I could write 10,000 words about this, but to be sure that you clearly understand me I am going to be very brief. First let me explain what happened then I’ll give you my take.
What Happened
If you weren’t aware, the pop singer Ed Sheeran had the rapper Macklemore on tour with him. Macklemore’s most popular recent tracks, and his most relevant recent positions in the world, have been advocating for Gaza. This is widely known.
But last week, when he performed his songs at a concert in New York, a few dozen Jewish people who attended posted tweets saying how offended they were to hear him call for a “Free Palestine” and how it made them feel “unsafe.”
Then Jewish organizations piled on.
Then Israeli organizations piled on.
Then the venues where the concerts were being held said they were being pressured to cancel the entire concerts if Ed Sheeran didn’t remove Macklemore.
So, faced with either canceling the tour or getting rid of Macklemore, he got rid of Macklemore.
Now, I see those Jewish and Israeli organizations celebrating their victory for “Jewish safety.”
That’s what happened.
Here Is My Take
I have so much I could say but I want to make one very simple point.
If Jews and Israelis sincerely think removing Macklemore from a pop tour because he says “Free Palestine” is going to make them safer, they are wrong.
This man wasn’t out here being bigoted towards Jews.
He wasn’t threatening violence against Jews.
He was advocating for Palestinians. And if your position is that simply advocating for the human rights of Palestinians makes you unsafe…
I swear to you that you are actually maker yourself unsafe by doing so.
I see it happening in real time.
I see people all over social media saying how angry it makes them AT JEWS that a rapper has been removed from a tour for advocating for Gaza - in the name of protecting Jews.
IT INFURIATES PEOPLE.
I see people that have advocated for Jews their entire lives say it infuriates them.
I see literal Jews that advocate for Gaza saying that what other Jews and Israelis are doing by forcing people who advocate for Gaza off a tour is making them LESS SAFE.
And it is. It just is.
In America, it can’t be the case that you can advocate for anyone you want, and against anything you want, except one thing: You cannot speak out against Israel.
You can speak out against America.
Against Trump.
Against Biden or Obama.
Against the leaders of your city or state or congressional district.
Against Canada or Mexico.
Against war.
Against genocide even.
As long as none of it involves Israel you are fine.
You don’t even have to mention Israel. You can just advocate for Palestinians and they still say it “makes them unsafe.” And I am telling you - doing this is making people IRATE. I see it getting worse and worse online.
Let me give you a parallel scenario….
Over 90% of African Americans oppose Donald Trump.
And a big percentage of African Americans truly believe that Trump is a danger to African Americans.
But African Americans are fully aware that people still:
Get to rally for Trump.
Get to gather for Trump and celebrate him and even worship the man.
Get to have concerts for him. Give awards to him.
Get to honor him outside or inside. At concerts or dinners.
African Americans simply know that to be a citizen of this country means that even the people who aren’t fighting for you get to have platforms and events.
African Americans have also lived in this country long enough to know that if you suddenly started banning people from even being able to gather for Donald Trump, and shut down every event they have for him, and cancel every venue, and make it literally impossible to even say you support him - or you will lose your job…
African Americans have lived in this country long enough to know that doing something like would be such overkill that it would actually become DANGEROUS for African Americans to make it such that you lose your job if you even say you support Trump or go to an event of his. It’s crazy.
That’s all.
None of this makes Jews safer. I swear it doesn’t. And I’m doubtful anyone even believes it does. It seems like an arrogant flex of power more than anything else.
I think they want to scare people away from ever advocating for Gaza.
These photos are part of a daily series by the journalist Shaun King where he chooses 1-2 photos per day to share with you a glimpse of what is happening in the world. He will aim to show you what the mainstream Western media refuses to show so that you can have a more informed view of the world.
After you read my thoughts I'd really love to know what you think.
It seems that Zionism and Judaism keep being conflated. Zionism is a threat to Judaism.