The Death of Klinghoffer Controversy
It is a disgrace that The New York Metropolitan Opera insists on performing this offensive, anti-Semitic work.
Lisa Klinghoffer and her sister Ilsa, like the rest of the world, had been glued to the news all that horrible, tense week nearly thirty years ago. "When our mother finally reached us, she struggled with having to tell us the news. But we already knew. Then she said 'your father was a hero…. Do your crying now girls, I have done mine…. Because when I get home, we have a lot of work to do.'"
On October 5, 1985, Palestinian terrorists boarded the Italian cruise ship the Achille Lauro, separated British and American passengers, then paid close attention to the Jewish-looking passengers in this English-speaking group. Among those selected were Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer, who were taking a once-in-a-lifetime cruise to celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary. With them were several of their close friends; they vacationed together each summer on the New Jersey Shore.
The hijackers demanded the ship divert to Syria. When authorities there refused to allow it entry, the terrorists turned on Leon Klinghoffer. He was an easy target: a sickly 69 year who'd suffered two strokes and was confined to a wheelchair. The hijackers shot him point blank in the head, then flung his body, still in its wheelchair, into the sea.
Anti-Semitic Opera
The gruesome murder shocked the world. In England, the director Peter Sellars suggested commissioning an opera on the event. He turned to John Adams, a famous American composer, to convert the ghastly terror attack to music. Alice Goodman, an American Jew living in England, was commissioned to write the libretto, the opera's lyrics.
One of John Adams' goals, he later explained, was to teach Americans to look at terrorism in a whole new way. Americans, he felt, were so "desensitized by years of consuming the television news… they can't imagine a representation of a story like the Klinghoffer event being anything other than a cliché melodrama with 'evil' terrorists and 'innocent' victims." He hoped his new opera would fix that, teaching simplistic Americans to view terrorists as something other than "evil" or negative.
Adams and Alice Goodman decided on an opera that included Biblical stories, positioning the terrorism of the PLO against innocent Israelis and Jews as the continuation of epic struggles between good and evil through the ages. It was Goodman's idea to include choruses of Palestinians, explaining their motives in a musical move that echoes Bach's Passions, putting PLO members in the same position that Bach placed religious figures.
"I had no idea that the feelings would be that deeply personal," says John Adams of reactions to his work. He originally wanted to tackle the opera in a humorous way, he said, but ultimately toned down the comic elements. Alice Goodman did push to include one "comic" scene, portraying the Klinghoffer's friends and neighbor as grotesque buffoons when they hear of his murder, conforming to age-old anti-Semitic stereotypes. Ms. Goodman, who assured Adams that this was an accurate representation of American Jews, seems to have been going through a difficult time: midway through writing The Death of Klinghoffer, she converted to Christianity; today, she is a Church of England vicar.
It perverts the terrorist murder of our father and attempts to rationalize, legitimize and explain it.
When the opera debuted in Brussels in 1991, that scene in particular was excoriated as horribly anti-Semitic – even John Adams has acknowledged is seemed to make fun of American Jews and, by extension, the Klinghoffer family itself – and quickly erased from future productions. But more fundamental concerns remained. The opera opens with a disturbing, fabricated scene: a traumatized Arab girl is watching as Jews shoot, beat and chase Arab women and children from their homes, which sets the tone of moral equivalence that mars the opera. Jews are depicted as cheating the poor, despoiling virgins, breaking the law, and exploiting others for their own gain. Terrorists who murdered a helpless elderly Jew are portrayed as nuanced, even noble at times. At one point, PLO terrorists sing, "We are soldiers fighting a war, we are not criminals, we are not vandals, we are men of ideals."
When Ilsa and Lisa Klinghoffer watched the opera's American premier, they called it "appalling," explaining it "perverts the terrorist murder of our father and attempts to rationalize, legitimize and explain it."
