Pressure on the Red Hot Chili Peppers to cancel concert in Israel - The New "Sun City" (Al Jazeera B - Polidicks

[url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/09/20129971339654827.html]Source[/url] [quote] [IMG]http://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/images/2012/9/9//201299143045849734_20.jpg[/IMG] [TABLE="width: 862"] [TR] [TD][B]'Why would I call on a band I loved so much as a child, a band I still listen to today, to cancel a concert?' [EPA] [/B] I was 10 years old when I stole my older brother's cassette tape of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. In my small town in Massachusetts that fall, I traded in my air guitar for a much cooler air bass, rocking out to Flea's rhythm on the hit single "Give It Away". Twenty years later, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are still cranking out great music to a huge fan base and were just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [B]On September 10, the Chili Peppers are scheduled to play a concert in Tel Aviv, Israel. The decision has caused quite a stir. [URL="http://www.change.org/petitions/red-hot-chili-peppers-cancel-your-performance-in-israel"]More than 7,000 people have signed a petition[/URL] calling on the band to cancel its performance in Israel. More than [URL="http://refrainplayingisrael.blogspot.com/p/open-letters-to-red-hot-chili-peppers.html"]a dozen groups[/URL] around the world have written letters calling on the band to cancel the show.[/B] I work with [URL="http://www.usacbi.org/"]one of those groups[/URL]. Why would I call on a band I loved so much as a child, a band I still listen to today, to cancel a concert? In 1948, my pregnant grandmother, countless relatives, and 750,000 other Palestinians were displaced from their homeland, making way for the creation of the state of Israel. My grandmother never saw her birthplace again, never picked another piece of fruit from her orchard, but spoke and dreamed of a dignified return until her final breath in 2009. Palestinians continue to languish in refugee camps; four million live under a system of increasingly brutal Israeli occupation, and 1.5 million Palestinians are relegated to second-class status inside of a state that is falsely presented as a democracy. [B]Boycott, divest and sanction [/B] In 2005, Palestinian civil society, [URL="http://www.bdsmovement.net/call"]consisting of more than 170[/URL] unions, women's organisations, cultural groups, academic institutions and nearly every other facet of society, called for [URL="http://www.bdsmovement.net/"]boycott, divestment, and sanctions[/URL] against the state of Israel until it complied with three basic demands based on international law: an end to occupation, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and equal rights for Palestinians living inside of the state of Israel. Following the ethical, effective, and rights-based approach of cultural boycott against apartheid in South Africa, tens of thousands of voices in support of Palestinian rights have stated clearly: it is time to take action for freedom, justice, and equality. [TABLE="width: 189"] [TR] [TD][B]"The power of art lies with the oppressed, it wrote the freedom songs in South Africa, tuned the humming of prisoners in the H Blocks in Northern Ireland, and laced the chants against despotism in Tahrir Square." [/B][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Mashrou' Leila, a Lebanese band scheduled to open for the Chili Peppers in Lebanon, [URL="http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/lebanons-mashrou-leila-cancels-chili-peppers-after-latter-refuses-israel-boycott"]cancelled its lucrative slot[/URL] after band members were asked to pull out of the concert in protest to the Chili Peppers' decision to play in Israel. [B]A growing list of artists, including Bono, Santana, the late Gil Scott-Heron, Elvis Costello, Cat Power, the Klaxons, the Gorillaz, and the Pixies, have [URL="http://forward.com/articles/128074/elvis-costello-cancels-israel-concerts-after-prote/"]refused to cross the international picket line[/URL] and have pulled out of scheduled shows. Roger Waters, frontman for Pink Floyd and human rights advocate, said the boycott call is "[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICrIDP6tVZM"]a perfectly legitimate, nonviolent... political tool[/URL]" and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu [URL="http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/cancel-israel-trip-tutu-tells-performers-1.689025#.UEuE6KRSRv1"]stated in support of cultural boycott[/URL], "Just as we said during apartheid that it was inappropriate for international artists to perform in South Africa... it would be wrong... to perform in Israel."[/B] What I have learned in my years as a spoken word performer is that art is not above politics. Reading my work in the Jim Crow South to an all-white audience would not have upended racism, nor would it have sparked a journey of introspection among the masses. The power of art lies with the oppressed, it wrote the freedom songs in South Africa, tuned the humming of prisoners in the H Blocks in Northern Ireland, and laced the chants against despotism in Tahrir Square. [B]Artists were targeted and shamed when they played Sun City in South Africa and lent aid to the image of the apartheid regime. This is why Boycott From Within, a group of Israelis, has [URL="http://boycottisrael.info/content/israeli-citizens-red-hot-chili-peppers-please-cancel-your-tel-aviv-gig"]called on the Chili Peppers[/URL] to cancel their show.[/B] When art is used to bolster support for an oppressive state, when it is used to "present Israel's prettier face" as an official for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs proclaimed in the New York Times, and when it used as a form of propaganda as stated by a former Israeli Foreign Ministry official - "I do not differentiate between hasbara [propaganda] and culture" - it is time for artists to end complicity. [TABLE="width: 189"] [TR] [TD][B]"It is an easy choice to stand on the wrong side of history, when the history books have yet to be written. It is easy to call a show in Israel just another show when few accurately label Israel an apartheid state. "[/B][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Art alone cannot break down a wall that appropriates Palestinian land and resources, it cannot uproot illegal settlements, it cannot tear down checkpoints that restrict freedom of movement, it cannot release prisoners from administrative detention, and it cannot rebuild water wells. But artists and their art can inspire millions to take conscientious action against occupation and discrimination. [B]Towards justice [/B] As the Chili Peppers concert date approaches, there are millions of people under Israeli rule who are unable to reach the concert simply because they are Palestinian. The Chili Peppers will not meet with Palestinians who worked in cultural centres attacked by the Israeli army, they will not hear the work of young recording artists who are separated by walls and checkpoints, and they won't meet with the Palestinian hip hop artist who cancelled his tour because he was denied the right to leave his open-air prison. These details are left out of concert planning, but they are the daily reality for occupied, displaced, and oppressed Palestinians. While I may not be that young kid strumming my air bass on my parents' deck in Massachusetts, I still turn up the radio when the Chili Peppers come on. That is what makes writing these words so difficult. It is an easy choice to stand on the wrong side of history, when the history books have yet to be written. It is easy to call a show in Israel just another show when few accurately label Israel an apartheid state. At the moment, it still takes little effort to ignore the plight and call of millions of occupied Palestinians. But it is not the just stand. Martin Luther King once proclaimed, "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice". King was right. This week, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have the option to bend toward justice or enable oppression.[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/quote] I'm really interested to see how this turns out.

The drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers went to school at my high school back in the day.

[QUOTE=EliteGuy;37604499]The drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers went to school at my high school back in the day.[/QUOTE] Will Ferrell?

[QUOTE=EliteGuy;37604499]The drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers went to school at my high school back in the day.[/QUOTE] #wow #whoa

[QUOTE=SigmaLambda;37604528]#wow #whoa[/QUOTE] Red Hot Chili Peppers single "Dani California", released in May 2006, is very similar to Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance" which contains nearly identical rhythm and notation. Tom Petty told Rolling Stone, "I don't believe in lawsuits much. I think there are enough frivolous lawsuits in this country without people fighting over pop songs."

Why is this a good thing, why the hell are people rating this "winner"? Excuse me everybody, but why should I be punished for actions my government caused? Why do I have to take the blame for things that, for the most part, I have no control over? It only makes me hate the people who caused this with a passion, it doesn't make me want to change, it makes me angry. Yeah, punish the general populace why don't you, i'm sure it'll make them [b]love[/b] their Palestinian neighbors. Not to mention the fact that this concert takes place in Tel Aviv, the most left-leaning city in the country.

idk i mean i hate israel with a passion but i don't think you're doing much other than making the citizens lives boring by cancelling the concert [editline]9th September 2012[/editline] its like cancelling conerts in america because we have shite foreign policy

This isn't going to achieve any goals.

This is completely idiotic. They are basically trying to force their political views in order to divert a concert. Before we offed Ghaddfi, he had many musicians play for him, including Rhinana. This is just someone who wants attention.

