Lettera aperta di Roger Waters sull'accusa di antisemitismo
1 agosto 2013
C'è stato qualche commento su internet, a proposito di The Wall in Belgio, al quale sento di dover dare risposta.
Un certo Alon Onfus Asif, israeliano residente in Belgio, è venuto a vedere The Wall in Belgio la scorsa settimana e, essendo un tipo dotato di acuto spirito di osservazione, ha notato una stella di David sul maiale che viene distrutto dal pubblico alla fine dello spettacolo. Dopodiché Alon ha doverosamente filmato il nostro maiale con il proprio telefonino, ha postato il video e ha avvertito il quotidiano israeliano Yediot Ahronot. Questa storia è stata prontamente ripresa dal sempre vigile Rabbino Abraham Cooper, decano del Simon Wiesenthal Center, e lo sproloquio che ne è seguito, del tutto prevedibile, si può leggere qui:
http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/07/24/massive-pig-balloon-at-roger-waters-concert-features-star-of-david-video/
Spesso ignoro tranquillamente simili attacchi, ma le accuse del rabbino Cooper sono talmente feroci e bigotte da esigere risposta.
Caro rabbino Cooper,
ritengo il Suo sfogo provocatorio e inutile e mi permetto di far notare che può solo ostacolare ogni passo avanti verso la pace e la comprensione tra i popoli. È anche estremamente offensivo per me personalmente, dal momento che mi accusa di essere "antisemita", di "odiare gli ebrei" e di essere un "filonazista".
Ho tre cose da specificare al riguardo:
1. L'uso che Lei fa dell'aggettivo "antisemita"
Per prima cosa, Le segnalo una dichiarazione della "Lega Anti Diffamazione", organizzazione americana il cui scopo dichiarato è quello di difendere dagli attacchi il popolo ebraico e l'Ebrasimo tutto. Recentemente hanno dichiarato: "Pur essendoci augurati che il sig. Waters avrebbe evitato di utilizzare la Stella di David, crediamo di non ravvisarvi alcun intento antisemita."
Ci tengo a precisare che, durante lo spettacolo, utilizzo anche il crocifisso, la mezzaluna con la stella, falce e martello, il logo della Shell, il simbolo di McDonald's, quello del dollaro e quello della Mercedes.
2. Uno che odia gli ebrei?
Ho molti cari amici ebrei, uno dei quali - aspetto piuttosto interessante - è il nipote del compianto Simon Wiesenthal. Sono orgoglioso di questo legame; Simon Wiesenthal era un grande uomo. Ho anche due nipoti, che amo più della mia vita, la cui madre - mia nuora - è ebrea e di conseguenza, così mi dicono, lo sono anche loro.
3. Nazista?
Non solo mio padre, il secondo tenente Eric Fletcher Waters, è morto in Italia il 18 febbraio 1944 combattendo contro i nazisti, ma io stesso sono cresciuto nell'Inghilterra del dopoguerra, luogo in cui ho ricevuto i più meticolosi insegnamenti sul nazismo e dove non mi è stato risparmiato alcun dettaglio degli orrendi crimini commessi in nome della più folle delle ideologie. Ricordo le amiche di mia madre, Claudette e Maria, ricordo i loro tatuaggi, erano due sopravvissute, due delle fortunate.
Mia madre ha passato tutto il resto della sua vita impegnandosi in politica, per assicurarsi che i nessuno dei suoi figli e i suoi nipoti, che nessun figlio e nessun nipote di chiunque, nero, bianco, gentile, ebreo, latino, asiatico, musulmano, hindu, buddista, ecc. avesse in futuro una spada di Damocle, nella forma del tanto disprezzato credo nazista, sospesa sulla testa.
Da parte mia ho fatto del mio meglio per seguire le orme dei miei genitori. All'età di quasi 70 anni, sull'esempio di mio padre e di mia madre e di tutto ciò che hanno fatto, ho resistito, come meglio ho potuto, in difesa di Signora Libertà.
