Comments for Tadamon!

Comment on 500 Artists Against Israeli Apartheid by Kevin Lo

Kevin Lo — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:43:10 +0000

Thank you Dwight.

Comment on 500 Artists Against Israeli Apartheid by gloria shaffer

gloria shaffer — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:37:00 +0000

what a bunch of garbage signed by ignorant artists who obviously have no time to read anything but a senseless petition. If the people of gaza wanted anything resembling a productive life, they would not have destroyed everything israel left for them when they exited gaza,they would not let themselves be used as pawns by the arab world, and would have moved forward on their own with all the help in the world. Instead, they throw cement blocks, use their own people to blow themselves up (i hope they find the 70 virgins) and concentrate on revenge for the physical wars THEY start. After receiving years of rocks and bombs, what is Israel to do to defend itself? I will divest myself of any so-called art of these petitioners-most of whose names are unknown to me.

Comment on Poet Fortner Anderson on Artists Against Apartheid by Itchak

Itchak — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:33:18 +0000

Anyone who does not recognize the extent to which the Palestinians have created their own misery by engaging in war is doing them a disservice by parroting the canard that it’s all Israel’s fault. I lived in Israel prior to the intifadas and the situation on many levels was much improved. It’s gotten worse (separation wall etc. ) completley because of the unfortunate, shortsighted decision by the significant Pal. leadership that violence is the way

Comment on Beirut: Music is Life by alomeh

alomeh — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:10:53 +0000

i love soap kills and shift z

Comment on 500 Artists Against Israeli Apartheid by dwight smith

dwight smith — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:41:15 +0000

Though certainly contentious and far from unequivocal, one must by necessity have the courage to assume a moral position as regards the state of Israel’s (in collusion with the United State’s with the tacit support of the Canadian’s) treatment of the Palestinian people. Many of the comments posted on Tadamon explicate contingencies and nuances and though thoughtful and well-intentioned they nonetheless fail to respond to the irrefutable fact that the treatment of the Palestinians in the West Bank and particularly in Gaza is morally offensive and in terms of international law illegal.

Stating this does not in any way make other acts in other regions whether they are committed by so-called terrorists or by other governments less odious. All too often one hears, as a few of those who have commented have stated, that the reality on the ground in the Middle-East is so complex that no one can claim to fully understand let alone pass judgment. Within a certain context that is certainly true. What after all do a bunch of artists residing in Montreal know about all the idiosyncrasies of Middle-East politics? I suspect some know more than others. But, however valid that may be, it is besides the point; the point being that what we do know and not only have a right but an obligation to state openly and unequivocally is that the government of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians is morally offensive and must stop.

It is with the deepest respect and admiration for the Jewish people that I feel compelled to name the government of Israel’s policy toward the Palestinians as a moral wrong. I know a considerable number of Israeli’s together with an increasing number of the international community of Jews both Zionist and non-Zionist would agree with this and are working hard to have their voice be heard. It is therefore equally odious to witness our own government’s attempt to stifle any debate in it’s McCathyesque effort to equate criticism of Israeli state policy with anti-Semitism. This is a frightening and again morally reprehensible precedent against which many more than 500 voices should and must be raised.

It is therefore with these considerations in mind (and many more besides for which the space here prohibits me from listing) that I willingly add my voice to the list of those who support doing whatever is necessary in a peaceful manner to coerce the state of Israel, together with those governments who support them, to raise themselves to a higher standard, to understand that an apartheid like solution will never be a solution only an unending misery for all concerned.

Dwight Smith, writer

Comment on Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Against Israeli Apartheid by Cretique » Blog Archive » Daily Cretiques #001

Cretique » Blog Archive » Daily Cretiques #001 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:40:41 +0000

[...] Yuen-Kit Lo at LOKi design shared a recent poster he designed for Tadamon!’s Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign. The current situation in Gaza is undeniably tragic, but like most of what happens in [...]

Comment on 500 Artists Against Israeli Apartheid by Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:57:11 +0000

Dr. Michael Laughrea,
Les gens sont tannés. Tannés de 40+ d’occupation, de promesses brisées, de mensonges, de guerres et on cherche une solution. On a TOUT essayé mais l’Israel continue de construire des colonies et des murs et REFUSE d’établir un état pour les palestiniens qui est juste et équitable. Il y A déjà des bourses, des arbres plantés et des programmes sociaux dans les territoires occupés mais à quoi ça sert si l’Israel d’un coup de main déracine les arbres, emprisonnes les gens sans proces et tue 1400 personnes. Est-ce que une bourse de recherche garantie des droits fondamentaux? La paix? la justice? ce que vous suggèrez est beau sur papier mais n’a AUCUNE application dans la réalité sur le terrain. Proposez plutôt la création d’un état! Ou des droits justes et équitables! Ces artistes savent que ceux qui peuvent faire des changements dans ce conflit sont ceux avec le pouvoir, avec la 4ieme plus grosse armee de la terre et ils veulent leur faire savoir que si vous voulez des relations normales avec l’occident: comportez vous avec des valeurs avec lesquels on est d’accord.

