She has sold over 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million worldwide - altogether, more albums than any other female jazz artist in the 1990s and the 2000s. Krall has been involved in benefits for Katrina hurricane relief and research on multiple myeloma. She was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005. She lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her husband, singer Elvis Costello, who in May 2010 cancelled his own concert dates in Israel.
• MISSY ELLIOTT - July 2010
On July 15, 2010, despite receiving letters and hundreds of emails, American rapper Missy Elliott performed in Israel. Missy Elliott is an American rapper, and former member of R&B band Sista as well as the Swing Mob collective. With record sales of over seven million in the United States, she is the only female rapper to have six albums certified platinum. Elliott has contributed to charity for a number of causes, including domestic violence, teen obesity, AIDS and poverty.
• SUZANNE VEGA - July 2010
On July 15 and 16, 2010, despite appeals not to do so, Suzanne Vega performed in Israel. Suzanne Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her folk-inspired music. An international performer since the mid-1980s, Vega has had two songs which have reached the top 10 of various international chart listings. In 2006, Vega performed in New York City in a benefit concert for "The Save Darfur Coalition." At the same time, she asserted her support for Amnesty International and its important work. Vega says she has been a member of Amnesty International since 1988.
• ROD STEWART - June 2010
On June 30, 2010, despite requests not to do so, Rod Stewart performed in Tel Aviv Israel. Rod Stewart is an international performer who began his career in the 1960s. He has sold over 130 million records worldwide, and is one of the best selling British singers of all time.
Tutu urges South African opera to boycott Israel
Well, the Cape Town opera did perform in Tel Aviv. So did these folks.
Great find, Ripple! Thank you.
VICTORY! - Vanessa Paradis cancels Israel concert!
You can use this CJPME link to email Ms. Paradis and thank her for responding positively to the boycott request.
I've amended post #39 accordingly.
Macy Gray is Waiting To Hear From You: Shall I perform in Israel?
http://youthanormalization.blogspot.com/2011/01/bds-macy-gray-is-waiting...
Macy is being coy - but ask her not to play in Israel
Singer to Perform in Israel Despite Boycott Pressure
http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20687&am...
"Dear Israel fans. Me and the band will be there in 20 days. Can't wait. See you then. Peace,' read the Twitter message sent last Wednesday night."
guess Gray, like Atwood and Egoyan, decided to follow the money instead.
her facebook page is listed above in post #44
Why the hell would she tweet this on Wednesday (saying she's going), but her fan page on Facebook still has her Jan. 17 question asking whether she should boycott or not? And people are still posting to her fan page saying she shouldn't go?
Pathetic.
This is brilliant - spread the word:
Music video by John Greyson asks Justin Bieber to cancel his upcoming Israel concert
I'm with him. The Israelis have suffered enough. The last thing they need is a Justin Bieber concert.
JB is definitely a WMD.
Knesset discusses combating cultural boycott
Who is afraid of BDS?
This is brilliant - spread the word:
Music video by John Greyson asks Justin Bieber to cancel his upcoming Israel concert
John Greyson - alias John Grey - has posted an item about this video on rabble. Apparently the Zionists tried to get YouTube to shut it down.
He has made other similar videos about BDS and other performers. You can check them out on his YouTube channel.
Justin Bieber WILL Play Israel, Says His 'Jewish Road Dad'
"On April 14, Bieber is scheduled to perform in Israel. 'No matter what, we're going,' Braun answered when asked about other performers such as Elvis Costello who have cancelled performances in Israel...'Justin wants to be part of the seder,' he said.."
http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20873&am...
It's Official Bob Dylan To Perform in Israel June 20
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/it-s-official-bob-dylan-to-per...
Hey Mr Tambourine Man....WTF?! DON'T PLAY ISRAEL!!
Bob Dylan Boycott Israel
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116628888365109
Gene Simmons (of Kiss fame and reality TV shame) is blasting artists who would participate in this boycott and was just back there (I didn't realize that he was born there).
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=13196236
"They're fools," the legendary bassist told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday, on his first return to Israel since leaving the country as a child more than 50 years ago.
Simmons described the visit as a "homecoming." He offered a description of himself that might shock his legions of fans who know him as an American icon prone to spitting blood and sticking out his exceptionally long tongue:
"I'm Israeli. I'm a stranger in America. I'm an outsider," he said, speaking in a hotel lobby across a valley from the walls of Jerusalem's historic Old City. "I was born here and I'm proud of it."
Long time lurker, first time poster. Why is Dodger allowed to post here? He's clearly a Zionist, and does not even attempt to hide his contempt of this site, progressives, etc.
Also, the fact that Gene Simmons spent his entire career spreading VD to women, and spewing blood on audiences all over the world, would predispose him to support a blood-thirsty state.
You throw "zionist" around like it's this unaprdonable insult. Probably not even sure what it means because it's basically become a meaningless term that people like you hurl around as an insult.
Meanwhile your use of 'blood-sucking" to describe the Jewish state plays on some of the worst anti-Semitic stereotypes from history.