Lo spettacolo The Wall, da lei attaccato con argomentazioni così deboli, è molte cose: è una riflessione, è un inno alla vita, è ecumenico, umano, amorevole, contro la guerra, anticolonialista, per l'accesso universale al diritto, per la libertà, la cooperazione, il dialogo e la pace, è contro l'autoritarismo, antifascista, antiapartheid, antidogmatico, internazionale nello spirito, musicale e satirico.
Quello che non è: NON E' ANTISEMITA né FILONAZISTA.
Sono stato spesso oggetto di attacchi da parte della lobby filoisraeliana a causa del mio sostegno al movimento BDS (Boicottaggio, Disinvestimento e Sanzioni), cosa che non voglio approfondire in questa sede, chiunque sia interessato può avere accesso al discorso che ho fatto alle Nazioni Unite il 29 novembre dell'anno scorso.
Tuttavia devo dire questo: in una teocrazia effettiva è quasi inevitabile che il simbolo della religione finisca per confondersi con il simbolo dello Stato, in questo caso lo Stato di Israele, uno stato che pratica l'apartheid sia all'interno dei propri confini che nei territori che ha occupato e colonizzato dal 1967.
Piaccia o no, la stella di David rappresenta Israele e le sue politiche ed è legittimamente soggetta a qualsiasi forma di protesta non violenta. Protestare pacificamente contro la politica razzista, interna ed estera, di Israele non è anti-semita. Il suo ragionamento secondo cui, visto che io critico la politica del governo israeliano, dovrei essere associato ai Fratelli musulmani, fa ridere ed è, nuovamente, un'offesa personale. Ho passato tutta la mia vita adulta sostenendo la separazione tra chiesa e stato.
Ad ogni replica di The Wall, in qualunque Paese ci troviamo, invito 20 veterani nel backstage durante l'intervallo per incontrarci, scambiare strette di mano, auguri e ricordi. Durante uno spettacolo, circa un anno fa, un vecchio veterano, del tempo del Vietnam a occhio e croce, mi ha fissato, mi ha bloccato mentre uscivo, mi ha porto la mano, che ho afferrato, e non mi lasciava andare, mi ha guardato negli occhi e mi ha detto "Tuo padre sarebbe fiero di te".
Le lacrime mi bruciano gli occhi.
The Wall sta raggiungendo anche Lei e tutti gli altri rabbini Cooper che ci sono là fuori.
Venga a vedere lo spettacolo!
Con amore
Roger
P.S.
Per mettere tutto nella giusta prospettiva: il maiale gonfiabile che ha tanto offeso il giovane Alon è apparso in ogni replica di The Wall a partire da settembre 2010, parliamo di circa 193 spettacoli, e la Sua è la prima lamentela. Inoltre, il maiale in questione rappresenta il Male, e più precisamente il male del governo che sbaglia. Regaliamo al pubblico questo simbolo di repressione alla fine di ogni spettacolo e la gente fa sempre la cosa giusta. Lo distrugge.
Fonte: http://www.facebook.com/notes/roger-waters-the-wall/an-open-letter-from-roger-waters/688037331210720
Traduzione di Elena Bellini e Renato Tretola
An open letter from Roger Waters
1 agosto 2013 alle ore 16.35
There has been some comment on the Internet about the Wall Show in Belgium to which I feel I should respond.
One Alon Onfus Asif, an Israeli living in Belgium, came to The Wall show in Belgium last week and being an observant sort of chap Alon noticed a Star of David on the Pig that is destroyed by the audience at the end of the show. Then Alon dutifully videoed our Pig on his phone, posted this video, and alerted Israeli Daily, Yediot Ahronot. This story was duly picked up by the ever watchful Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the entirely predictable resulting rant is attached here:
http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/07/24/massive-pig-balloon-at-roger-waters-concert-features-star-of-david-video/.
Often I can ignore these attacks but Rabbi Cooper’s accusations, are so wild and bigoted they demand a response.
Dear Rabbi Cooper,
I hold your outburst to be inflammatory and un-helpful and would suggest it can only impede progress towards peace and understanding between people. It is also extremely insulting to me personally in that you accuse me of being ‘Anti Semitic’, ‘A Jew Hater’ and ‘Nazi Sympathizer’
I have three specific points to make:
1). Your use of the adjective “ANTI-SEMITIC”.
