GayandRight

My name is Fred and I am a gay conservative living in Ottawa. This blog supports limited government, the right of the State of Israel to live in peace and security, and tries to expose the threat to us all from cultural relativism, post-modernism, and radical Islam. I am also the founder of the Free Thinking Film Society in Ottawa (www.freethinkingfilms.com)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Now, I have to throw out my Pink Floyd Records...

Shame on Roger Waters...
An American Jewish organisation has become embroiled in a row with the lead singer of British rock band Pink Floyd.

The Anti Defamation League (ADL) has criticised Roger Waters for “crossing a line into antisemitism” after it emerged that he will use a planned concert to juxtapose a Jewish symbol with the dollar sign.

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Mr Waters revealed that during his forthcoming tour he will be performing in front of a projection showing Israel dropping bombs in the shape of stars of David, followed by the dollar symbol.

The animated scene, a condemnation of Israel’s security fence, will form the backdrop to performances of his 1979 hit Goodbye Blue Sky.

Abraham Foxman, the ADL’s national director, criticised the singer for what he described as an “outrageous” action.

He said: “The use of such imagery in a concert setting seems to leave the message open to interpretation, and the meaning could easily be misunderstood as a comment about Jews and money.

Mr Foxman said that while musicians had “every right” to express their beliefs through music, the singer " should have chosen some other way to convey his political views.”

He added that this was “playing into and dredging up the worst age-old antisemitic stereotype about Jews and their supposed obsession with making money.”

Mr Waters, 67, is a longtime critic of Israeli policy. During a 2009 concert in Israel he said he hoped that the security fence was “destroyed soon.”

At the Big Chill festival in August Massive Attack performed in front of a screen featuring slogans about Israelis' wealth and troop numbers.

8 Comments:

Blogger Andrew Ian Dodge said...

Why Roger Waters is a solo artist that can't stand the rest of Pink Floyd. Waters has always been an arrogant arse and this is just his latest episode.

10:40 AM  
Anonymous nissa_ami_kato said...

Perhaps they should also juxtapose an Islamic symbol with a picture of a murdered corpse.....

10:42 AM  
Blogger Fred from BC said...

He lost me during a concert in which the song about the Lunatic in his head was accompanied by a video featuring George Bush. When actors or singers start using their celebrity to foist their political views on me, I tune out. Too bad, too...there are now several actors/actresses I used to enjoy but can no longer stomach.

Vote with your wallet.

12:43 PM  
Anonymous Surecure said...

To keep things in perspective... the bombers were not marked by the name of their countries. They are all blank, slate-grey bombers and the symbols they drop are:

a) Cross
b) Dollar Sign
c) Star of David
d) Crescent Moon and Star
e) Shell logo

It's not specifically Jewish focused. It's kind of a mix of typical anti-capitalist, anti-war and surprising anti-Islam symbols.

It shouldn't be a surprise. Roger Waters has long criticized the whole lot of them. To quote his song "Perfect Sense" from the album 'Amused to Death':

"And the Germans kill the Jews
And the Jews kill the Arabs
And the Arabs kill the hostages
And that is the news.
And is it any wonder that the monkey's confused?"

2:06 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

How in the world can you say that you are a fan of Pink Floyd, and in the same breath criticize Roger Waters for his political imagery? As a fan for the last, close to 30 years, I can honestly say that, while I don't always agree with the politics, I truly respect Roger for expressing his views. Views that have been expressed since albums as early as Piper at the Gates of Dawn!

Obviously, you have never actually listened to a "REAL" Floyd album, onewritten and produced by Roger Waters. If you want sanitized, "safe" Pink Floyd, listen to a David Gilmour album.

2:54 PM  
Blogger ridenrain said...

It was one of the Sheene’s that used the line: “You mistake celebrity for credibility”
I really like Roger Waters for his lyrics but he’s flat wrong here.

3:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sarah Silverman says Jews love money so who am I to believe? (real conservative)

12:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Syd Barrett was Pink Floyd. Roger Waters left a damaged Syd behind because the pursuit of fame and money was more important than the man (Syd) that made it all possible for Roger to be a rich out of touch rock star. I'm not entirely sure that Roger isn't a bit of a hypocrite. Then again I'm a Syd fan.

3:22 AM  

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