It's Official Bob Dylan To Perform in Israel June 20
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/it-s-official-bob-dylan-to-per...
Hey Mr Tambourine Man....WTF?! DON'T PLAY ISRAEL!!
Are you kidding?
Neighbourhood Bully
Don't expect Li'l Bobby Zimmerman to be critical of the Zionist entity any time soon.
Why is Dodger allowed to post here?
I dunno; I just learned something from him. I used to dislike Gene Simmons just because I thought he was a scumbag. Now I have political reasons as well.
You throw "zionist" around like it's this unaprdonable insult.
If I raped and murdered for generations, I'd expect unaprdonable insult as well.
European Jews feeling superior to those: "backwards Arabs"... murdering their way to a State. How's that?
You bring it upon yourselves. Have you once... ever... asked yourself why you have been so disliked, and for so long?
I. Braun your comments are antisemitic and are not welcome here.
oh, and flagged as offensive.
You bring it upon yourselves. Have you once... ever... asked yourself why you have been so disliked, and for so long?
I have. I figured it out pretty quickly (cause we Jews are smart. That's why we win so many Nobel prizes and found companies like Google and Facebook). People (people like YOU) tend to hate us cause they're bitter and resentful of their own lives, lack of success and achievement and need to blame other people for their own failings and inadequacies and we make a convenient scapegoat.
Anyway, go back to your parents basement. And say hi to Eva for me, you Nazi loser.
I predict we will be losing another "friend" soon. Auf Wiedersehen, mein Herr.
Long time lurker, first time poster. Why is Dodger allowed to post here? He's clearly a Zionist, and does not even attempt to hide his contempt of this site, progressives, etc.
Also, the fact that Gene Simmons spent his entire career spreading VD to women, and spewing blood on audiences all over the world, would predispose him to support a blood-thirsty state.
Welcome, I. Braun. I agree with you entirely.
And Ripple and Caissa can take a flying leap.
"I'm Israeli. I'm a stranger in America. I'm an outsider," he said, speaking in a hotel lobby across a valley from the walls of Jerusalem's historic Old City.
What a moron.
Welcome, I. Braun. I agree with you entirely.
And Ripple and Caissa can take a flying leap.
You agree with his blatant, unambigious anit-Semitism entirely. How lovely.
I predict we will be losing another "friend" soon. Auf Wiedersehen, mein Herr.
What's with the anti-German bigotry around here? This isn't happening just in this thread. Stevie-boy, for example, is casually referred to as "Herr Harper," as if being a Kraut is a bad thing.
You agree with his blatant, unambigious anit-Semitism entirely. How lovely.
No, I disagree with your blatant pro-Zionist attempts to smear any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic.
Heil Hitler
BTW - I've been posing as prototypical, knee-jerk anti-Israel hating stooge. How'd I do?
Just popped back and noticed this thread. C'mon folks... What a sucker play. A tag team match, no less. Jeez.
No tag-team Unionist. Totally my own idea.
You Rabble folks are fun to read. Bunch o' zombies.
I. Braun has been shown A. Door.
Back to BDS now, friends.
Yeah, now that the door has been closed again, can we at least get back to our usual flesh eating and foot dragging.
I meant to be displaying anti-Nazi bigotry. Your point though is well taken Al-Q. I should have stuck with English.
Jello Biafra bucks international BDS call, will play show in Tel AvivAttempting to explain his (in)action to the public, Biafra posted this confusing letter to the facebook page of his band, Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, and addressed it to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign:
1. The more we know about the many sides to this horrible conflict, the more we realize we don’t know.
2. It certainly appears that both the Israeli Left and the Palestinian Left are divided right down the middle as to whether this kind of a boycott is a good idea at all. It is nowhere near as solid or as unified as the boycott against apartheid South Africa. Setting foot in Israel does not automatically make us supporters of the Netanyahu regime or the policies we all oppose. Quite the opposite, in fact.
3. I agree with Peace activists who have said how important it is for someone like me to actually go there and see for myself what is really going on. Then, back home in America, I will be able to speak more knowledgeably from eyewitness experience, at a time when most Americans only get their information from dumbed down, censored corporate McNews. It was never our intention to play the gig, hang out at the beach, and go home. After the gig I am staying around for several days. Am I going to Palestine too? Absolutely.
We know this issue is so multifaceted and volatile that no matter what I or the band do, someone is going to be upset. Sort of the story of my life, in a way. I hope that by making this trip we can in some small way help bring down that goddamn wall.
For peace and justice,
Jello Biafra
Gee you would think he might just go there and do the research before he made his decision to play or not.
I note that he had no problem appropriating a whole countries suffering when he chose his stage name. A few years after a million people died trying to break free of an oppressive regime he adopted it as a cute name, like the Dead Kennedys. Just another self promoting poser who has been shooting his mouth of for decades. He probably needs the publicity to sell his old catalogue.
Actually due to a court case a while ago, he hardly gets the rights to DK material anymore. Yet this is a terrible move.
But on the other hand I am not sure if all pro-Palestinian groups or individuals are entirely BDS either.