First I direct you to an announcement by ‘The Anti Defamation League’ an American organization, who’s declared aim is to defend Jewish people and Judaism from attack. They recently said.
“While we wish that Mr. Waters would have avoided using the Star of David, we believe there is no anti-Semitic intent here.”
I should point out that in the show, I also use the Crucifix, the Crescent and Star, the Hammer and Sickle, the Shell Oil Logo and The McDonald’s Sign, a Dollar Sign and a Mercedes sign.
2). JEW-HATING? I have many very close Jewish friends, one of whom, interestingly enough, is the nephew of the late Simon Wiesenthal. I am proud of that association; Simon Wiesenthal was a great man. Also I have two grandsons who, I love more than life itself, their Mother, my daughter in law, is Jewish and so, in consequence, I’m told, are they.
3). NAZI? Not only did my father, 2nd Lieutenant Eric Fletcher Waters, die in Italy on February 18th 1944 fighting the Nazis, but I was brought up in post war England where I received the most thorough education on the subject of Nazism and where I was spared no horrific detail of the heinous crimes committed in the name of that most foul ideology. I remember my mother’s friends Claudette and Maria, I remember their tattoos, they where survivors, two of the lucky ones.
My Mother spent the whole of the rest of her life, involved politically to make sure the future for her children and grandchildren, in fact for everyone’s children and grandchildren, black, white, Gentile, Jew, Latino, Asian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, et al, had no Sword of Damocles in the form of the despised Nazi Creed hanging over their heads.
I for my part, as best I can, have continued along my parent’s path. At the age of nearly 70, in the spirit of my Father and Mother and all they did, I have stood my ground, as best I can, in defense of Mistress Liberty.
The Wall Show, so lamely attacked by you, is many things. It is thoughtful, life affirming, ecumenical, humane, loving, anti war, anti colonial, pro universal access to the law, pro liberty, pro collaboration, pro dialogue, pro peace, anti authoritarian, anti fascist, anti apartheid, anti dogma, international in spirit, musical and satirical.
It is not.
ANTI-SEMITIC or PRO NAZI
I have often come under attack by the pro Israel lobby because of my support for BDS, (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) which I won't go into here, anyone interested can access a speech I made at The United Nations on the 29th November last year.
However I will say this, in a functioning theocracy it is almost inevitable that the symbol of the religion becomes confused with the symbol of the state, in this case the State of Israel, a state that operates Apartheid both within its own borders and also in the territories it has occupied and colonized since 1967.
Like it or not, the Star of David represents Israel and its policies and is legitimately subject to any and all forms of non violent protest. To peacefully protest against Israel’s racist domestic and foreign policies is NOT ANTI-SEMITIC. Your contention that because I criticize the Policies of the Israeli government I should be lumped in with the Muslim Brotherhood is risible, and again a personal affront. I have spent my whole adult life advocating separation of church and state.
At every Wall Show I invite 20 vets from whatever country we are in backstage at half time to meet, exchange handshakes and good wishes and mementos. At one show, a year or so ago, an older vet, Vietnam era, at a guess, blocked my exit, he put out his hand which I took, he did not let go, he looked me in the eyes and he said " Your Father would be proud of you."
Tears burn my eyes.
The Wall is reaching out to you and all the other Rabbi Cooper’s out there.
Come to the show!
Love
Roger
P.S.
For the sake of some perspective. The inflatable pig that so offended young Alon has appeared at every Wall Show since September 2010, some 193 shows, yours is the first complaint. Also the pig in question represents evil, and more specifically the evil of errant government. We make a gift of this symbol of repression to the audience at the end of every show and the people always do the right thing. They destroy it.
One Alon Onfus Asif, an Israeli living in Belgium, came to The Wall show in Belgium last week and being an observant sort of chap Alon noticed a Star of David on the Pig that is destroyed by the audience at the end of the show. Then Alon dutifully videoed our Pig on his phone, posted this video, and alerted Israeli Daily, Yediot Ahronot. This story was duly picked up by the ever watchful Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the entirely predictable resulting rant is attached here:
http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/07/24/massive-pig-balloon-at-roger-waters-concert-features-star-of-david-video/.