Although Peter Sellars, the commissioning director, said he was disappointed the opera wasn't even more pro-Palestinian and anti-Jewish, opera companies around the world recognized it as an unbalanced, irresponsible work, and quickly backed away from the piece. After its 1991 performances, The Death of Klinghoffer wasn't performed again for the next ten years. In 2001, it enjoyed a modest revival; it was performed in Finland, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra planned to perform extracts at a concert later that year. But after the September 11 terror attacks, the Boston Symphony dropped the piece. A member of the chorus had lost her husband in the World Trade Center, the Orchestra explained, and the group felt it was impossible to ask her to participate in a work that rationalized terrorism.
The Met's Puzzling Decision
That The Death of Klinghoffer is considered too extreme to perform makes the Metropolitan Opera of New York's decision to include it in its upcoming season all the more puzzling. The Met's Director, Peter Gelb, acknowledges the goal of the opera is "to understand the hijackers and their motivations, and to look for humanity in the terrorists" as well as their victims, and has even acknowledged that doing so can legitimize Jew-hatred.
In addition to its live performances, the Met was planning to offer simulcasts in European cities. When the summer of 2014 saw huge displays in anti-Semitism flare throughout Europe, however, – four murdered in a Brussels Jewish museum, hundreds trapped in a Parisian synagogue by a violent mob, Jews openly beaten on the streets of Germany, and refused treatment from doctors and service in restaurants – the Met recognized conceded the opera might "stir up anti-Israel sentiments" and be "a vehicle to promote anti-Semitism," and cancelled the broadcasts.
The Met has no obligation to give a stage to justifications of terror.
The live performances, as of now, are scheduled to go ahead. Many have defended the Met's decision to put on the opera as one of freedom of speech. The New York Times spoke for many when it declared the opera "moving and nuanced in imagining a tragedy that gives voice to all sides." Yet freedom of speech is not absolute; the Met has no obligation to give a stage to justifications of terror. Imagine an opera rationalizing lynching in the Jim Crow south. It is hard to picture serious artists who would give voice to such a nauseating and unacceptable point of view.
When the Klinghoffers lost their father and husband, they leapt into action, channeling their energies to fight terrorism and raise the awareness of the threat of anti-Jewish hatred. "In the face of evil, in the aftermath of hate and terrorism our family's mission became clear… We were going to do whatever we could to put a human face to the deadly reality of terrorism. Within months, we (founded)… the Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer Memorial Foundation – which was created by our late mother, and remains an essential part of our life's work today," Ilsa Klinghoffer explains.
We can all learn from the Klinghoffer's example and channel our concern into action. On Monday, September 22, a broad coalition of Jewish groups is protesting the Met's decision to stage the opera, assembling at their headquarters in New York's Lincoln Center. For those who are unable to attend, Peter Gelb, the Met Director, can be reached at Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, and at telephone (212) 362-6000. Let him know what you think. It could make a difference.
Protesting the Met's "Death of Klinghoffer"
The Money Laundering Disgrace
Understanding Anti-Semitism Today
Legitimizing Anti-Semitism
Combating Anti-Semitism
(38) Anonymous, September 29, 2014 9:55 PM
SHAME ON THE MET. I WILL NEVER GO THERE AGAIN !!!
SHAME ON THE MET!! HOW COULD THEY EVEN MAKE SUCH A HORRIFIC EVENT INTO AN OPERA ! I AM APPALLED THAT THIS IS CONSIDERED A VEHICLE OF ENTERTAINMENT.
WHEN THE TERRORISTS COME FOR OTHERS, IT WILL BE TOO LATE AND THEN PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT JEWS HAVE EXPERIENCED FOR TOO MANY YEARS....WE WILL SEE !!
(37) TMay, September 28, 2014 10:00 PM
Protest anti-Semitic, Pro Terror play at NY Opera House stated
"You can also write a letter of protest to Metropolitan Opera manager Peter Gelb at pgelb@metopera.com. Or go to http://stopdeathofklinghoffer.com/write-for-us/ for a list of board members and donors.
For more information, contact ZOA at 212 481-1500 or AFSI at 212 828-2424, or contact liz@zoa.org or afsi@rcn.com."
