Re: ban on all Israeli musicians to be debated Monday by British Musicians Union

[Alex J. Lubet <lubet001...>]

Appalling, but hardly surprising.



Sandra Layman wrote:

> http://www.wiesenthal.com/social/press/pr_item.cfm?ItemID=7053
>
> January 16, 2003
>
> WIESENTHAL CENTER PROTESTS BRITISH UNION'S MOVE TO BAN ALL ISRAELI MUSICIANS
> FROM BRITAIN
>
> The British Musicians Union is to debate a motion on January 20, 2003 to ban
> all Israeli musicians from Britain and the visits of their own members to
> Israel - a move that, according to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, "would
> violate the anti-discrimination provisions of the European Union."
>
> In a letter to the Union's Secretary General, John Smith, the Director for
> International Liaison, Dr. Shimon Samuels, noted "the exclusion of musicians
> based upon religious, ethnic or national grounds harks back to Nazi Germany.
> Thus, even considering such a motion would betray British history and the
> open international traditions of trade unionism."
>
> The letter continued: "Musical talent should know no borders nor nationality
> and, therefore, we appeal to you, the British Musicians Union, to reject all
> attempts to politicize the one gift that transcends conflict."
>
> Samuels concluded: "The motion to be tabled would encourage extremism and
> further terror, while discrediting the power of music to bind and soothe the
> victims of Middle East violence."
>
> For more information, contact the Center's Communications Department,
> 310-553-9036.
>

--
Alex Lubet, Ph. D.
Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music
Adjunct Professor of American and Jewish Studies
Head, Division Of Composition and Music Theory
University of Minnesota
2106 4th St. S
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612 624-7840 612 624-8001 (fax)


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