Abe’s post about the hypocrisy of rock stars who preach morality while cozying up to dictators inevitably brings the anti-Israel cultural boycotters to mind. Take, for instance, Grammy-winning jazz singer Cassandra Wilson, who canceled a planned performance in Israel last week at the behest of pro-Palestinian activists. But somehow, she discovered her moral conscience only one day after having received full payment for the scheduled show – of which she has so far agreed to refund only part. In other words, this paragon of morality used her newfound passion for the Palestinian cause to commit robbery in broad daylight.
Or then there’s indie pop group, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, which recently canceled their planned performance in Israel. They, too, cited “political” reasons, in addition to scheduling pressures. But somehow, their moral conscience awoke only after they had managed to book a more lucrative gig in Malaysia for the same time.
If this naked greed posing as morality is the best the cultural boycotters can do, I don’t think Israel has much to worry about on the moral high ground front. But it’s time for the rest of the world, including Israel, to start calling a spade a spade. These artists don’t give a fig about either Palestinian suffering or Israeli “human-rights abuses”; if they did, they wouldn’t have booked gigs in Israel in the first place. At best, all they care about is earning some positive publicity by feigning concern for Palestinian rights. And at worst, as with Cassandra Wilson and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, their crocodile tears are merely a convenient way to earn some extra lucre.
In short, they aren’t “cultural boycotters,” and they shouldn’t be dignified as such – because that term at least implies taking a moral stand, however warped. They are cynical poseurs who have found a way to exploit the Palestinian cause for their own gain.
What I would do is simply try to engage the venues in Israel in policy that once a booking cancels for political reasons, they're permanently banned from Israel. Saves them the problem of torturing their delicate sensibilities in the future.
I am a big fan of Wilson's singing having heard her live many times. I hitherto knew nothing of her politics and am saddened and disappointed in her that she took these reported actions and suspiciously waited till she was paid before canceling. Speaks terribly of her. If contractually possible, I hope the promoter sues her for all consequential damages. She will not like answering to a money judgment. And the discipline of her needing to pay when her politics trump her contractual obligations will, I am certain, breed more prudence in her and render to her some just deserts. In these matters, more often than not, B.S. talks; money walks.
I think the promoters if they can should bring legal action against Wilson.
Yes, these musicians are plainly just full of s–t.