Anonymous, October 16, 2014 1:56 AM
Threatening those with whom you disagree
This posting amounts to harrassment! Have you even seen the opera? Do you believe in freedom of expressions? I am a survivor of the Holocaust with many of my family exterminated by the Nazis. The first thing they did was boycott my father's profession and threatened anyone who would dare come to his office! Think about what you are doing before reacting to a piece of art you know nothing about. Would you boycott Othello ,because it may be anti-black?
Rachel, October 21, 2014 11:34 PM
Harassment my foot. Anybody who doesn't protest this obscenity is not a decent person. If this propaganda piece is art, then so is a dirty diaper. Anybody who goes to see this vile thing deserves to be scorned and treated with disgust. Threatened - what a crock. Nobody is being threatened. You can't stand it that people are rightfully protesting against this evil presentation.
meirav, October 31, 2014 12:14 AM
I pity your ignorance and naiveness! The cementer above yours is completely right. You should learn about opera and art before saying anything. I feel shame for you and everyone that thinks like you!
(36) Beverly Maargolis-Kurtin, September 27, 2014 10:22 PM
Arabs, and that is all that so-called Palestinians are--Arabs, are opposed to what we consider civilization. It is part and parcel of their Q'ran. They want the entire world to go back to the 7th century: No education, no modern communications, no modernity of any kind EXCEPT when it permits them to crash into a building filled with innocent people or hijack a plane with the hope of killing Jews.
I know that all Muslims are not terrorists, but all terrorists ARE Muslims. The United Nations which is controlled by the Organization of the Islam Conference which met in Cairo in 1990 and adopted the "Ciro Declaration on Human Rights in Islam." It hypocritically states that "all human beings form one family whose members are united by their subordination to Allah."
WHOA! Alto! Stop! THAT is Islam! Islam doesn't mean peace, it means SUBMISSION. So the Cairo Declaration means NOTHING! It simply echoes the Q'ran.
Fifty-eight states belong to the OIC and they have managed to get the UN to outlaw what they have coined "Islamophoebia." Pardon me, I'm an American. We have something called the Constitution. The first amendment states that our government can't push any religion down our throats, so the United States cannot abide by the Arab's attempt to control how Americans, and Israelis for that matter, think or act when it comes to religion.
Getting back to the opera, if the NY Met goes ahead with its attempt at spreading Jew hate, all Jews should get rid of their tickets and boycott the outfit for life.
The Arabs have no right to the land they call "occupied." They had the opportunity to get their own land but, well, I'm preaching to the choir, aren't I?
I'll call the Met on Monday.
All terrorists are Muslim??
Have you not heard of Timothy Mc Veigh? Or the home grown Neo Nazis in the US ? It Doesn't help the cause of peace to vent so much hatred against all Muslims. It is the same as the Nazis venting their hatred against all Jews...I know, because I was faced with that hatred as a child in Nazi Germany!
(35) Anonymous, September 24, 2014 3:41 AM
what"s next?
What's the next opera that is being offered? "The Beheading of Foley"? I guess that will give us a nuanced understanding of the ISIS beheaders and allow us to see things from their point of view! Can"t wait!
Jeanne, September 27, 2014 3:58 AM
Thank you Anonymous!
The Beheading of Foley! Brilliant. Yes - and an opera about the Jim Crow South that rationalizes lynchings. These comments really sum it up!
(34) Sara Sussman, September 23, 2014 4:35 PM
Disgusting decision to present this horror.
Impossible to understand those who justify this showing of anti=semitism. Are these the same people who now and in the future continue to deny that the holucaust ever happened? SHAME on the Metropolian and those who made this terrible decision!
(33) rachel, September 23, 2014 3:07 AM
bad publicity....
Is a contradiction in terms, according to marketers. The controversy will probably boost interest and ticket sales.
(32) Neal Plotkin, September 22, 2014 4:02 PM
Get on the mailing list...
Get on the mailing list for the Met Opera. Then just trash their mail when you receive it. It costs them to maintain their mailing lists...and they deserve zero return for their efforts.
