PSY–the “Gangnam Style” rapper who performed a radical anti-American song in 2004–has now dragged President Obama into the controversy. The Atlantic reports that Obama is being criticized for shaking hands with the YouTube star after a charity concert last night:
After discovering on Friday that PSY had once spouted a lot of very not nice things about our troops, Americans may no no longer see him as the lovable horse-dancing star we thought we knew and loved — especially not American conservatives, and especially not after last night. Even though he’s apologized, PSY seems to have become (temporarily, at least) the kind of anti-American symbol that can only be killed with fire, and right-wing pundits especially want you to know that President Obama is still okay with him. The two met Sunday at the “Christmas in Washington” charity concert — two days after PSY had apologized for lyrics he rapped in 2004, which called for the killing of American servicemen. And according to the etiquette of the conservative chattering class, the president was not supposed to shake the pop singer’s hand. Of course, from the tone of the reaction, the right is actually kind of glad that he did, because it can accuse the president of more malicious intentions[.]
To recap: Eight years ago, PSY performed a song that talked about killing American troops and their families. Needless to say, the lyrics were vile. While PSY did not write the song — it was written by a South Korean band he was performing on stage with — he did sing it, and seemed to agree with it.
This extreme anti-Americanism was common sadly among young people in South Korea at the time. But it was also unjustified and abhorrent, which PSY now seems to realize. After the video of his performance became public last week, he apologized and praised the U.S. troops for their service.
“I understand the sacrifices American servicemen and women have made to protect freedom and democracy in my country and around the world,” said PSY, in his apology. “I have been honored to perform in front of American soldiers in recent month…and I hope they and all Americans can accept my apology. While it’s important we express our opinions, I deeply regret the inflammatory and inappropriate language I used to do so.”
It was a decent apology, and certainly more sensible than some of the comments we’ve heard from PSY’s defenders on the left. Take Glenn Greenwald, for example, who argued that singing about harming U.S. soldiers is not “the slightest bit surprising or irrational.”
If some people don’t want to accept PSY’s apology, or think his sin was unforgivable, that’s up to them. But it seems pointless. Knee-jerk anti-Americanism often stems from ignorance. In some cases, espousers come to see the error of their ways. That’s apparently what happened here. It’s not like PSY is running for national office, or has a political opinion that carries any weight in the U.S. whatsoever. Why brand him for his misguided anti-American past forever? Why not just say good for him for seeing the light, and move on?
Hear hear. I'd actually grade the apology a notch better than "decent." The only thing in the apology I could criticize — grading on clarity rather than intent — would be the bit about how it's important to express opinions but he regrets the inflammatory language. Connecting the dots with a very literal reading, that sentence could be construed as saying that it would have been OK to advocate killing American soldiers if only PSY had said it in a temperate way. But there's no way to square that reading with the clear and admirable language of the earlier sentences.
I can understand PSY saying/singing trashy stuff in his twenties, and regretting it in his thirties and making a fulsome apology. Glenn Greenwald is in his forties and has no excuse; if he made an apology, it should be to himself; I am not much interested. n n
I, myself, was young and stupid in 2004 (I was 17) when I wrote some fiction based on my emotionally-driven outrage over the Abu-Grahb prison scandal. In my naiivety, I wrote about soldiers torturing Muslims, not having done any research of my own about the subject. I simply ate the Media narrative about the subject. I can't think of a single day, in the years that followed when I grew up and developed my own critical thinking, when my stomach turned over what I had written. Of course, even though I wrote it personally for no one to read, I have regretted ever having done that and have been keeping this skeleton in my closet for years, all the while I tried to atone for it by donating to veterans groups and showing my support to the military. I have contemplated about enlisting, but I doubt they'll accept me with my having Asperger's Syndrome and depression. Still, I now have deeper appreciation and respect for the sacrifices the military makes to keep all of us safe, and I am forever grateful to honor them.
Never. I may not be able to do anything about it, but I don't have to say all is OK because he "apologized." Taking this argument to the public whenever he rears his head might put a crimp in his income and make other "artists" think twice.
you certainly don't have to say anything at all and have every right not to appreciate the guy's act.
OK, what about Andrew Dice Clay? Never heard of him Alana — I am not surprised, he's a white guy (actually Jewish) who offended women, blacks, gays (particularly gays) back in the early '90s and was shunned into obscurity from which he never recovered. n nAnd "Diceman", as he was called at the time, NEVER talked about killing anyone, just not liking them. Of course then we have also forgiven "Hanoi Jane" (Jane Fonda) who arguably should have been tried for treason, which in time of war (which it was) is a capitol offense. n nMy point is that we have a double standard here — if PSY was a white guy who had sung about killing women, blacks & gays, I doubt he would have been given a visa or allowed into the country. nBut instead he sang about killing our troops, and may well have encouraged some folk in Iraq to do so, and that is OK. n nWHY?
