Washington Report -To Disavow or Debate Gilad Atzmon?

http://www.wrmea.com/action-alert-archives/11130-to-disavow-or-debate-gilad-atzmon.html

Last night Ali Abunimah and other respected Palestinian writers and activists signed a statement calling for “The Disavowal of the Racism and Antisemitism of Gilad Atzmon,” who is winding up his U.S. tour with events in Washington, DC today and tomorrow. The Washington Report is convinced that Atzmon’s interview tonight by Prof. Norton Mezvinsky couldn’t come at a better time. Please read Abunimah’s statement and Atzmon’s response below. Then come to tonight’s discussion and decide for yourself whether to shun Atzmon or engage him in debate. For those who want to further explore the renowned jazz musician’s ideas and music, copies of Atzmon’s latest book, The Wandering Who?, as well as his three CDs, will be available for purchase.

Wednesday, March 14, 6:30-8:30 PM Gilad Atzmon is interviewed by Prof. Norton Mezvinsky, (Connecticut State University Professor of History Emeritus) at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001 (free, open to public, light dinner)

Thursday, March 15, 5-6:30 PM DC Peace House, 1233 12th St. NW, Washington DC 20005

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A Response to Ali Abunimah & Co.

by Gilad Atzmon

Ali Abunimah & Co tend to present themselves as advocates of “One Democratic State in Palestine.” This leaves me puzzled: what kind of democracy do they have in mind, exactly?  For by calling for my “disavowal,” they prove beyond a doubt that they cannot tolerate even some elementary cultural criticism—criticism that is endorsed and praised by some of the most respected thinkers within our movement and beyond.

In fact, I am pretty delighted with the outraged reactions to my thoughts. I guess it enables us to map the discourse and its boundaries—and means that those boundaries are now official. Not only has my latest book, The Wandering Who?, rocked the boat, but it also has managed to unite Alan Dershowitz and Abe Foxman with Ali Abunimah and Max Blumenthal. That is pretty encouraging: it means that peace may prevail after all.

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Kevin Barrett: Why Hate Gilad Atzmon Pt. 2: “He’s WRONG!” (Or Is He?)

 http://www.veteranstoday.com

 

Introduction by Gilad Atzmon: The following is a deconstruction by Kevin Barrett. Barrett takes the time and the effort and dismantles each of the arguments  against myself and my work. Barrett exposes the intellectual lameness at the core of my detractor's argument . Once again, it seems as if my critics actually project their own symptoms onto me.  I would like to thank Kevin for his time and effort. 

Kevin Barrett - Why Hate Gilad Atzmon Pt. 2

Last Thursday’s essay “Why Hate Gilad Atzmon?” has been bouncing around the internet. (The title currently gets 780,000 Google hits).

In that piece I suggested that the anti-Atzmon brigade is defending sacred boundaries against Atzmon’s fearless questioning. The two taboo questions are: Is the whole notion of a Jewish state in Palestine (i.e., Zionism) legitimate and/or feasible? (The obvious answer, of course, is NO.) Second question: To what extent has Jewish identity politics contributed to the disaster of Zionism? (The obvious answer, of course, is “to a considerable extent.”)

“Don’t even go there!” they scream. Atzmon goes there. So they lynch him.

The truth hurts.

That’s my take, anyway. But not everyone agrees with me. I have received quite a few anti-Atzmon emails. They all make the same argument: Atzmon is wrong about X, Y, or Z, and therefore he is dangerous, a racist, a dangerous racist, and so on.

First, I would like to point out to these people that Atzmon has a right to be wrong. Since nobody is arguing that Atzmon is offering wrong facts – just wrong opinions, interpretations and orientations on very complex issues – his critics ought to be working harder to explain why he is wrong, rather than calling him names and organizing boycotts and smear campaigns on the basis of perfectly innocent quotes violently and misleadingly ripped from their contexts.

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Gilad Atzmon on Kevin Barrett's Truth Jihad

I spoke with Kevin about Chosen-ness, Jewish exceptionalism and supremacy, the Book of Esther & AIPAC,  AZZ and beyond..a very interesting interview...

Gilad Atzmon’s New Book: The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

'Revisionism Is The True Meaning of History'- Gilad Atzmon in Madison Wisconsin

Atzmon @ Muhammad and Friends TV Show (very interesting)

Video streaming by Ustream

I was very glad to be invited again to Munir Muhammad's TV Show.  We spoke about Iran, America, Freedom, Palestine, Israel, peace & war, The Book of Esther and The Wandering Who.