They should be however.
Gee you would think he might just go there and do the research before he made his decision to play or not.
I note that he had no problem appropriating a whole countries suffering when he chose his stage name. A few years after a million people died trying to break free of an oppressive regime he adopted it as a cute name, like the Dead Kennedys. Just another self promoting poser who has been shooting his mouth of for decades. He probably needs the publicity to sell his old catalogue.
Very disappointed in Jello Biafra. I truly thought he was about progressive politics.
He was active in stuff in San Francisco before and after DK's were formed. Maybe he is just bitter about everything now.
Some are organizing a real response to Jello Biafra's totally wrong move.
http://punksagainstapartheid.com/
Let's hope more join this effort.Wow! Nobody updated this victory. Congrats to punksagainstpartheid and thanks to them.
http://electronicintifada.net/blog/nora/building-bds-movement-punks-agai...
Thanks to Electronic Intifada, too. And they are sans serif, so so terrific, eh genstrike!An Open Letter from Gaza to Julio Iglesias: Don’t Entertain Apartheid Again! [excerpt]
We, youth and students of the Gaza Ghetto, entrenched and surrounded by Israeli Gunships, Snipers, Jeeps, F16s and Merkava tanks at every turn, are saddened to see that once again, you will entertain an apartheid regime, and ignore the horrors Israel is inflicting on us.
This is not the first time an oppressed group has called on you to heed calls for boycott, divestment and sanctions of apartheid.
Those in the South African apartheid liberation struggle described you then as one to, “have chosen to make profit in a land of exploitation and misery instead of taking a stand on principle and foregoing blood money.”[1]
You performed twice in the infamous Sun City of South Africa in 1983 and 1984. Your claims to have had “a child with a colored woman" and to "sing duet with Diana Ross who is colored"[2] were unacceptable excuses and no similar excuses will see us Palestinians forget your turning your back on our call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) of apartheid Israel. By performing in Israel you directly contravene the 2005 Palestinian Civil Society Call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) [3], that has been heeded by international artists and writers such as Elvis Costello, the Pixies, Carlos Santana, Annie Lennox, Gorillaz, John Berger, Adrienne Rich, Massive Attack, Faithless, Gill Scot-Heron, Devendra Banart, Mike Leigh, Ken Loach, Meg Ryan, Arundati Roy and many others, who have put equality, anti-racism and the will of the oppressed against the appearance money and adulation. Adulation from, in this case, many young people who have served in the Israeli Occupation Forces that occupy and control us and our land, bomb our villages and destroy or steal our houses, olive groves and—more importantly—our human dignity.
You must be aware of the fact that we will not be able to attend your performance, because of the checkpoints, control of our movement, restrictions on our education, our job prospects and the growth of our towns and villages. Why? Because we are the undesired 'ethnic group’ for the region so far as Israel is concerned. Does this not ring a bell of South African Apartheid? It does for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Ronnie Kassrils and many other anti-apartheid heroes. Desmond Tutu has called this worse than apartheid and described the possibility of the Cape Town Opera performing there as 'unconscionable”!’[4] Some courageous British academics and intellectuals went as far as describing Gaza as “the Guernica” of our time.
Israel's answer to the cultural boycott: The Jerusalem Quartet, known by many as Israel’s musical ambassadors of apartheid.
“For the three immigrants (3 members of the Quartet emigrated to Israel from Russia), carrying a rifle in one hand and a violin in the other is the ultimate Zionist statement.”
Guests of honour included media magnate Haim Saban and former Israeli Military Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, who commanded the attacks on Gaza in 2008-09 which killed 1,400 Palestinians. An Israeli propaganda video about Streisand’s appearance at the gala features armed Israeli soldiers running in a scenic sunset. A shameful sunset in her own career.
Source
Concerns Raised Re London's Globe Theatre's Decision to Host Israel's Habima Theatre
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/12/490601.html
"Boycott From Within have written to Directors of the World Shakespeare Festival 2012 ahead of Habima National Theatre of Israel's scheduled performances of 'The Merchant of Venice' at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London on 28th-29th May, 2012.."
February's boycott target: Cirque du Soleil.
Singer Cassandra Wilson cancels Israel show. "I identify with the cultural boycott of Israel"
http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/sacha-baron-cohen-oscars-2012-banned-dictator-red-carpet/
Sacha Baron Cohen Responding To Movie Academy “Of Arts & Zionists”: Is Academy Blinking On Oscars Ban? – EXCLUSIVEYuk-Yuks Bringing Laughs to Israel
http://www.cjnews.com/arts/yuk-yuks-bringing-laughs-israel
"Canadian comedy club chain Yuk Yuks is sending a delegation of six comedians to Israel next month to spread some Canuck cheer and learn what makes Israelis laugh. While there, the comics will be shadowed by a CBC film crew, led by Toronto director Igal Hecht, for a documentary to be released later this year..."
Mark Breslin headoffice@yukyuks.com
CBC Ombudsman Kirk LaPointe ombudsman@cbc.ca
Call For Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
http://pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=869
Boycott All Violators