How embarrassing! Do they really look upon me as such a dull thing, I wonder? But I am what I am. Her Majesty has also remarked more than once that she had thought I was not the kind of person with whom she could ever relax, but that I have now become closer to her than any of the others. I am so perverse and standoffish. If only I can avoid putting off those for whom I have a genuine regard.
So all they see of me is a façade. there are times when I am forced to sit with them and on such occasions I simply ignore their petty criticisms, not because I am particularly shy but because I consider it pointless. As a result, they now look upon me as a dullard.
'Well, we never expected this!' They all say. 'No one liked her. They all said she was pretentious, awkward, difficult to approach, prickly, too fond of her tales, haughty, prone to versifying, disdainful, cantankerous and scornful; but when you come to meet her, she is strangely meek, a completely different person altogether!
I have so many things I would like to say but always think the better of it, because there would be no point explaining to people who would never understand. I cannot be bothered to discuss matters in front of those women who continually carp and are so full of themselves: it would only cause trouble. It is so rare to find someone of true understanding; for the most part they judge purely by their own standards and ignore everyone else.
'
Lady Murasaki (c.973-c.1020), author of The Tale of Genji.
So why do people still hold up the 1950s baking soda advertisement with a smiling woman, hair neatly coiffed, preparing a nutritious meal for her family, and say, “That serene smile is a lie”? In an era of Adbusters and critical thinkers, you’d think someone would hold up the 2015 advertisement with a smiling woman, hair asymmetrical and tapered in the nape, preparing a PowerPoint presentation for her clients, and say, “That serene smile is a lie!”
Topic: Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), India, South Asian and Himalayan Art
Medium: meteoric iron, with gold inlay
Measurements: H: 26.1 cm (10 ¼ in)
The dagger features a watered steel blade with meteoric iron, ab iron hilt, and gold inlay.
The Jahangirmima records (1605 -24) say: “At dawn a tremendous noise arose in the east. It tvas so terrifying that it nearly frightened the inhabitants out of their skins. Then, in the midst of tumultuous noise, something bright fell to the earth from above…”
Thus did Emperor Jahangir describe a meteor that landed within his kingdom in April 1621. His fascination with unusual natural events and his power to harness their aura—is revealed by this dagger’s blade, forged from the meteorite. Jahangir further noted that the blade “cut beautifully, as well as the very best swords.”
Though everything else may appear shallow and repulsive, even the smallest task in music is so absorbing, and carries us so far away from town, country, earth, and all worldly things, that it is truly a blessed gift of God.
Tell the World Music Institute that presenting Idan Raichel is not in line with your values or theirs.
Please sign & share if you agree. Here’s the full text of the letter:
To the staff and board of the World Music Institute:
As organizations and individuals who support the struggle for justice, human rights, equality and democracy in the Middle East, we are contacting you because we do not feel that Idan Raichel’s presence on the Symphony Space stage (scheduled for November 18, 2014) for a concert presented by the World Music Institute is in keeping with our values or yours. Idan Raichel has publicly endorsed torture and explicitly describes his role as an artist in terms of uncritical support for the Israeli military and government. He wrote in the Jerusalem Post in June 2014 that “In creating this musical project we feel as if we are cultural ambassadors for Israel.” He added, “When I look back over the past few years, I see an Israel I am happy with.”
In 2006, the Israeli government launched a public relations initiative called “Brand Israel,” which uses art and musicto whitewash Israel’s human rights violations. According to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sending Israeli artists and musicians abroad “show[s] Israel’s prettier face, so we are not thought of purely in the context of war.” In an October 2013 ABC interview with Idan Raichel conducted together with Israel’s Consul General to the Pacific North-West Andy David, David emphasized Raichel’s value to the Israeli government, saying. “I think Idan is maybe the best ambassador that Israel has through his music and his inclusiveness.” This cynical use of art and music serves to obscure Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as Israel’s overall history of grave human rights abuses, including the collective punishment of Palestinians through home demolitions, kidnappings, bombings and other means.
As you say in your mission statement, “Music and dance are both a means to communicate social values and a measure of a society’s aspirations… . WMI’s programs are intended to reinforce the cultural values of the community and to communicate to all the unique power of each individual culture.” No doubt, Idan Raichel is a popular musician who has persuaded many artists across cultures to collaborate with him. But he hardly represents our social values. Raichel has strong ties to the Israeli military. In his endorsement of the right-wing US organization Thank Israeli Soldiers, he said that supporting “Israeli soldiers is a fulfillment of the Jewish ideal.” Raichel performed for the army before, during, and after its August 2014 attack on Gaza, which killed over 2100 Palestinians, including 500 children.
The Idan Raichel Project’s 2012 tour of Africa was initiated and produced by the Israeli Foreign Ministry and Israeli embassies in Africa to portray Israel as a welcoming, multicultural society. Avi Granot, head of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Africa Division, said, “The goal in sending Raichel to Africa was to present Israeli culture at its best.” This effort is particularly disingenuous in light of Israel’s treatment of Africans seeking political asylum, whom Israeli officials routinely refer to as “infiltrators.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called African asylum seekers “a threat to the social fabric of society, our national security, our national identity . . . [and] our existence as a Jewish and democratic state.” Raichel’s performances in Africa, and with African artists like Vieux Farka Touré, are a calculated distraction from Israel’s policies and the attitudes of its leaders.
Presenting Idan Raichel runs counter to the very values you espouse in your mission statement. It also ignoresPalestinian civil society’s call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) to target complicit Israeli institutionsuntil Israel respects international law and ceases violating Palestinian rights. This boycott, modeled on the boycott of apartheid South Africa, will continue until Israel ends its military occupation of Palestinian land, grants equal rights to the Palestinians of Israel, and respects refugees’ right to return to their land.
We all look forward to the day when WMI can celebrate a post-Apartheid generation of socially conscious Palestinian and Israeli musicians, just as you are doing with South African musicians. We hope that WMI will act in that spirit now by canceling the Touré-Raichel Collective’s planned November 18 concert at Symphony Space.
It would be so amazing if everyone who sees this could sign & share it, especially with artists & musicians of note who would be willing to be featured signatories. It’s really not okay to profit from an image of multicultural celebration, peace and love…while platforming for and catering to the brutal military & government of a racist, apartheid state. It’s not okay to sing about love while speaking in support of torture. And it’s definitely not okay for institutions like the World Music Institute to promote artists who do. I would love it if thatonesuheirhammad could sign & share…I doubt she’ll see the tag, but maybe if we all share and pass it around it will get to her or someone who knows her. Or other wonderful people.
pixelskylines
andulkaphoto
vaporwave
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snowghoul