Is there any surprise
that the paper of record, The New York Times, finds artistic value in such drek? And is it surprising that Jews will continue to buy and read the paper?
Federico, September 23, 2014 3:30 AM
nytimes,
A newspaper that is fine as toilet paper.
Anonymous, October 21, 2014 11:40 PM
NY Times -good for training puppies
The NY Times is proof that there are people who are idol worshippers. The editorial board of the Times worships themselves and hold themselves out as the moral authority on everything. I stopped subscribing to them decades ago.
(30) TMay, September 22, 2014 11:07 AM
Sign the petition to change their mind.
Sign the petition. Boycot Klinghoffer. Boycott the Met Opera period, by lack of attendance and by lack of support. Give the money instead to a victim of terrorism. I hope the Koch Bros don't support the Met. Hey why not blame the elementary school children killed at Beslan to explain a terrorist's pov? You could even add sexual sadism to the repertoire of the Met. How about the Moscow Theater hostage taking where 800 theater goers were taken hostage by terrorists and there were only 130 hostages dead when it ended? That one seems good. It might even convince some terrorists to take over the Met to add reality to what is taking place on the stage. Mumbai? We keep seeing Leftists beheaded because their foggy thinking led them into the net. I keep expecting the Left to wake up when their own are being slaughtered. But no. It is one thing for them to be suicidal but I do not appreciate them tipping the boat for the rest of us. This is the moral inversion of reality by the Left. It is like ethics 101 for dummies Here's an easy one: on the 1 hand, a semi-paralyzed older Jewish man who had had 2 strokes, in a wheelchair who paid for a cruise, with wife and friends, murdered and his body thrown overboard into the ocean, and on the other hand, a bunch of able bodied Palestinian terrorists who invaded the ship who shot him. Who is the victim? The Left fails the test. What must a jury trial in NYC look like? Totally messing with peoples' brains makes it easier to take over the country, and the lack of a moral decent America negatively affects the world. Just think of where the world would be if America had not been around to fight the Nazis. ISIS is the inheritor of the Nazis. Shall we see an opera on Foley from ISIS pov? Would it not be aid and comfort to the enemy?
(29) Janice kenner, September 22, 2014 5:27 AM
Staging Death of Klinghoffer bt Met
Poor decision, Met. I hope they lose enough supporters and go out of business.
(28) Naomi, September 22, 2014 4:42 AM
For the sake of fairness
Peter Gelb should be commissioned to produce an opera paying tribute to and admiring the perpetrators of the 9/11Twin Towers and Pentagon carnage. Maybe he can commission Ms. Goodman to find some comic aspects of this too? I'm sure this will go down very well with New York opera circles, since there is no accounting for taste.
(27) Rick, September 22, 2014 3:05 AM
Discracful
you shold be ashamed to lower yourselves to the point of producing such blatent anii semetic garbage. For you fellow Jews involved what are you thinking??
(26) aaron, September 22, 2014 12:04 AM
go protest
everyone reading this post should encorage their friends and family to go to the protest at the met tomorrow at 4:30-6pm
(25) Fran, September 21, 2014 10:52 PM
Simply put, I can't express an intellectual exercise with this horrible opera. It is simply sickening in scope.. Nothing new. I had hoped the Met would recognize what it's about to do. Sign of the times? God, I hope not.
(24) pearl, September 21, 2014 10:35 PM
It must not be allowed to go ahead. It must be stopped.
Shame on you Peter Gelb, The Met Director, shame on you for encouraging and legitimizing such cruel treatment of a minority race and in this case a helpless person in a wheelchair when what you should do and could do in your position is to encourage peace and condemn such atrocities. I wonder if this would have happened to your father would you still believe in what you believe now I doubt it. Your thinking is distorted.Shame Shame Shame on you.
Alan, September 23, 2014 10:08 PM
Cancelling all Met involvement
Formerly attended 10 operas a year. Had 3 year subscription to the Opera News which is up shortly and have also made significant contributions when their Live From the Met Great Performances show free Met Operas on PBS. I have stopped all of this and will watch my Opera DVD collections at home.
