Re: boycott of Jewish musicians

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

We're not dealing with rational folks here.  If we were, they'd inspect the 
human
rights records of every nation on earth (my recollection is that only the 
Pacific
Island nation of Tuvalu, 8K people and probably the most ethnically and
religiously homogeneous country in the world and with no border nations, hostile
or otherwise),  see that Israel's record is remarkable, particularly given its
perpetual state of de facto war with it its neighbors, and either boycott any of
the numerous nations further up the scale (many of them Israel's foes) or 
abandon
the tactic altogether, maybe even, knock on wood,  rethink the issue entirely.

I don't want to be even remotely off-topic here.  Interesting that, for all the
initial criticsim of Paul Simon's recording with South African musicians in
violation of the cultural boycott of that country, he eventually become highly
esteemed there and one of his pieces even become an ANC theme song.  I'm not a
Graceland fan myself, but that's what happened.

pinnolis (at) brandeis(dot)edu wrote:

> Friends:
> IF the British determine they're boycotting Israeli working musicians, won't
> that mean that other groups will wind up, even by default, boycotting Brits?
> For example:
>
> So, Yitzkah Perlman, Pinchas Zuckerman and the whole lot banned to perform in
> Britain??... A ban against Israelis...It's not just the 'small' people, but
> also the international superstars? Would Perlman voluntarily play in London
> when his compatriots have been banned there? I think not. And the contracts
> for those superstar people, have they figured that out?...
>
> I suppose this means that, since Israelis, who are in virtually every major
> orchestra of the world... does it mean that Britain will now be eliminating
> those as well by this boycott because those orchestras have some musicians
> who are Israeli? Including, but not limited to, the Boston Symphony, New York
> Philharmonic, Los Angeles Symphony, and many European orchestras etc. etc.
> Israelis don't just come alone. They often perform as part of larger
> organizations whom they work for.
>
> I can't imagine an orchestra on tour from the US... would state that the
> violin concermaster or a major wind player ---or whomever--- has to stay home
> because he has an Israeli passport...Not to mention major orchestras that are
> led by Israelis. In short, they'd wind up creating an atmosphere that
> happened in Germany before WWII. Because plenty of other people will, and
> would, wind up not going to Britain in sympathy (if not outright part of the
> ban) with their colleagues, teachers, students and friends in the music world
> who are Israeli.
>
> We'll see how far this goes. If they're smart, not far. After all, music is
> supposed to be a way to bring people together. It's one of the few areas that
> people of all backgrounds can work together. It seems that this sort of
> action is totally the opposite of getting anyone to change policy by anyone,
> whether Israeli or Palestinian.
>
> Judy
>

--
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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