Roger Waters: 'I'm Not Anti-Semitic, I'm Anti-Apartheid'

[Purveyor]

Pig Balloon with Jewish Star Represents 'evil of government'

Haaretz
Published August 05, 2013.

Former Pink Floyd star Roger Waters attempted to deflect accusations of anti-Semitism and defend his decision to use a pig-shaped balloon emblazoned with the Star of David, among other symbols, during a concert in Belgium.

Waters, who last year voiced support for the boycott of Israeli goods, came under fire for the use of the inflatable pig, which was destroyed by the audience at the end of the show. Apart from anti-Semitism claims, some accused him of being a Jew hater and Nazi supporter.

In a response posted on Facebook, Waters denied the allegations and said the Star of David represents Israel and its policies, and not Judaism.

"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," wrote Waters. "Like it or not, the Star of David represents Israel and its policies."

more...

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.539891

[Fozzledick]

1. Wrong on both counts.

But he seems to think he can double-talk his way out of it.

Not very convincing. Reminds me of the Monty Python skit about a Mr. "Hilter".

[azurnoir]

3. The ADL disagrees with you :)

[azurnoir]

2. Roger Waters' Star of David Pig Balloon 'Not Antisemitic'(Anti-Defamation League)

The Jewish watchdog Anti-Defamation League has defended British rock star Roger Waters, a critic of Israel, after he released a pig-shaped balloon decorated with a Star of David over his stage performance of The Wall.

The stunt, performed at a show in Belgium, angered other Jewish organisations including the Simon Wiesenthal Centre who called Waters - a well-known activist in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel - "an open hater of Jews".

Israelis in Belgium were reportedly shocked at the sight of the Star of David on the blowup pig.

.....................

But the Anti-Defamation League said that the pig was not new and in context was not anti-Semitic.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/494580/20130725/roger-waters-star-david-pig-baloon-antisemitic.htm

[Fozzledick]

6. That pig still ain't kosher.

I've gotta agree with the Simon Wiesenthal Centre on this, and viewing it in the context of Waters' exploitation of pseudo-nazi imagery only makes it worse.

[delrem]

9. You do understand the symbolism that Pink Floyd's "The Wall" has come to represent?

If you don't think the flag of Israel should be painted on the wall, to identify one of the icons that defines the Israeli state, maybe you should work with others of like mind to tear the wall down.

[Fozzledick]

11. All in all he's just another brick in the wall.

Seems like Roger Waters has become the very monster he thought he was railing against. Tragic, yet pathetic.

[delrem]

12. I'm glad to you've bunkered, because you're just being ridiculous.

[shaayecanaan]

17. This is the pig

[oberliner]

4. He thinks Israel is a "functioning theocracy"

That's pretty much all you need to know.

[azurnoir]

7. well according to some who apparently wish to limit knowledge

of others ti their own personal views it seems

[oberliner]

8. Israel is not a theocracy

That is a basic fact that pretty much anyone who even has a casual familiarity with the country would know.

[delrem]

10. no, that isn't something anyone would know.

Because it's false.

[oberliner]

16. You think Israel is a theocracy too?

How do you support this contention?

In a theocracy, the religion is the law. In Israel, this is not the case.

[pelsar]

13. the definitions in regarding israel are different....

if israel is an apartheid state, which requires a very broad definition of apartheid, then it can also easily be an theocratic state.

of course if you take those same definitions and use a single standard, we will easily discover that all of the posters here who are "complaining about it, are infact pro apartheid policies (self-determination) pro theocracy for certain ethnic groups and not for others.

of course if you ask them.....they will "hem and haw" maybe call u a name or something, but what the won't do is apply the standard used for israel, and apply it to other countries (and the Palestenian society that they are promoting) and they will reject that they are apartheid and theocratic states.

[azurnoir]

14. My comment was aimed at this "That's pretty much all you need to know. "

perhaps that's all you wish for people to know but IMO that's pretty empty

[oberliner]

15. Fair enough

I just meant that it says a lot about where he is coming from and his lack of understanding of the region. Thus, I don't take him too seriously on this topic. And I don't think others should either. I don't think he is antisemitic, just misinformed.