And besides the music from Klinghoeffer like the rest of John Adams Operas is annoying and not worth listening to.
(23) Joanne Wiesner, September 21, 2014 9:43 PM
Sympathy for terrorists and none for the victims!? It should rightly have been called "The Murder of Klinghoffer/Sympathy for the Devils".
You Can Also Email Peter Gelb at pgelb@metopera.org
You can email the Met Director, Peter Gelb at pgelb@metopera.org to let him know what you think of this hateful bigotry masquerading as art. Aish, I would suggest adding his email address to the article.
(21) Michael Garfinkel, September 21, 2014 7:56 PM
Jewish Jew-Hatred
Well, here we go again.
An anti-semite of Jewish descent (Sellers) commissions an opera that insults a Jewish victim of an obscene murder, a Jewish Librettist writes the book, with overtones reminiscent of "Der Sturmer," and a Jew, Peter Gelb, produces the opera at the Met.
Does anyone believe Gelb and company would produce an operatic version of "The Satanic Verses" in the name of free speech?
Cowardice, disgrace - there are no words that do justice to this disgusting exhibition.
(20) Michael S, September 21, 2014 7:53 PM
Disrupt the opera
A demonstration is good, but not enough. When the first anti-Semitic statement in the libretto is flashed on the screen, self respecting Jews in the audience should arise and shout, "stop the anti-Semitism!"
Why should a self-respecting Jew even attend such a performance? Better to stop attending the MET altogether until this opera is deleted from the repertoire - and to persuade as many others to do so too. I agree with Nancy (comment 8 below) - weak sales, not only for this opera but for the entire season, will teach the best lesson.
(19) rbr, September 21, 2014 7:37 PM
met's in trouble acting desperate
The Met is in deep financial trouble. The time-honored way to get out of such trouble is to turn to the Jews. If they cannot be taxed directly, then allow people to pay to see Jews demonized and humiliated, and their enemies turned into heroes.
(18) Shoshana, September 21, 2014 7:30 PM
limits to free speech - legal challenge/class action?
This is deeply offensive and seems to me could be considered incitement. There are limits to constitutional rights to free speech and it seems to me that this breaches the legal threshold. How about a class action suit?
(17) Ed Fleischman, September 21, 2014 7:29 PM
It starts with the name!
It starts with the name! By titling their opera The Death of Klinghoffer, the authors ARE showing their bias.
The title should rightly be The MURDER of Klinghoffer!
It just gets worse from there.
(16) saul, September 21, 2014 7:23 PM
more email contacts and sample letter to email
There is a list of corporate, institutional and government sponsors of the met,. You can get the emails at aboutlincolncenter.org website look under SUPPORT and then under Corporate sponsorship/Institutional support. Some of these institutions donated more than $1,000,000!
Contact: Tamar Podell, Senior Vice President of Planning & Development tpodell@lincolncenter.orgI212.875.5421
Corporate Sponsorship and Contact: Lisa UekiIlueki@lincolncenter.org 212.875.5515
I think there would be great impact if we make it known to the Lisa Ueki lueki@lincolncenter.org I212.875.5515 and to Tamar Podell, Senior Vice President of Planning & Development tpodell@lincolncenter.orgI 212.875.5424 at the lincoln center that we may contact the sponsors informing them of the objectionable opera showing perversion and rationalization of the terror stance that their contributions are supporting and ask them to respectfully remove : The Death of Klinghoffer.
(15) Geoffrey L Rogg, September 21, 2014 6:44 PM
Boycott the Met.
Let's be clear on this. This is not about free speech but all about self-hating Jews who will stop at nothing to drag us all down into the muck and mire, shaming us all. Do not spend a penny on the Met, cancel your subscriptions, your donations and revoke any bequests already made. What is more having to do with friends or relatives who in any way support the Met. I am thoroughly disgusted and so should all of you be too.
(14) Marlene, September 21, 2014 5:58 PM
Christians are now just beginning
... to feel the upcoming destruction by Islam!
