Placebo landed in Beirut few days ago and will perform their concert tonight at the Forum de Beyrouth.
However, similarly to what happened with Gad el Maleh last summer (and unfortunatelly worked), some Lebanese activists are trying to stop Placebo from playing by claiming they are Israeli supporters.
Why so?
Because they played in Israel.
Like serious, wtf is wrong with those people? Placebo is one of the most famous bands in the world and it is normal that they play all over the world including Israel.
“The band must choose either to play in Lebanon or to play in a state that continuously violates rights,” Idriss said on behalf of the groups, which include the Campaign to Boycott Israeli Supporters in Lebanon and the Campaign for the Lebanese Boycott of Zionism. “
How backwards this guy is? And who does he think he is to impose on Placebo where to go?
Another smart ass activist told Agence France Presse that Molko’s comment showed Placebo “ignored the massacre last week against the Freedom Flotilla and went even further, announcing their support for Israel,” Rana al-Masri, one of the activists spearheading the boycott campaign, told Agence France Presse.
I checked to see what Molko’s comment was:
The interviewer then asked if it was important to have Israel’s endorsement these days, to which Molko quipped: “Yeah, if you want to go sailing.” [Naharnet]
How is that endorsing and supporting Israel? And Is Molko a politician to give his opinion on that matter? He is probably more worried about his makeup than what’s been happening in the world.
Added to that, if you check his profile:
“Born to an American international banker father of French-Italian heritage[1] and a Scottish mother, Molko’s family moved frequently during his childhood including spells in Scotland, Liberia, Lebanon and Luxembourg.” [Wiki]
You’d notice he’s been in lebanon. Did they ban him from playing in Israel? I think not!
I think we should start a petition against those activists and jail them for backwardness and public harm as well as projecting a bad image of Lebanon.
My friend from the Beirut Spring had an opinion on the matter as well.
the whole world is boycotting Israel in the time being for its flotilla crimes and a lot of international bands are canceling their concerts there as well. (http://www.al-akhbar.com/ar/node/193003) So yeah, excuse me for showing our support and stop turning this into censurship crap.
WTF is wrong with those people!
btw Placebo already played in Lebanon @ the Byblos Festival a couple of years ago.
Another instance of our social mental retardation I’m afraid…
Remember that incident with the olympics? Sad…
Le Colleague,
Are you refering to the Taekwondo world championships this year? Because my brother’s friend was there and he was asked to withdraw from his opening game (After 6 months of intensive training) simply because his opponent was Israeli.
Najib , your brothers friends shouldnt have withdrew , he should have played the game and kicked the israeli’s ass and make him pay for destroying our country every 5 yrs !!!
Toufic,
He wouldn’t have been allowed back in Lebanon and his parents would have been jailed most probably or fined.
WTF is wrong with YOU! the band has SUPPOSEDLY played for peace in a country which has just recently killed peace activists, for a people who, YES, supported its government in this initiative, who hovered in front of the Turkish embassy to threaten and protest against the International reaction. walla shatreen mitelkon mitel gharkon in condemning the flotilla attack bi kaleim 3al fadeh? pfff.
and Mr.what’s your name, it is true that musicians aren’t politicians, but at least their music should be their most important way to express their opinion (I’m sure you don’t want them to carry guns to express what’s on their mind).
Last but not least, don’t worry about distorting the good image of Lebanon. It is well preserved thx to skybar and seabar and all the like-bars which bterfa3 majd libnen bil 3ali.
Maybe you can get educated by reading more about why Placebo is (or was) not welcome: http://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=1265
One point is that this boycott follows the same principles of the boycott of South African Apartheid. Those regular people who pushed for a boycott then, made it possible for a 2010 SA world cup.
But since you posted this i am assuming you are not ignorant and that perhaps your disagreement follows similar logics to Israelis who disagree with the boycott. These logics are racist to say the least. perhaps you will find your reflection then in this scene captured on video.
http://maxblumenthal.com/2010/06/pro-idf-anti-turkish-rally-in-tel-aviv-or-a-glimpse-into-collective-israeli-derangement/
perhaps you will remember your own celebrations for the Lebanese army after Nahr el-bared. Hopefully you will see all these connections…and if you were not one of those people celebrating then my apologies, but I am certain some of your readers and commentators were judging from their responses.
N. & Elie,
This is a non-political blog and i intend to keep it that way. I don’t give a damn what happens in Palestine or Israel or China or Turkey. I live in Lebanon and want to enjoy listening to international bands that i like or follow.
Artists are artists and have nothing to do with our fight with Israel. Go sail to Gaza for all i care, i wanna go party and listen to Placebo.
Two remarks though:
– Let the Turks APOLOGIZE for their genocides before claiming other people’s rights!!
– Placebo already played in Lebanon before, so this whole campaign is lame.