Sunday, March 29, 2009
It might be more difficult to get the kids to kill them...
Palestinian youth orchestra disbanded over concert for Holocaust survivors
Palestinian authorities disbanded a youth orchestra from a West Bank refugee camp after it played for a group of Holocaust survivors in Israel, a local official said on Sunday.
Adnan Hindi of the Jenin camp called the Holocaust a political issue and accused conductor Wafa Younis of unknowingly dragging the children into a political dispute.
He added that Younis has been barred from the camp and the apartment where she taught the 13-member Strings of Freedom orchestra has been boarded up.
"She exploited the children," said Hindi, the head of the camp's popular committee, which takes on municipal duties. "She will be forbidden from doing any activities.... We have to protect our children and our community."
The move highlights the sensitivity of many Palestinians over acknowledging Jewish suffering, fearing it would weaken their own historical grievances against Israel...
This is maddening.
Those of us in the arts have dedicated our lives to the idea that culture can help bridge the divides between people.
Obviously this argument has merit - hence the disbanding of this musical group -
It seems to me that certain people don't want to make peace.