Muslims are now targeting Christians as Christians targeted Jews for centuries!!
When the Muslims stand alone, they will implode of themselves.
Thus, the big bang theory -- the world goes out not with a bang, but with a whining whimper.
The only people who might survive are Jews - 'cause we are so used to living with hatred of non-Jews.
Next time, G0d will choose other people . . . if at all.
(13) Kelly Rebekah ben Maimon, September 21, 2014 5:56 PM
"Shame on you Peter Gleb and the Met"
Utterly distasteful, incomprehensible and deeply offensive are the thoughts that immediately spring to mind. If I was in New York tomorrow, would definitely be joining protest! Sincerely hope all Shuls have been contacted, so message has been passed along and lots of people can get involved. A worthy cause, if ever I heard about one. Will call Peter Gleb and tell him what I think and sincerely hope thousands of others do the same thing. London, England
(12) Eliyahu, September 21, 2014 4:57 PM
Appalled.
As an opera fan and singer, I am appalled that the Met would even consider performing such a travesty as this. What's next? Showing the North Korean gulags from the government's POV? A "balanced" treatment of Nazi concentration camps?
(11) Yisroel, September 21, 2014 4:26 PM
horrible!
There seems to be a pathology here of Jews trying to justifying Jew-killers and Jew killing. They could have used their "talents" to defend their nation. Instead they justify the hatred of others. Pathologic self hatred!
Marvin Karp, September 21, 2014 9:13 PM
Agreed: Self-Hatred is Pathologic
Hate of any form (self-hatred included) is pathological and evil, and as with its opposite---Love---it doesn't need explanation or justification, especially through insane "entertainment" that trivialized and neutralizes a horrific act. Evil acts as well as acts of love are the result of choice. If we do nothing else we must edify the good that those evil acts attempted to destroy with the light of love and not cast a shadow on a tragedy with cynical comedy.
(10) bvw, September 21, 2014 4:25 PM
Good opera is bold, personal, popular and not found at a Met
Look to way off Broadway. There will be in time a renaissance of opera, maybe soon. In confusing times, people seek the comfort of the kind of very personal, earthy, common music good opera is. Likely this is the Met's swan song. It's an not an opera it's a nihilistic insider circle jerk.
(9) Marvin Karp, September 21, 2014 4:22 PM
No Further Stage for Consummate Evil
When evil has already taken the world stage, it is folly at best and hideous to give that evil a stage again (and multiply that egregious opportunity by the times it will be performed.) Examining the causes of evil is only good for couch entertainment, as the performance of ghastly acts is owned by those who perform them, and no explanation is needed. The undertones and overtones of such a stage production, in its perverted treatment of the tragedy and its accompanying stereotypes would make this piece antisemitic and a sick thesis on terrorism and the evil heart.
(8) Nancy, September 21, 2014 4:11 PM
I called Mr. Gelb, but was only able to leave a message on his voice mail. In cases like these, New Yorkers need to vote with their wallets. Perhaps weak ticket sales will reach Peter Gelb when nothing else will. If he loses money then maybe he will pull this work from the 2014-15 roster.
Anonymous, September 23, 2014 10:28 PM
What is his Number
If you can list it, I can call him and leave a message that says I am no longer goiing to be a contributor. Nearly $100,000 in contributions and ticket sales over the past 20 years.
Thank you, Alan
(7) ROZALYN LANDISBURG, September 21, 2014 4:05 PM
Flagrant promotion of Jewish Hatred by Met
How stupid to try to show justification of killing of innocents
at a time when the world has gone wild with terrorist groups
who behead. What was Klinghoffer's crime, an ill senior in a wheel chair . He was guilty of being a Jewish man. The Met has and is giving voice to terrorism as if there is any justification. Shame on you Peter Gelb and the Met.
(6) Pam Webber, September 21, 2014 3:35 PM
Klinghoffer Murder
It is disgusting that you would even consider putting on a play that would bring back heart wrenching memories of 30 years of the remaining family. What type of audience are you trying to appeal to?mThe Palestinians? You should be ashamed of yourselves!
