I think capitalism & conservatives have successfully coopted the psychological, oral & litteral narratives of society, of course through their access to wealth & influence, to acquire control of the media to create the right-left paradigm and make claim to the term right. This has become organic in societies collective consciousness. Thus, creating the notion, relative to the universal default of neutral, of being true, correct, morally superior in juxtaposition to left. This conjure qualities of
“Neutrality” gets awfully convenient when the people demanding it own the stadiums. If billionaires can decide which political conscience is acceptable onstage, that isn’t artists staying out of politics. That’s politics with a VIP pass and a much better catering budget.
Thank you for your article. Total respect for Macklemore and his support for Palestine and risking it all to do so. It really, really disturbs me that Ed Sheeran rejected Macklemore over Palestine. I know that Ed Sheeran has done wonderful things for young people and promoting mental health. And he has had his own deep struggles. I am sorry that he has struggled in his own life and I don't wish that on anyone. As I am a person who has a professional degree in music I completely understand and support making the connection between music and health. But as a person who is white and privileged, I am not understanding how privileged white musicians can advocate music and health and completely ignore and therefore be complicit in genocide of Palestinians. He should be using his wealth, white privilege and his platform to stand up for them. And everyone must stand up to genocide everywhere, no matter who you are. I just don't understand this hypocrisy. Ed wants to be the good guy, appease the complainants, make his audience "feel good". But neutrality kills and his neutrality is helping to kill Palestinians. And BTW my grandmother is from Ukraine. Although I appreciate that Ed cares about Ukraine the racism is apparent and must be called out that he cares about Ukraine but ignores genocide of Palestinians. Thank you for calling him out on that. I want genocide to end in Ukraine, in Palestine and everywhere. We must all be in a united front that genocide must be stopped everywhere, no matter who you are. Ed had more choices than most people in this world and he made the wrong choice. He needed to make the harder choice and shake the foundation. I do not have false hopes or optimism on this but I wish he would reverse the decision and stand with Macklemore and for Palestine, and wonder if there is a window of opportunity for him to do so.
I think this shows a deeper problem with our society. We have become too afraid to argue or debate in a healthy way. We all think arguing means the relationship, deal, or idea is over. Not a discussion to make something better, refine ideas, or make a relationship better. We think of arguing as a bad thing. I don't have this problem, but I see this issue with many other people. They are afraid to argue.
The essence of MLK’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail (paraphrased): I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the stumbling block in a stride toward freedom from genocide is not the Zionist or the Islamophobe, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice…
I will also say that while Ed Sheeran has a lot of money I don't think he is brave. I think he as always been a nerd and a coward. It takes courage to stand up to people rich or not and I don't think he has ever stood up to anyone.
Ed Sheeran during WW2: “a lot of Germans find the term ‘stop the Nazis’ offensive, so I’m going to have to drop you from my tour if you won’t stop advocating for the Jewish people in their conflict with the Nazi army. Goebbels said I wouldn’t be able to play the German stadiums unless I ignored genocide so it’s out of my hands. I have to remain apolitical, you understand”
There can be no neutral positions on genocide, no shades of grey. Neutrality becomes complicity when we turn blind eyes to the terrible things that are being done to other human beings, their children, their communities, their culture and their environment. There is no twilight zone. Neutrality means you are intentionally blinding yourself to the suffering of entire populations, all around the world. Humans, including children, are starving, being tortured, shot and bombed, falling ill, losing limbs and dying, horrifically, and this is wrong. Any state that is intentionally attempting to annihilate an entire population and take their land will not end up being on the right side of history.
Why, if criticizing Israeli Government Actions is "Anti-Sematic," is realizing the actions of a few MAGA types, (right from the Top Trump) not radically "Anti-US American?"
