Post by Teddy Bear on Oct 27, 2010 14:02:47 GMT
Tutu showed how he had lost the plot when about 8 years ago he visited Lockerbie bomber Al Megrahi in prison in Scotland and pleaded for him to be allowed to serve his time in an Islamic prison. Tutu is deranged and insulting to all those who lost loved ones as a result of this man's actions to think that our society should be concerned about his rights or sensitivities as a Muslim.
Like many other politicians who have outlived their purpose, he clings to something spurious to maintain public limelight. He has to rearrange facts in the Middle East to be the champion of the Palestinians who he wants to see as the oppressed people.
I notice, not surprisingly, that the BBC uses his 'plea' to the Cape Town Opera company to run his thoughts without any kind of balance that shows their ludicrous nature. They also decided it was worthy of inclusion as one of their main stories on Mid-East events
The fact that well over a million Arabs who reside in and enjoy Israel citizenship are free to attend these performances, whereas NO JEWS would be tolerated without protection in the Palestinian territories seems to have been totally ignored - both by Tutu and the BBC. But I don't expect either of them to evaluate their chosen racist viewpoints.
It's as blatant as it gets.
Like many other politicians who have outlived their purpose, he clings to something spurious to maintain public limelight. He has to rearrange facts in the Middle East to be the champion of the Palestinians who he wants to see as the oppressed people.
I notice, not surprisingly, that the BBC uses his 'plea' to the Cape Town Opera company to run his thoughts without any kind of balance that shows their ludicrous nature. They also decided it was worthy of inclusion as one of their main stories on Mid-East events
Cape Town opera snubs Tutu plea to cancel Israel tour
South Africa's Cape Town Opera has turned down an appeal from Nobel peace prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu to call off a tour of Israel.
He said it would be as inappropriate as it had been for international firms to visit South Africa during apartheid.
But Cape Town Opera's managing director said the company was reluctant to take the political stand of shunning cultural ties with Israel.
It hopes to negotiate a later tour which might include Palestinian venues.
Our artists act as ambassadors and exemplars of the free society that has been achieved in democratic South Africa”
The opera's production of Porgy and Bess will be performed in Tel Aviv next month.
In his letter the archbishop, who retired from public life earlier this month, said it would be wrong for the Cape Town singers to perform "in a society founded on discriminatory laws and racial exclusivity".
'Food for thought'
He said the tour should be postponed "until both Israeli and Palestinian opera lovers of the region have equal opportunity and unfettered access to attend performances".
"Only the thickest-skinned South Africans would be comfortable performing before an audience that excluded residents living, for example, in an occupied West Bank village 30 minutes from Tel Aviv.
"To perform Porgy and Bess, with its universal message of non-discrimination, in the present state of Israel, is unconscionable."
But Cape Town Opera's managing director said he believed in the "transformative power of the arts".
"I am proud that our artists, when travelling abroad, act as ambassadors and exemplars of the free society that has been achieved in democratic South Africa," Michael Williams said in a statement.
He said the company was "reluctant to adopt the essentially political position of disengagement from cultural ties with Israel or with Palestine".
Mr Williams said was aware of the possibility of being seen as partisan, so has ongoing negotiations to perform within the Arab world.
"In particular, Cape Town Opera welcomes the opportunity to perform within Palestine as well," he said.
The production of the Gershwin opera has "much which should provide food for thought for audiences in Israel", he added.
South Africa's Cape Town Opera has turned down an appeal from Nobel peace prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu to call off a tour of Israel.
He said it would be as inappropriate as it had been for international firms to visit South Africa during apartheid.
But Cape Town Opera's managing director said the company was reluctant to take the political stand of shunning cultural ties with Israel.
It hopes to negotiate a later tour which might include Palestinian venues.
Our artists act as ambassadors and exemplars of the free society that has been achieved in democratic South Africa”
The opera's production of Porgy and Bess will be performed in Tel Aviv next month.
In his letter the archbishop, who retired from public life earlier this month, said it would be wrong for the Cape Town singers to perform "in a society founded on discriminatory laws and racial exclusivity".
'Food for thought'
He said the tour should be postponed "until both Israeli and Palestinian opera lovers of the region have equal opportunity and unfettered access to attend performances".
"Only the thickest-skinned South Africans would be comfortable performing before an audience that excluded residents living, for example, in an occupied West Bank village 30 minutes from Tel Aviv.
"To perform Porgy and Bess, with its universal message of non-discrimination, in the present state of Israel, is unconscionable."
But Cape Town Opera's managing director said he believed in the "transformative power of the arts".
"I am proud that our artists, when travelling abroad, act as ambassadors and exemplars of the free society that has been achieved in democratic South Africa," Michael Williams said in a statement.
He said the company was "reluctant to adopt the essentially political position of disengagement from cultural ties with Israel or with Palestine".
Mr Williams said was aware of the possibility of being seen as partisan, so has ongoing negotiations to perform within the Arab world.
"In particular, Cape Town Opera welcomes the opportunity to perform within Palestine as well," he said.
The production of the Gershwin opera has "much which should provide food for thought for audiences in Israel", he added.
The fact that well over a million Arabs who reside in and enjoy Israel citizenship are free to attend these performances, whereas NO JEWS would be tolerated without protection in the Palestinian territories seems to have been totally ignored - both by Tutu and the BBC. But I don't expect either of them to evaluate their chosen racist viewpoints.
It's as blatant as it gets.
