martes, 18 de agosto de 2015

Matisyahu

"The festival organizers contacted me because they were getting pressure from the BDS movement. They wanted me to write a letter, or make a video, stating my positions on Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to pacify the BDS people. I support peace and compassion for all people. My music speaks for itself, and I do not insert politics into my music. Music has the power to transcend the intellect, ideas, and politics, and it can unite people in the process. The festival kept insisting that I clarify my personal views; which felt like clear pressure to agree with the BDS political agenda. Honestly it was appalling and offensive, that as the one publicly Jewish-American artist scheduled for the festival they were trying to coerce me into political statements. Were any of the other artists scheduled to perform asked to make political statements in order to perform? No artist deserves to be put in such a situation simply to perform his or her art. Regardless of race, creed, country, cultural background, etc, my goal is to play music for all people. As musicians that is what we seek. - Blessed Love, Matis

Éste es el mensaje del cantante Matisyahu días después de cancelar su participación en el Rototom Sunsplash 2015 de Benicassim prevista para el 22 de agosto
El movimiento BDS (Boicot, Desinversiones y Sanciones) lanzó hace unas semanas una campaña contra la actuación del cantante estadounidense de reggae Matthew Paul Miller, conocido como Matisyahu. Acción similar a la desarrollada contra la cantante israelí Noa. Y la presión tuvo el efecto de exigirle un posicionamiento político no requerido al resto de participantes.
La nota oficial de los organizadores del Rototom produce un tremendo desasosiego. No es una anécdota. La confluencia de antisemitas y antisionistas se ha materializado, una vez más. La confusión y la insistencia identitaria persisten en todos los titulares. El comunicado de la FCJE es contundente.
El festival que se presenta con el lema PEACE REVOLUTION debería ser renombrado por BOYCOTT INVOLUTION. Y como dice Matis “Regardless of race, creed, country, cultural background, etc, my goal is to play music for all people”.