The poetry session, featuring three artists – Kevin Coval, Tracy Soren and Josh Healey, scheduled as part of the “Culture as a Tool for Change” track, was canceled. Apparently, the event was nixed following a reminder by a conservative blogger that Healey, a Jewish activist and poet, compared Guantanamo prison to Auschwitz.
J-Street’s Ben-Ami issued the following explanation: “As a matter of principle, J Street respects the dissenting voice that poetry can represent in society and politics. We acknowledge that expression and language are used differently in the arts and artistic expression when compared to their use in political argumentation. Nevertheless, as J Street is critical of the use and abuse of Holocaust imagery and metaphors by politicians and pundits on the right, it would be inappropriate for us to feature poets at our Conference whose poetry has used such imagery in the past and might also be offensive to some conference participants.”
Joey Tavares said,
October 25, 2009 at 17:34
Damn. I joined them.
Too bad.
Amerikagulag said,
October 25, 2009 at 17:46
One could have easily guessed that if J Street is NOT critical of the standard boilerplate surrounding Hitlers’ Germany and WWII, they must therefore support it.
The best way to control the opposition is to LEAD it. – Joseph Stalin.
A said,
October 25, 2009 at 19:25
I now no longer support J Street
Paul said,
October 25, 2009 at 21:22
As someone once said ” The best way to control the Opposition is to be the Opposition”.
Paul Mills said,
October 26, 2009 at 03:46
Thank heavens you finally saw it. I was beginning to worry about you guys.
brian said,
October 26, 2009 at 08:22
i knew this from the time they opend their mouths! So im not surpised..i AM surprised that people do not research these organsiations better…J-street is an effort to gain ground for israel lost BY AIPACs obvious criminality.
brian said,
October 26, 2009 at 08:26
‘-Street’s Ben-Ami issued the following explanation: “As a matter of principle, J Street respects the dissenting voice that poetry can represent in society and politics. We acknowledge that expression and language are used differently in the arts and artistic expression when compared to their use in political argumentation. Nevertheless, as J Street is critical of the use and abuse of Holocaust imagery and metaphors by politicians and pundits on the right,’
==========
translation: we respect your right to dissent and you respect our right to kick you out.
Healeys problem? The Holocaust is a regd TM…please dont infringe!