[QUOTE=Kopimi;37605519]idk i mean i hate israel with a passion but i don't think you're doing much other than making the citizens lives boring by cancelling the concert[/QUOTE] makes perfect sense to me

I don't know how I feel about this, I partly agree but at the same time it's punishing a lot of people who've really had nothing to do with the issues there other than being an Israeli. In a way it's kind of giving Israelis a taste of their own medicine, but that doesn't necessarily make it right.

If cancelling concerts actually fixed stuff, then I would support it. But it doesn't. And this is stupid.

[QUOTE=Glorbo;37605449]Yeah, punish the general populace why don't you, i'm sure it'll make them [b]love[/b] their Palestinian neighbors.[/QUOTE] I don't think cancelling a concert will have any impact on Israel's disgusting attitude towards Palestinians, good or bad. Israel needs to be sanctionned for its acts. Now not saying this particular idea is good, but it'd be a start if artists stopped endorsing this state. I'm ashamed at how many people still believe Israel are the good guys.

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;37606125]makes perfect sense to me[/QUOTE] how

If they really want to punish Israelis they should let them perform.

[QUOTE=Marbalo;37605922]Yes lets punish the population for the actions of the government. This is complete and utter bullshit.[/QUOTE] This creates discontent with the people; they then petition the government for reform. Obviously, it's not as simple as that, but that's the idea behind this action.

It makes them realise what the outside opinion of them and the governments they vote for are.

[QUOTE=NoDachi;37607002]It makes them realise what the outside opinion of them and the governments they vote for are.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure a lot of Israelis (save the colonies) know that they're nearly universally hated.

[QUOTE=Zambies!;37607381]I'm pretty sure a lot of Israelis (save the colonies) know that they're nearly universally hated.[/QUOTE] which world do you inhabit dude Israel is unanimously supported by the western community's leaders. in the USA alone both democrats and republicans stroke their cocks

Its called BDS. Its the exact reason why South Africa is no longer apartheid, because people and companies kept boycotting and divesting from South Africa. Sure it sucks for some Israelis, but South Africa wasn't democratic as Israel and it really did suck for South Africans who opposed their government because they didn't have as much voting capacity as Israelis currently do, but in the long run the South African government realized that their policies would be unfeasible if no one would invest or trade in South Africa. This is the goal with boycotting Israel. Israel's government is democratic and the Israelis have the power to change their governments actions but a lot have not bothered to (and you're fool if you think the majority of the Israelis oppose their government.) Boycotting Israel is a means to force them to change their ways, and as long as the majority of the Israelis choose to support and continue occupation/oppression, then there shouldn't be an international presence in Israel so their actions cannot be legitimized. Do you want want to know what's fucked up but yet hypocritically accepted as if there's no wrong? Sanctioning and boycotting Iran. The people there do not support their government and still can't do shit regardless but who cares let's punish them lol because the Iranians have absolutely no clue how bad their government is. [editline]9th September 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Kopimi;37606453]how[/QUOTE] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Apartheid_Movement[/url] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporting_boycott_of_South_Africa_during_the_Apartheid_era[/url]

[QUOTE=Starpluck;37607424]Its called BDS. Its the exact reason why South Africa is no longer apartheid, because people and companies kept boycotting and divesting from South Africa. Sure it sucks for some Israelis, but South Africa wasn't democratic as Israel and it really did suck for South Africans who opposed their government because they didn't have as much voting capacity as Israelis currently do, but in the long run the South African government realized that their policies would be unfeasible if no one would invest or trade in South Africa. This is the goal with boycotting Israel. Israel's government is democratic and the Israelis have the power to change their governments actions but a lot have not bothered to (and you're fool if you think the majority of the Israelis oppose their government.) Boycotting Israel is a means to force them to change their ways, and as long as the majority of the Israelis choose to support and continue occupation/oppression, then there shouldn't be an international presence in Israel so their actions cannot be legitimized. Do you want want to know what's fucked up but yet hypocritically accepted as if there's no wrong? Sanctioning and boycotting Iran. The people there do not support their government and still can't do shit regardless but who cares let's punish them lol because the Iranians have absolutely no clue how bad their government is. [/quote] While I agree with many points brought up there, you have to remember that a concert is a service and not a tangible good. Therefore, the only person who truly has any say in the matter is The Red Hot Chillipeppers, and I doubt they will turn down the money.