"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”.