(5) Kezia Pride, September 21, 2014 3:33 PM
form letter response
I also wrote to the Met when I first learned of this last month. I received a form letter reply that justifies the supposed importance of this insane piece of "art" by referring to "a pattern of violence that in the ensuing decades continues to repeat itself." In other words, mindless pap aping the morally repugnant equating of terrorism and self-defense. There is a difference between good and evil, in fact, though one will not find any acknowledgment of it in the offensive attitude of the Met.
(4) Barry J White, September 21, 2014 3:21 PM
Just do not attend or view this offensive opera. Even freedom of speech entails sensitivity and discretion. You are not required to indulge a bore.
(3) Laurie Dinerstein-Kurs, September 21, 2014 3:18 PM
individual responsibility
I wrote to Mr. Geld as soon as I read of this debacle. I also received a bland and annoying response. My concern is that not only Mr. Gelb seems be ok with this performance - by their silence - all the musicians, singers, and other staff are as well??? Is NO ONE taking a stand? Does the "show must go on" include hate and incitement"????
IF there has been a response from the players...I have not heard of it. IF there has NOT been an outcry from them.....there is a bigger problem here then Mr. Gelb!!
(2) steven kalka, September 21, 2014 3:06 PM
suggested sequel to Death of Klinghoffer
If Peter Sellers wants to portrait terrorists in alternate way, why doesnt he follow up with an opera about the IRA? He could call it The Death of Mountbatten. Let's see how it plays in London, and how the locals react.
rachel, September 21, 2014 11:23 PM
ridiculous comparison
The ira was fighting a war, just as the haganah and irgun were in the final years of the British mandate over Palestine. And they were fighting against equally brutal Loyalist paramilitaries. Since the Good Friday Agreement in the late 1990s, there has been a nearly complete cessation of violence in Northern Ireland. The Queen has been warmly received in Ireland, and Catholic and Protestant clergy have worked together to bring the warring sides together.
Contrast this with the ever worsening violence by Islamic extremists. The ira never called for an end to Britain nor for its conversion. They demanded and got an end to official discrimination against Catholic- heritage Irish and greater local control via a Northern Irish government. While any sane person would prefer that such matters be handled peacefully, as they were recently in Scotland, both sides have to agree to engage in peaceful negotiations. Unfortunately, that was not the case in many places for most of the 20th century, including South Africa, N Ireland, and even the pre-civil rights American South.
And contrast this with Arafat, who had gotten so much in good faith negotiation on the part of Israel, but chucked it all because he could not abide the existence of Israel.
Broad-brush comparisons only exacerbate the perception that Americans simplify everything.
(1) mgoldberg, September 21, 2014 2:47 PM
the moral deficit of Gelf, and the Met
A bluntly fine dissection and all too accurate. I emailed Mr Gelb and the response was the novacaine type of numbing politically correct sophistry that they are peddling about artistic freedom, and seeing the issue from all sides. Now... we have muslims running to join ISIS, where christians are enslaved, slaughtered as are anyone not of their stripe, mass tortures, rapes, and all our elites can yell, is 'THIS ISN"T REAL ISLAM'
as the local ordinary muslims who are real islam, support and aide them in their horrendous conquests.
Of course.... seeing homicidist muslims- the fakeistinians putting a bullet thru the head of a stroked out man, and putting him into the sea, requires putting a hatpin thru the frontal lobes of the world's common sense, and decency. Hence- the progressive moral inversion about seeing 'all sides' of the issue. I urge everyone to politely and firmly list the issues to Mr Gelb and the Met board, and to work to expose this opera's presentation as the direct support of a nazi equivalence movement which is what it is.
Ruth, September 21, 2014 3:56 PM
dear mgoldberg -- well put!!!
all i can say is thank heaven we have people as articulate and clear minded as mgoldberg who know how to say it as it is and take the trouble to do so. i couldn't agree more with this excellent post.
Anti-Semitism in 3D
Anti-Semitism in America
Anti-Semitism on Campus
The New Anti-Semitism