The GMJ-India Convoy started its journey towards Jerusalem

The GMJ-India Convoy was flagged of from Rajghat by Shri Ram Vilas Paswan

The Indian convoy has finally set off towards Jerusalem!! In a farewell ceremony that was held at the Rajghat, which is the final resting place of Mahatma Gandhi. The 54 member Indian delegation was felicitated by Shri Ram Vilas Paswan (Member of Parliament & President Lok Janshakti Party). The delegates were also welcomed by Mr. Zuhair Hamdallah (2nd Consul, Palestine Embassy) & Shri Mani Shanker Aiyar (Member of Parliament).
Shri Ram Vilas Paswan congratulated the delegates for their commitment for the cause of Palestine, as it embodied the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Ram Manohar Lohia & Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar. He stated that this movement would serve to create awareness about the cause of Palestine in India & across the world. The freedom of struggle of Palestine he said was interwoven into our very freedom struggle. Shri Paswan finally said that his party would now lead a convoy of Indians to Jerusalem. He also promised to raise the issue in parliament & take up the matter with the government of India.

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The Music of MARCH TO JERUSALEM!!! Please support

Kevin Barrett: Why Hate Gilad Atzmon?

(Gilad Atzmon will be speaking at the University of Wisconsin Madison tomorrow, Friday, March 9th, in 1111 Humanities, 7 to 9 pm. Musical festivities afterward.)

Gilad Atzmon is one of the sweetest, funniest, most charming and likable people I’ve ever met.

He’s also one of the world’s best saxaphone players. Gilad’s music is not only gorgeous, but uncommonly accessible for music in its class.

His writing, which includes two novels, a nonfiction book, and countless essays, is grounded in the highest humanistic ideals, invigorating laughter, and an irrepressible joie de vivre.

In short, Gilad is outrageously easy to like.

So why is he hated so much?

Why are his appearances protested by angry picketers? Why is the most vicious and mendacious kind of calumny being hurled at him in such quantities? Why is there an organized effort to make this gentle, loving free spirit out to be some kind of deranged Nazi?

His detractors say his writing invites it. But they’re wrong. The proof is that the anti-Atzmon brigade has to resort to lies (or to be charitable, gratuitous distortions) to make him look bad.

There must be some deeper reason why they hate him.

Maybe it’s because he’s such a powerful symbol of – and argument for – the end of Zionism.

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Young Benjamin Netanyahu (28 years old)

The same old lies..

An album by international artists to benefit the GLOBAL MARCH TO JERUSALEM – NORTH AMERICA

An album by international artists to benefit the
GLOBAL MARCH TO JERUSALEM – NORTH AMERICA

We are pleased to announce the release of “Jerusalem for Us All,” a new compilation album to benefit the Global March to Jerusalem – North America (GMJ-NA) featuring the music of renowned international artists. The GMJ-NA is an independent and autonomous coalition of North American Groups planning to join the Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ), a groundbreaking new initiative that is organizing peaceful mass demonstrations on Land Day, 30th March 2012, in Palestine and the four neighboring countries: Egypt, Lebanon Jordan and Syria. Large non-violent solidarity protests will also be held in major cities around the world.
 
“Jerusalem for Us All” includes a diverse mix of hip hop, jazz, rock, folk, and a variety of classical cultural traditions:
 
Stephan Said, "Take A Stand" Beatnick & K-Salaam Remix
M1, "24 hours in Gaza"
DAM, "Sajin Mixdown"
Shadia Mansour, Robert Wyatt, Gilad Atzmon, and Ros Stephen (Ramallah Underground), “Where Are They Now”
Sarah Gillespie, “How The Mighty Fall”
Marcel Khalife, "Walking Tall" (Muntasebah al-Qamati Amshi)
Rim Banna,  “A Time to Cry”
Muhammad Assaf, “Free People of the World are Marching towards You”
Fun-Da-Mental, “Ja Shataan”
Homan Bakhtiyari, “Felistin ey Felistin”
Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House Ensemble, “La Cote Mediterranee”
DARG Team, "Calling You" (Onadekom)
Katibeh 5, “Malak !”
David Rovics, “I Wanna Go Home”
Phil Monsour, “I Left My Heart in Palestine”
Rich Siegel, “In Palestine”
Ragtop (Nizar Wattad), “1948”
Nora Roman and the Border Busters, "Song for Palestine"
Robert Wyatt, Tali Atzmon, Gilad Atzmon and Ros Stephen (Ramallah Underground), “The Ghosts Within”
 
All of these artists have united for the GMJ, which represents a diverse coalition of voices from various religious and non-religious communities. The GMJ has the support of hundreds of grassroots organizations worldwide, and endorsements from esteemed individuals including: Nobel Peace Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mairead Maguire, Palestinian democracy activist Mustafa Barghouti, Jewish Renewal Movement Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, ANC leader Ronnie Kasrils, American philosopher and civil rights activist Dr. Cornel West, retired US Ambassador Edward Peck, anti-war activist Medea Benjamin, international law professor Richard Falk, and historian and writer Dr. Tariq Ali.
 
“Jerusalem for Us All” is for sale at www.cdbaby.com and www.gmj-na.org for $9.99. All proceeds will benefit the GMJ-NA.
 
Watch a short promotional video for the album featuring the song “I Wanna Go Home” By David Rovics.

Please distribute this announcement widely.