Roger Waters to Dionne Warwick: “when an artist says no she really means yes”

[Mosby]

Roger Waters’ recent Salon.com commentary about Dionne Warwick’s tour in Israel is insulting, profoundly presumptuous, and smacks of sexism.

When Ms. Dionne Warwick declared to the Jerusalem Post that she had her own unique views on world matters and would honor her contract to perform for her fans in Israel, Roger Waters wasted no time before attacking her. In a recent op-ed in Salon.com, he disregarded her right to independent thought, calling her “profoundly ignorant” and declaring her comment about artists being victimized by boycott pressure tactics “deeply disingenuous.”

Although Ms. Warwick was perfectly clear that she knew her own mind, Waters insisted otherwise. In spite of her unequivocal statement that she was no stranger to Israel and enjoyed the wonderful audiences there, he persisted, saying she must “harbor reservations in [her] heart,” and insinuated that her decision was guided by profit not principle.

This isn’t about her or her belief that art has no boundaries, he chides. No, indeed. As the self-appointed poster boy for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, Waters leaves little room for the opinions of those who want to use their art to bring people together.

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/roger-waters-to-dionne-warwick-when-an-artist-says-no-she-really-means-yes/

Racist, misogynistic, Antisemitic, that's Roger Waters.

[azurnoir]

4. well it would be if Waters had actually said that - but he didn't

here's what he did say about Warwick

Roger Waters to Dionne Warwick: “You are showing yourself to be profoundly ignorant of what has happened in Palestine since 1947″
EXCLUSIVE: Dionne Warwick called me out by name in asserting she'd play Tel Aviv. Here's what she misunderstands

I believe you mean well, Ms. Warwick, but you are showing yourself to be profoundly ignorant of what has happened in Palestine since 1947, and I am sorry but you are wrong, art does know boundaries. In fact, it is an absolute responsibility of artists to stand up for human rights – social, political and religious – on behalf of all our brothers and sisters who are being oppressed, whoever and wherever they may be on the surface of this small planet.

http://www.salon.com/2015/05/14/roger_waters_to_dionne_warwick_you_are_showing_yourself_to_be_profoundly_ignorant_of_what_has_happened_in_palestine_since_1947/

[azurnoir]

17. you're right we could

but I don't care what anyone says it was Greedo damn it

[busterbrown]

2. So Roger Waters is a..

is a Racist, Misogynistic, Antisemitic? You might as well throw in homophobic..What an ignorant comment...Waters is simply stating what millions of Citizens Of the World think about Israel’s soldier-less
horrendous occupation of the Gaza Strip....Dion Warwick for years was all over the television and radio espousing her clairvoyant organization ( Psychic Friends Networked) which duped thousands into paying exorbitant rates for 10 minute conversations with so called Psychics..Pure Bullshit..So surely she is by no means someone who has high moral values..

You are entitled to your opinions, but your attack on a Roger Waters a humanist trying stand up for an oppressed people is total bullshit..

[Little Tich]

3. Salon.com: Roger Waters to Dionne Warwick: “You are showing yourself to be profoundly ignorant

of what has happened in Palestine since 1947″

Source: salon.com, May 15, 2015

EXCLUSIVE: Dionne Warwick called me out by name in asserting she'd play Tel Aviv. Here's what she misunderstands

Singer and U.N. global ambassador Dionne Warwick recently released an interesting if puzzling statement asserting that she would, and I quote, “never fall victim to the hard pressures of Roger Waters, from Pink Floyd, or other political people who have their views on politics in Israel.”

“Waters’ political views are of no concern,” I assume she means to her, the statement read. “Art,” she added, “has no boundaries.”

Until today, I have not publicly commented on Ms. Warwick’s Tel Aviv concert or reached out to her privately. But given her implicit invitation, I will comment now.

First, in my view, Dionne Warwick is a truly great singer. Secondly, I doubt not that she is deeply committed to her family and her fans.

But, ultimately, this whole conversation is not about her, her gig in Tel Aviv, or even her conception of boundaries and art, though I will touch on that conception later. This is about human rights and, more specifically, this is about the dystopia that can develop, as it has in Israel, when society lacks basic belief in equal human value, when it strays from the ability to feel empathy for our brothers and sisters of different faiths, nationalities, creeds or colors.

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2015/05/14/roger_waters_to_dionne_warwick_you_are_showing_yourself_to_be_profoundly_ignorant_of_what_has_happened_in_palestine_since_1947/


The OP doesn't correspond to the article written by Waters. Go figure.

[azurnoir]

5. Thank you such reinterpretations are all too common

[oberliner]

7. It's a blogger's opinion about the Salon piece

It corresponds exactly in that it reflects one person's take on what he said and what this blogger thinks was being implied by the tone of the piece. All of the quotes are accurate. Just because you don't agree with the blogger's take doesn't mean it doesn't correspond to the article - it does. Just like when Mondoweiss bloggers take a comment or two out of context and run with it to try to assert some much broader implication that exists only in their minds.

[Little Tich]

9. I think the OP is misrepresenting what Waters wrote to a degree that is fallacious.

When I read his article from Salon.com, I don't get any misogynic vibes at all, not even after a second reading.

Roger waters isn't a misogynist, nor is he an anti-Semite, although some people wish he were.

[oberliner]

11. He is most definitely an anti-semite

And the article very much smacks of misogyny, without question.

[Little Tich]

13. I guess I just don't get it. n/t

[oberliner]

14. Where do you stand on comparing present day Israel to Nazi Germany?

Do you feel that making such a direct comparison in any way crosses a line from criticism of Israel to anti-semitism?

My take is that it does for a few reasons:

1. Israel is not similar to Nazi Germany

2. Nazi Germany exterminated six million Jews

3. The comparison is made because of the Jewish connection

There are lots of horrible countries in history that one can compare Israel to if one is so inclined (South Africa seems to be a favorite). But when one goes out of one's way to draw parallels to Nazi Germany then there is something else motivating that in my view.

Those sorts of comments from Waters, coupled with his references to "The Jewish Lobby" being powerful in the music industry are what tip the scales as far as I am concerned.

[Little Tich]

15. Yes, he did that, didn't he?

Comparing Jews to nazis is at best extremely tasteless. Comparing Israel to Nazi Germany is absolute BS hyperbole, but I don't think it's necessarily anti-Semitic. When Waters attacks Jewish symbols, in this case Israel, I don't think he does so because of the connection to Jews, but rather the connection to oppression.

In some circles, all oppressors are nazis. But I think that Waters should stop making comparisons that make people cringe.

[oberliner]

16. With respect to Waters

The ADL actually came to his defense during the whole "using Jewish symbols" episode with the Star of David on the pig. It was only later when the statements I referenced were made frequently thereafter that they concluded, as I did, that he is anti-semitic.

[oberliner]

8. That's what friends are for

Anyway, Waters is a pompous idiot. He is very emblematic of the movement he purports to be a major part of. Only his version is the right version. Everyone else is profoundly ignorant.

[NobodyHere]

10. "Only his version is the right version. Everyone else is profoundly ignorant."

This quote describes just about everyone on DU

[oberliner]

12. Especially here in the I/P forum

But definitely in the big forums too.

[grossproffit]

18. Roger Waters has become a parody of himself. He's a scumbag. eom