It's A Mad, Mad World, Indeed...

March 30, 2009 at 3:23 AM

I post this particular article not as a political discussion springboard, but as a observation as to how certain political situations can rob the young performer of certain human freedoms and to point out how history, if not dealt with in a civil and logically academic manner, can tend to create problems in the future for all. Undeniable and horrific as the Holocaust was, it will always be a focal point of how the evils of men can ultimately effect the future generations to come. I invite your comments, but please be aware of the delicate nature of the subject matter at hand. History affects us more than we may realize, and it is something that I always teach my students in order to make them better interpreters of music and help them understand the world around them today.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090329/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_palestinians_orchestra

From Thomas Gardner
Posted on March 30, 2009 at 4:01 PM

So shame on the parents for not knowing where their kids were going. Shame on the authorities for shutting down the youth orchestra...seems like the kids were caught in the middle. Shame on the conductor for not discussing this fairly controversial trip with the authorities and the parents beforehand. Shame on both the Palestinians and the Israeli's for placing land before human life. Shame on us all for each of the petty or selfish things that we do, either of great effect or little effect to those around us.

From Royce Faina
Posted on March 30, 2009 at 5:16 PM

Jerald-

Thanks for posting this link. The children involved knows what the popular opinions of thier communities think and would think of them for doing the show. Many at that age are encouraged to grow up and become suicide bombers. But I cannot help but believe that they knew what was going to happen and they did it anyway!!!!!! Good Show!!!! There is hope! Enough grown ups there knew about the concert..... I just know. Their child went over with an instrument of hope rather than like others with instruments of destruction. And if any parent confess, "Oh, I knew all along!" guess what will happen next!

I hope that there will be Isralies who take note of this and see that there are others on the other side that long to be legitamate friends and vise-versa. I have students here at my University both Arab and Jew from those areas who stand togeather keeping the hope alive.

royce

From Tom Holzman
Posted on March 30, 2009 at 8:28 PM

No good deed goes unpunished!

From Anne-Marie Proulx
Posted on March 30, 2009 at 10:47 PM

Hi, I also admire the Palestinians who have tried to make a peace message! I just can't understand why many years after the land stealing events, they are not able to live together even if from a different culture! Is it more horrible to live next to a jew or palestinian house than next to africans? I mean, my french ancesters committed terrible crimes towards the natives of america. Yes, shame on them... But many years after, the young generations of french canadians and american natives have nothing to do with these conflicts of our grand grand grand grand fathers. We can recognise the bad things in it but we now have the same rights and live in harmony. If anything, the native have some special rights in universities, for taxes, hunting etc. At least, we don't shoot ourselves in the streets anymore decades and decades after. Far from saying that we are perfect, though. Everyone has good and bad things!

However good and bad people are to be found everywhere! Even in the hollocaust, some germans saved many jews as an example! I admire the bravery of these Palestinian kids! One day, they will recognize they were heros to try to bond with the "others" to make peace once and for all!

Anne-Marie

From Royce Faina
Posted on March 31, 2009 at 1:29 AM

Well Anne-Marie, it's realy cool that there are people like you that Look & Learn from history. And it's great that there are the warmest of hearts out there even though they must endure being surounded by some of the coldest attitudes. They shine as iluminations in a most bedarkend world.

From Tom Holzman
Posted on March 31, 2009 at 2:24 PM

Anne-Marie - I am not sure what you mean by "land stealing events," but I find those terms deeply troubling. Please feel free to respond offline.

From Anne-Marie Proulx
Posted on March 31, 2009 at 7:10 PM

Tom, I didn't point out anyone here as "chiefs"! On the news reports, I always hear one side telling that it was the other who " steal " their land and vice versa... So this is why I told this. I didn't say some were the goods and some were the bads because these things are not black and white! Goods and bads are on the two sides of any conflict no? I hope this is not too disturbing for you... (I think it's ok to take these few lines on this discussion to clarify my post if it wasn't clear) I have nothing against Jews and Palestinians and I was not pointing Jews at all! How can we tell exactly to who it belongs? I'm certainly not the one who is willing to respond to this! Doesn't the earth belong to everyone?

Anne-Marie

From Tom Holzman
Posted on March 31, 2009 at 7:39 PM

Anne-Marie - thanks for clarifying. The terms you used or, at least, similar language, in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, most often represent accusations by Palestinians against Israelis. So, your clarification is important. I agree that there are two sides to the question, although I have my own view. Feel free to email me if you wish to continue this discussion.

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It's A Mad, Mad World, Indeed...

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