I took my 12-year old son, thinking I'm doing him a favor by going out with mum, to a free open-air concert by a Beatles cover band and the film Yellow Submarine at Liberty Bell Park in Jerusalem. You have to get there early or tickets get swooped up quickly. Even though I'm a Stones fan, there doesn't seem to be much choice in Diaspora-type entertainment. Not compared to Barcelona where everyone tours - I saw ads for Macy Gray, Alicia Keys, John Mayall. Everyone's going to Barcelona and no one is coming here. Except that some old British bands who no longer are on the A list - like Manfred Mann and Uriah Heep have been here in recent months. Getting back to the Beatles, I was 12 when Yellow Submarine was first shown and I loved the music and the colors. My son enjoyed the cover band somewhat and remembered the movie I Am Sam where they did Beatle covers for the film soundtrack. He thought the cover band took their music from the I Am Sam film. So much for my mothering skills at giving them Western music education. He was utterly bored and fidgety during Yellow Submarine and stole my cell phone to call his dad who was at home. "Come and get me NOW! I'm tired and hungry and the film is boring!"
I read an article by an Israeli who said Israelis should get to know the music of the Arabs - especially classic singers like Um Koulthoum. I am familiar with alot of the world music modern Arabic stuff like Khaled, but not this woman, I'm ashamed to admit. Alot of Palestinians I know are familiar with the Israeli singers who sing middle-eastern type music - not so much the pop/rock singers/groups. The young people are fairly traditional - they don't even know who the Rolling Stones are! - except that Rap has crept into their society and man - can they breakdance.
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Music
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2 comments:
Interesting blog...what do you think about this article a friend of mine wrote in regards to the Israel-Palestine conflict (I know how much you care for peace to come to the Middle East). You can visit my blog at lorenzogiovanni.blogspot.com
Death is always a tragic event. The death of one so young is perhaps the
greatest of tragedies. War is indeed a tragic thing, always leaving the
lives of those it touches worse in some way. War is an evil—not an act of
immorality per se, but evil insofar as it is a facet of a corrupt world in
which we were not intended to live.
But in an evil world, war is a sad reality for many. To combat those who
would spread their wickedness, malice must be met with equal force. To
those who live the dismal tale of humanity, war has always been, and shall
always be. The daily struggle for survival plaguing all who have the
misfortune of waking each morning in Isræl is but one sad chapter in this
long, sad tale.
This chapter, however, is longer than most. It is, in fact, destined to be
the longest installment in the struggle that defines us, for none has known
this conflict more intimately the Jews. Throughout history the Jews have
been maligned, despised, and ostracized for no greater crime than bearing
the stigma of having been born Jewish.
Still the Jews face daily the prospect of their spouses, children, and
parents being senselessly killed by those who choose to hate. Although
compelled to defend their very existence, the Jews have endeavored to make
peace with those who hold the annihilation of Israel as their defining duty.
Nor is racism a novel development in the history of the humankind. Disdain
for any who has the audacity to be different from one’s ideal is another
unyielding evil. Throughout the centuries, countless people—thinkers and
dreamers, and the common and vulgar alike—have been despised for daring to
challenge the prejudices of another, whether by thought, deed, speech,
status, means, appearance, or whatever. As long as man inhabits the earth,
there will be those who are different; as long as dissimilarity persists,
there will be intolerance.
Isrælis have reached out to those who hate them and in return receive
nothing but more hate, more lies, and more death. Even when Isræl must
resort to force to defend its people, it takes great pains to ensure the
humane treatment of all. IDF soldiers are under standing orders never to
fire live ammunition on minors, even belligerent ones. When an Isræli
soldier crosses the line between security and brutality, the punishment is
swift, sure, and severe. Many have found themselves stripped of their
command and facing criminal charges at courts-martial.
Despite the precautions taken by the government, nothing can stop an
individual from taking his feelings into his own hands. In societies where
hate and distrust have reigned for centuries, passing from generation to
generation, there can be no hope for reconciliation. In Israel, children,
Jewish and Arabic alike, are raised in communities under constant threat of
attack. Never knowing when the next strike will come or from where, they
are taught to be always be wary of those who are different. It is easy to
understand how even a well-meaning individual could misinterpret or
overreact to the actions of a stranger in an atmosphere of constant terror
and suspicion. Indeed, in a culture such as this, it is a wonder that
incidents like the heart-rending killing of this young boy are not more
common.
Sadly, those who seek to discredit Israel are fully aware of the dangers
posed by a culture of paranoia. Workers of terror shielding themselves
among groups of children seek to exploit Isræl’s precarious security
situation, forcing guards to fire or risk the slaughter of the citizens
(children included) they swore to defend. Preachers of hate poison the
minds of the young, teaching that Isræl is an enemy who seeks their
destruction. Children, easily convinced by the parents and teachers they
naturally trust, lob fiery cocktails at innocent soldiers and passers-by.
A tragedy? Yes, and a lamentable one. The result of Israeli misconduct?
Hardly. The fault for such events as this lies at the hearts of all those
everywhere who would deny to any the right to be different—the right to be.
What can be done to end such evil? In many ways, for Isræl it is perhaps
too late. But what about your community? Your home? Yourself, even? Have
you ever mocked or harassed someone simply because he failed to conform to
your concept of reality? The answer to our problems will not be found in
some book or treatise. The trouble will not be solved by sending more
troops, more food, more money (although those things may be needed). The
answer can only be found with a choice. Everyone must choose either to hate
or to love. The power to hate comes naturally. The power to love requires
an effort, a diligence. To love we must look beyond ourselves, a focus that
each of us finds difficult to maintain.
Your mother probably told you that you should always leave things better
than you found them. Each of us has the power to make the world a better
place. Each morning as you get out of bed is your goal to make your corner
of the world a better place that day? Or are you too busy trying to make
things better for yourself?
What will you choose?
Hey - :) you should not be ashamed of not knowing who Um Koulthoum is. i was born in lebanon and now i live in canada, and i barely know her. Actually, her songs get on my nerves, but i guess it is just because it is not my type of music. I tried to listen and be interested, but failed after 3 minutes. I think, it is already great that you know who Khaled is and especially that you show interest in arabic things, and you should be proud of that. You should proud of your attitude. I don't know much about you, just have been reading your blog for almost a month and i think you`re a great person. What did Gandhi used to say? be the change you want to see in the world? Or something like that no? Anyways - ps: i think it is great you can keep updating your blog everyday. i admire you for that too!!! - rea
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