I received an email from our friend Dusty at Pro-Israel Bay Bloggers to sign a petition by something called Creative Community for Peace in order to support Alicia Keys' decision to perform in Israel.
Many artists scheduled to perform in Israel are being inundated by false accusations about Israel, particularly that it is an Apartheid state. Currently Alicia Keys is being urged to cancel her performance in Tel Aviv this July, via Facebook, open letters, Twitter and a petition with thousands of signatures. It is critical that all artists hearing the same false accusations, hear from voices that support liberal, open democracies and the independence of artists.This is pretty quick and easy stuff, but I would very much encourage you guys to sign this petition because it's important that artists understand that we have their backs when they do the right thing.
The petition also reads, in part:
We therefore urge you to keep your tour date in Israel, the land Madonna calls "the energy center of the world." Join the ranks of independent-minded artists who have performed in Israel recently, including Rihanna, Macy Gray, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Black Eyed Peas, Missy Elliot, Metallica, Linkin Park, Lady Gaga, Seal, Meshell Ngedecello, Erykah Badu and many others. Your fans in Israel are looking forward to seeing you and know that you will use the power of your music to help bring hope and peace to the region!Check it out here.
{And a Tip 'O the Kippa to Dusty.}
On the other hand I'd ask anyone who 'suddenly' caves and decides to cancel - seemingly never having heard of Israel nor formed a coherent opinion before to be banned from Israel for life in any such capacity as an entertainer, for money or for free. They should be free to come as a private citizen and whatnot but once they pull the BDS trigger they must be forced to live with it forever.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the original title of this piece, taken directly from the petition, itself, was "Don't Let Israel's Detractors Politicize Art."
ReplyDeleteIt should be obvious that art is always, at least in some measure, political.
The goal, in these cases, should not be to de-politicize art or music, but to allow that art and music to be seen and heard in Israel.
So, for what little it may be worth, I changed the title.
I used to be a huge fan of Elvis Costello an also the Pixies. Once I heard their kaffiyah wearing blather, out they went from the iPod. Gone forever never to be heard again. And as long as we're talking about art in general, I for one prey for the flaming radioactive boiling acid cancerous power tool accidental death of Vanessa Redgrave, Mike Leigh and/or Alan Rickman.
ReplyDelete