I am absolutely deflated today as I write to you about a topic I just learned of yesterday. As it ends up, Roger Waters, writer, vocalist, bass player and founding member of Pink Floyd is an avid supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BVD) movement against Israel. This is a painful pill for me to swallow, as I love, love, love Pink Floyd, but I am also a true Zionist and Israel-phile. It’s not just that Roger Waters is against the fact that there isn’t co-existing land between Israelis and Palestinians…he is actually outspoken that Israel should have sanctions against it and considers Israel to be the bad guy in the Middle East conflict.
Well Roger Waters, did you forget that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East? They are most like your own home country of the United Kingdom? Have you been reading about the rockets that are being launched from Gaza into neighboring towns? Perhaps not, because it is rarely reported in the news. Have you ever heard of an Israeli strapping a suicide bomb onto their body and walking into a public place? Of course not! Israel may have more sophisticated military muscle, but should they just sit back quietly as they are shot at, rocketed and bombed? Apparently, you think so, and this hurts me deeply and personally.
I am going to provide my readers with a couple of articles to read about you today, Roger Waters, because they need to know where you stand.
–An op/ed piece from the Jewish Journal in Los Angeles: A Call to Boycott Former Pink Floyd Frontman, Roger Waters
From the Jewish Press: Israel Hater Waters Washed Out of NYC 92nd Street Y
The question remains, “Will I boycott your music?” My husband raised a really good point to me last night. Have I boycotted Cat Stevens’ music or Michael Jackson’s when he was going through his scandal and there was still a question as to whether or not he committed the horrible acts he was accused of? There are many musical artists who have done unacceptable things, and honestly, I am still moved by and am listening to their music. It seems hypocritical that I would boycott Pink Floyd, but honestly, for the moment, I am feeling a little UN-”comfortably numb.” Let’s just say, I may just need a little break from Pink Floyd for the moment, because I do not know if I can detach myself from Roger Waters politics as I listen. The wound is too recent, but perhaps in time, I will pull out all of that beloved music again.
My song of the day is Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage,” as this is the song on “Dark Side of the Moon” that mentions the title of the album. Click HERE to listen to it today as an example of Roger Water’s dark side, but then perhaps put it away for a little while if it bothers you, too. If you are like me, you may need a hiatus from Pink Floyd. (sniff, sniff….)