Did I miss the "Diceman" shaking hands with any US president, Ed__EdD??.
I had to check and see if he was even still alive, and I really doubt that any POTUS would even admit to ever knowing who he was. Can you imagine the outcry from — well we can start with Black, Feminists & Gays — had GW Bush honored him like Obama has honored Psy? n nMy point is the double standard and my quest ion is why we should forgive miscreants when the other side never does or will.
gotcha. Did not understand your point. I agree.
Was the Dice Man ever invited to sing at the White House? that's the issue here!
To my way of thinking Ed__EdD, Andrew Dice Clay was shamed…today there is no such method of letting stupid people know how bad their behavior is…as a matter of fact, is there a bad behavior the is "not" accepted today? Think about the execution on a NYCity street, naked fornication in parks in San Francisco…nudity banned, finally there except for Gay Pride parades…politicians from the very top to the bottom promising one thing but truly just lying….it's late where I'm at and I don't have the patience to put down what our society has become: a filthy pestilence!
2nd try — there are social standards today, they just are different ones. One who dressed in Klan regalia, even as a Halloween costume, would have consequences. Remember Ann Coulter's problem with her comment on Edwards? Or the Grey's Anatomy actor who actually said it and had to go to therapy (I think it was the Coulter quote that got the last one deleted). n nMy opinion is that Andrew Dice Clay was shamed for his political views, not foul language.
And, "my opinion" is that it was his foulness at a time when there was still some decency! Final Try!
What did Coulter and the Grey's Anatomy actor say that got them in hot water?
Psy did not apologize if you read the statement! He's sorry for the interpretation, meaning he's sorry how we reacted to it. He didn't say he was sorry for what he said or the feelings and beliefs behind it. He didn't say he was changed and that he no longer feels that way. This was a PR move. No Republicans and americans shouldn't accept the apology. He shouldn't have been allowed to the white house especially with Obama knowing this days before he showed up. To me it's like Obama just slapped our military in the face. Maybe he needs to see the military people killed slowly like psy suggested with their families and then turn to them and say it's ok to overlook because you want the guys who want that to perform for you! What he said is acceptable to democrats because they are used to being fake and not really meaning what they say and ALWAYS having an excuse for their actions. Honest people don't think that way.
That it was a performance at the White House, and they were aware of his remarks before he performed there, are hugely important facts, IMO. Had this person been scheduled to perform at another venue, so Obama would have had to cancel his own appearance at a charity event in order to avoid appearing with him, that might have been a different story, but the option was there, and easily exercisable, to disinvite this person, and Obama should have exercised it.
I agree with above posts. I wonder about the form of psy's "apology" – was it a twitter statement, email message, fax communication, or statement by a "spokesperson"? I truly doubt if the "apology" was sincere. Unfortunately, alana's generation thinks that non-verbal apologies via social media are authentic. No, alana, they are not. A sincere apology is SPOKEN to the offended.
Alana is 100% wrong here! n nThe lyrics Psy used were totally vile and unworthy of anyone who sange them being allowed into our country leave alone allowed to perform at the White House or any govedrnment venue. n nHowever nobody should be surprised that Obama shook his hand. Scratch any Democ-rat, from the lowest county committee member to Obama and you'll find someone who feels and thinks exactly like Psy. That's why they remained a Democ-rat if before McGovern (BM) or became a Democ-rat after McGovern. To paraphrase Ibrahim Ribicoff, only in the democ-rat Party would you find a president who would invite dirt like Psy to the White House.
Alana— well. good for you. actual common snese and decency…… in Commentary! n nJennifer Rubin must be turning in her grave!
charity event?
No. What makes anyone on the planet think for one moment this fool is “sorry”? It’s about money…and he wants it so he’ll say anything to get and keep it.
PSY will burn out and never be heard from again – his music is shallow, reproducible and has a short life. n nYou have given him way to much of your time and attention. n nA Musician
It is too bad that PSY and any other South Korean who would hate the US doesn't have some months of experience of living in North Korea, because that is the experience they would have had, and not just for a few months, had the US not saved their asses 60+ years ago and gone on protecting them ever since. I felt the same away circa 1996, when only five years after I served as a Reservist called to Active Duty during Desert Storm, Kuwaitis were expressing vile hatred toward the US. They really deserved the "love" that Saddam showed them, and I'm sorry it wasn't practical for us to leave them to his not so tender mercies for longer.