Here's one as we move into the final stages of "Election 2014". Obama is clearly panicking as he has already started throwing in everything he can think of at his potential election crisis. Now he wants to be fully evolved on the issue of same-sex marriage and has announced that the Constitution supports same-sex marriage. I do not disagree with him, however he should have evolved long ago for this not to look like such an obvious political play.
Speaking of political plays, or operas in this case, here is our newest NYC crisis: The Metropolitan Opera opened their new season tonight with a production of a new opera called "Klinghoffer" and has the entire city in an uproar. As explained in a Huffpo article, the opera "explores the murder of Leon Klinghoffer, an American Jewish passenger in a wheelchair by members of the Palestine Liberation Front during the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship".
Needless to say the family of Mr. Klinghoffer is outraged that the Palestinian terrorists who murdered their father in cold blood, are given a voice at all and especially at one of the most respected institutions in NYC. There have been calls for months from all quarters of the city to cancel the production because of its anti-Semitic overtones which has culmanated in a huge protest at Lincoln Center tonight which included former Mayor Guiliani. He stated, and I think that he is right in this:
“The Met, and those who decide to go see this production, have every right to do so, and it would be hypocritical and anti-American for us to interfere with that, and to stop that,” Mr. Giuliani said at the rally. “They have that right. But we also have a right, just as strong, and just as compelling to point out the historical inaccuracy and the historical damage this contributed to.”He has a point and one that he has made before. In 1995, then Mayor Rudy Giuliani expelled Nobel Peace Prize winner and Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat from a concert at Lincoln Center for UN leaders because of the Palestinian attacks on the Achille Lauro. As I recall, Giuliani said that Arafat could be in the city because he was a delegate to the UN, but he couldn't enjoy himself while here. It became a huge headache for the President Clinton who called it an "embarrassing breach of diplomacy" and then invited Arafat to the WH for tea. But that is exactly why I liked Giuliani. He was brave enough to cause such a breach to do what was right.
So talk amongst yourselves and I will join in when I can.
Bev, This is the kind of stuff that always makes me think twice about supporting opera groups and theater groups and the such. And that's too bad. I fully get the contribution theater and opera and symphony make to our world, yet I don't like supporting groups who feel they need to delve into biased politics push an agenda.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, the girls just got to see "Beauty and the Beast" on stage (same production I saw 20 years ago in DC), and they were totally entranced. That is the kind of thing childhood memories are made of! :D
Up next, Disney on Ice... last seen by me in 1978.
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI saw Beauty and the Beast on stage last spring. I'm a 24-year old man and I was entranced!
I don't think I've ever had more fun at a theater than at that show last spring. There may be deeper plays but few will put a smile on my face like Beauty and the Beast did.
My favorite song they added was "Home".
LINK
"Is this home
Is this what I must learn to believe in
Try to find
Something good in this tragic place
Just in case
I should stay here forever
Held in this empty space"
Kit
Well, as the saying goes, there's no bad press. My other take on Klinghoffer is that the Met is slowly (or not so slowly) dying from lack of interest and the high price of tickets ($100-300 each). There are an every dwindling number of true opera fans under the age of 50 and the opera world is desperate for butts in seats. What could be MORE intriguing and with free publicity (that helps bolster those failing budgets) than an overblown political controversy? I know, cynical, but true.
ReplyDeleteBtw, Beauty & The Beast is a wonderful musical. I saw the original NY production and it was magical as only Disney could make it. And nothing like any other show. Disney spent big bucks on the production (sets, lighting, costumes, effects) and hired the best in each field of NYC designers/actors etc. but were snubbed for a Tony because they weren't "NY Theatre" producers.
ReplyDeleteThe next live show you should see is Lion King, but make sure you get orchestra seats. The parade of animals is not to be missed.
Seeing as this is an open thread...
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh because the NFL outrage circle is following the same patterns as always. When the domestic violence epidemic (3 cases) hit, all the usual liberal journalists screamed that these guys needed to be banned from the league instantly, without waiting for proof, and without any chance of appeal. Some, like Peter King, even whined that he no longer liked football.
Of course, that's liberal BS and I pointed out that they would completely reverse their positions before it was all over.
As expected, the first cracks appeared last month when the same liberals started worrying about the "due process" rights of the accused players. See, it would be wrong to trample on their rights, said the people who previously said lynch them without proof.
Then the NFL found what they think is the ideal solution -- suspension with pay until the PR nightmare blows over, er, until the criminal aspects are solved.
Now, those same liberals who still pat themselves on the back for caring about the women (each of whom said "don't suspend my man") by demanding immediately career murder, are upset that suspending someone with pay "is still punishment," and should not be inflicted without some serious proof that the player has done something wrong. Indeed, by suspending the player, you may keep them from setting a record or showing off their talents before they become free agents and that's just not fair to the player... the same player they wanted banned for life at the accusation alone only a month ago.
Liberal... idiots.
P.S. Peter King is back to bragging about being a Hall of Fame elector and about the access he gets to NFL personnel. So much for his moment of conscience.
ReplyDeleteAndrew - Have you been following the whole "Redskins" stuff? Now the City council members in Minneapolis want to outlaw the use of the word “Redskins” when the Washington Redskins play the Minnesota Vikings ahead of this week's game. Seriously, why do they get to call themselves "Vikings" - didn't they rape and pillage and plunder? And as you have stated above - we ALL hate raping, pillaging and plundering when it comes to football.
ReplyDeleteBev, Even more ironic, this is what the Minneapolis city council is spending time doing instead of solving actual crises like their own plague of rape and murder... if 3 people in the NFL is enough to create an epidemic, then I'm sure Minneapolis is in plague territory.
ReplyDeleteIn other football news, Michael Sam has been cut from the Dallas Cowboys practice team. You know, that great team that is leading in the NFL! Woo-hoo!
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I just had a routine "medical procedure" that required drinking some horrible liquid the day before (if you get my drift) and after it was over I was talking with the doctor. Somehow (as it always does with me ;-D) I mentioned that I was from Dallas...he was a Giants fan. Dallas has just defeated the Giants the day before. He said he was glad he didn't know that I was a Cowboys fan BEFORE the procedure! I'm glad I didn't ask him if he was a Democrat before! I almost did. LOL!
A pretty rational and fair take on the recent event in Ferguson, MO by Cathy Young at Reason.
ReplyDeleteLINK
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Most people appreciate the fact that cops have an extraordinarily demanding and stressful job. But that should not be an excuse for bullying or violence, any more than the stress of poverty is an excuse for crime. Law-and-order conservatives should remember that the principle "power corrupts" applies not only to government but to the police.
At the same time, no amount of reform can completely eliminate racial tensions around law enforcement as long as African-Americans are disproportionately involved in crime.
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Bev, I am shocked the Cowboys are this good... shocked.
ReplyDeleteAs for Sam, it doesn't surprise me. It's the rare player who can work his way
up. Usually, either you have it and they want you, or you don't.
I have not seen the Lion King, but I am watching for it. Hopefully, it comes here.