Often I can ignore these attacks but Rabbi Cooper’s accusations, are so wild and bigoted they demand a response.
Dear Rabbi Cooper,
I hold your outburst to be inflammatory and un-helpful and would suggest it can only impede progress towards peace and understanding between people. It is also extremely insulting to me personally in that you accuse me of being ‘Anti Semitic’, ‘A Jew Hater’ and ‘Nazi Sympathizer’
I have three specific points to make:
1). Your use of the adjective “ANTI-SEMITIC”.
First I direct you to an announcement by ‘The Anti Defamation League’ an American organization, who’s declared aim is to defend Jewish people and Judaism from attack. They recently said.
“While we wish that Mr. Waters would have avoided using the Star of David, we believe there is no anti-Semitic intent here.”
I should point out that in the show, I also use the Crucifix, the Crescent and Star, the Hammer and Sickle, the Shell Oil Logo and The McDonald’s Sign, a Dollar Sign and a Mercedes sign.
2). JEW-HATING? I have many very close Jewish friends, one of whom, interestingly enough, is the nephew of the late Simon Wiesenthal. I am proud of that association; Simon Wiesenthal was a great man. Also I have two grandsons who, I love more than life itself, their Mother, my daughter in law, is Jewish and so, in consequence, I’m told, are they.
3). NAZI? Not only did my father, 2nd Lieutenant Eric Fletcher Waters, die in Italy on February 18th 1944 fighting the Nazis, but I was brought up in post war England where I received the most thorough education on the subject of Nazism and where I was spared no horrific detail of the heinous crimes committed in the name of that most foul ideology. I remember my mother’s friends Claudette and Maria, I remember their tattoos, they where survivors, two of the lucky ones.
My Mother spent the whole of the rest of her life, involved politically to make sure the future for her children and grandchildren, in fact for everyone’s children and grandchildren, black, white, Gentile, Jew, Latino, Asian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, et al, had no Sword of Damocles in the form of the despised Nazi Creed hanging over their heads.
I for my part, as best I can, have continued along my parent’s path. At the age of nearly 70, in the spirit of my Father and Mother and all they did, I have stood my ground, as best I can, in defense of Mistress Liberty.
The Wall Show, so lamely attacked by you, is many things. It is thoughtful, life affirming, ecumenical, humane, loving, anti war, anti colonial, pro universal access to the law, pro liberty, pro collaboration, pro dialogue, pro peace, anti authoritarian, anti fascist, anti apartheid, anti dogma, international in spirit, musical and satirical.
It is not.
ANTI-SEMITIC or PRO NAZI
I have often come under attack by the pro Israel lobby because of my support for BDS, (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) which I won't go into here, anyone interested can access a speech I made at The United Nations on the 29th November last year.
However I will say this, in a functioning theocracy it is almost inevitable that the symbol of the religion becomes confused with the symbol of the state, in this case the State of Israel, a state that operates Apartheid both within its own borders and also in the territories it has occupied and colonized since 1967.
Like it or not, the Star of David represents Israel and its policies and is legitimately subject to any and all forms of non violent protest. To peacefully protest against Israel’s racist domestic and foreign policies is NOT ANTI-SEMITIC. Your contention that because I criticize the Policies of the Israeli government I should be lumped in with the Muslim Brotherhood is risible, and again a personal affront. I have spent my whole adult life advocating separation of church and state.
At every Wall Show I invite 20 vets from whatever country we are in backstage at half time to meet, exchange handshakes and good wishes and mementos. At one show, a year or so ago, an older vet, Vietnam era, at a guess, blocked my exit, he put out his hand which I took, he did not let go, he looked me in the eyes and he said " Your Father would be proud of you."
Tears burn my eyes.
The Wall is reaching out to you and all the other Rabbi Cooper’s out there.
Come to the show!
Love
Roger
P.S.
For the sake of some perspective. The inflatable pig that so offended young Alon has appeared at every Wall Show since September 2010, some 193 shows, yours is the first complaint. Also the pig in question represents evil, and more specifically the evil of errant government. We make a gift of this symbol of repression to the audience at the end of every show and the people always do the right thing. They destroy it.
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