Comment on Size doesn’t matter …but apartheid does by Hopeful

Hopeful — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:43:36 +0000

The truly sad thing is, Mr. Lakoff, is that you and other well-meaning people are so blinded in your zeal to “do right”, that perspective is wholly perverted. Years ago when I met with my academic advisor at Concordia he imparted what he said was the best advice he could give any student; that was to study history, political science and English. Recommending English was because that was his passion; however, recommending studying history and political science was because he lived long enough to appreciate that the world is shaped and narrated by an emotionally driven species, who by their nature often act with ulterior motives other than providing any resemblance of a true historical accounting. The “whitewashing” of history is as old as recorded history itself. What is certain of humans is that instead of learning to overcome our emotional drives, thus dictating our actions, we have learnt instead better ways on how to manipulate and justify. Generally speaking, as a species, while some might mature, far too many do not. This brings us back to the wise words of an educated and thus sceptical academic advisor.
Any honest, objective and comprehensive analysis of the Arab/Israeli conflict would lead any truly honest observer to know that labelling Israel an apartheid state or calling for the Jewish state to be financially and /or politically ostracized, is in no way helping the Palestinian people. If you are going to advocate for Israel’s demise, please do so from an informed perspective. If you are going to advocate for the honest benefit of Arab Palestinian’s, wishing to see them lead a life free of persecution, threat, intimidation, violence, ostarcization, subjugation and hate, then either do something positive and directly for them, not through their corrupt, self-absorbed, leaders who are responsible for their plight. With any honesty Mr. Lakoff, it has to be acknowledged that support for those leaders who preach that “Jews are the descendants of monkey’s and pigs”, who wish to see not only the Middle East but the world free of Jews, or subjugated under strict Sharia law, will not lead to the betterment of the Palestinian people. And with any honesty, it too must be acknowledged that support for events such as IAW or BDS campaigns against Israel, is nothing but support for the destruction of the only Jewish state, and the advocating of replacing it with a repressive, racist theocracy; and that such a country will retard social progress on every front.
So Mr. Lakoff, and other well-meaning people, if you are going to advocate for anything, if you choose to do so with any honest intentions, either do so honestly, stating clearly and openly what your intentions are; be well informed; do not be influenced by peer pressure or allow yourself to be guided by ignorant emotional forces. Please be honest enough to learn from true lovers of the Palestinian people, like Khaled Abu Toameh, an Israeli Arab who for years worked for the PLO, and others like him who do seek to live a peaceful life alongside Israel, for the betterment of all people. Or state openly that you would rather Israel be replaced by a state that closer resembles Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan under the Taliban.

Comment on 500 Artists Against Israeli Apartheid by Dror

Dror — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:44:35 +0000

L’argument qui revient sans cesse est “pourquoi s’en prendre à israel et pas aux autres pays où il existe aussi des injustices?”.

Puisqu’il faut encore le répéter, rappelons que les mouvements de solidarité avec la Palestine dans le monde entier, et Tadamon à Montréal ne fait pas exception, sont constitués de citoyens de conscience qui sont, bien entendu, concernés par d’autres souffrances de par le monde. Au même titre que nombre des artistes signataires de la lettre contre l’apartheid israélien, Tadamon est signataire d’une quantité d’appels qui condamnent l’injustice et l’oppression partout où elles se trouvent. Nous nous battons pour la justice en Egypte comme au Canada, en France comme en Afghanistan, en Irak comme en Tchétchénie… alors pourquoi pas en Palestine?!

I will repeat this for the anglophones: international solidarity with the Palestinians, and Tadamon is no exception, is carried out by people who are, of course, concerned by other causes throughout the world. Like many of the artists who signed the letter against israeli apartheid, Tadamon endorses many appeals that condemn injustice and oppression, wherever they stand. We fight for justice in Egypt and in Canada, in France and in Afghanistan, in Irak and in Tchetchnia… so why not Palestine?!

Comment on 500 Artists Against Israeli Apartheid by Dror

Dror — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:43:17 +0000

Certains commentaires ici font sourire, certains arguments font pitié et une certains violence incite à penser que les artistes ont, comme il se doit, su toucher une corde sensible et montrer la voie de la conscience.

N’oubliez pas que ce sont bien les 4 frontières de Gaza, y compris la mer et la frontière égyptienne, qui sont gérées par israel, comme le rappelle Marianne Blume dans cet entretien:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=706UnWD0yvM