I think capitalism & conservatives have successfully coopted the psychological, oral & litteral narratives of society, of course through their access to wealth & influence, to acquire control of the media to create the right-left paradigm and make claim to the term right. This has become organic in societies collective consciousness. Thus, creating the notion, relative to the universal default of neutral, of being true, correct, morally superior in juxtaposition to left. This conjure qualities of
“Neutrality” gets awfully convenient when the people demanding it own the stadiums. If billionaires can decide which political conscience is acceptable onstage, that isn’t artists staying out of politics. That’s politics with a VIP pass and a much better catering budget.
Thank you for your article. Total respect for Macklemore and his support for Palestine and risking it all to do so. It really, really disturbs me that Ed Sheeran rejected Macklemore over Palestine. I know that Ed Sheeran has done wonderful things for young people and promoting mental health. And he has had his own deep struggles. I am sorry that he has struggled in his own life and I don't wish that on anyone. As I am a person who has a professional degree in music I completely understand and support making the connection between music and health. But as a person who is white and privileged, I am not understanding how privileged white musicians can advocate music and health and completely ignore and therefore be complicit in genocide of Palestinians. He should be using his wealth, white privilege and his platform to stand up for them. And everyone must stand up to genocide everywhere, no matter who you are. I just don't understand this hypocrisy. Ed wants to be the good guy, appease the complainants, make his audience "feel good". But neutrality kills and his neutrality is helping to kill Palestinians. And BTW my grandmother is from Ukraine. Although I appreciate that Ed cares about Ukraine the racism is apparent and must be called out that he cares about Ukraine but ignores genocide of Palestinians. Thank you for calling him out on that. I want genocide to end in Ukraine, in Palestine and everywhere. We must all be in a united front that genocide must be stopped everywhere, no matter who you are. Ed had more choices than most people in this world and he made the wrong choice. He needed to make the harder choice and shake the foundation. I do not have false hopes or optimism on this but I wish he would reverse the decision and stand with Macklemore and for Palestine, and wonder if there is a window of opportunity for him to do so.
Honestly I don’t really listen to Ed or Pink. But I think it’s time to start listening to Macklemore. Thank you Qasim for your articles. ✌🏻
Wtf is goin’ on with PINK?! What a sellout/disappointment!!!
Sheeran identifies as Irish... hope Ireland gives him the Chump treatment 🍸
Many of the commenters have said this same thing, but I will include this quote again.
“Washing one’s hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.”
― Paulo Freire
I think this shows a deeper problem with our society. We have become too afraid to argue or debate in a healthy way. We all think arguing means the relationship, deal, or idea is over. Not a discussion to make something better, refine ideas, or make a relationship better. We think of arguing as a bad thing. I don't have this problem, but I see this issue with many other people. They are afraid to argue.
Thank you. Share widely friends.
The essence of MLK’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail (paraphrased): I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the stumbling block in a stride toward freedom from genocide is not the Zionist or the Islamophobe, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice…
I will also say that while Ed Sheeran has a lot of money I don't think he is brave. I think he as always been a nerd and a coward. It takes courage to stand up to people rich or not and I don't think he has ever stood up to anyone.
Ed Sheeran during WW2: “a lot of Germans find the term ‘stop the Nazis’ offensive, so I’m going to have to drop you from my tour if you won’t stop advocating for the Jewish people in their conflict with the Nazi army. Goebbels said I wouldn’t be able to play the German stadiums unless I ignored genocide so it’s out of my hands. I have to remain apolitical, you understand”
Great article. Hopefully more people will take notice now.
There can be no neutral positions on genocide, no shades of grey. Neutrality becomes complicity when we turn blind eyes to the terrible things that are being done to other human beings, their children, their communities, their culture and their environment. There is no twilight zone. Neutrality means you are intentionally blinding yourself to the suffering of entire populations, all around the world. Humans, including children, are starving, being tortured, shot and bombed, falling ill, losing limbs and dying, horrifically, and this is wrong. Any state that is intentionally attempting to annihilate an entire population and take their land will not end up being on the right side of history.
Why, if criticizing Israeli Government Actions is "Anti-Sematic," is realizing the actions of a few MAGA types, (right from the Top Trump) not radically "Anti-US American?"
Great piece. I’d love to see you move off substack, though.