I was going to mention the Israeli Ambassador to Sweden’s actions at an art exhibit showing an image of a Palestinian suicide bomber, but as often happens Mitch Berg managed to beat me to it. He also points to Powerline’s lengthy discussion of the incident.
I’m of two minds here. One, I think the Ambassador stepped over the line in this case. An individual engaged in diplomacy should show a little tact, and if I were in his shoes I simply would have left and issued a statement condemning the display. Such actions, while understandable, reflect badly on Israel. The Israelis already have a tough enough time as it is without adding to those problems with such actions. In the end, the Ambassador only made the disgusting exhibit that much more noticeable where if he had simply left few outside the Swedish art scene would have ever even seen it. Then again, I wasn’t there and there may have been other circumstances.
On the other hand, would anyone support a piece of art that showed the Nazis in a positive light? Glorification of genocide is glorification of genocide, no matter who the perpetrators are. This piece of art attempts to beautify genocide, and that is something that is simply unacceptable. There is a double standard when it comes to Israel, and sympathy for suicide bombers is as repugnant as sympathy for members of the SS. Yet art that features images of suicide bombers is thought to be acceptable while many European countries have outright bans on Nazi symbols and imagery.
While I don’t support Ambassador Mazel’s actions, I surely understand them. Anti-Semitism is alive and well in Europe, and the old attitudes of casual acceptance of mass murder is a disgusting throwback to a Europe that should have long ago been thrown into the graveyard of history.
The image of a suicide bomber floating in a sea of blood hardly strikes me as a glorifacation of genocide, in fact it strikes me as quite the opposite.
Has anyone tried to get the artist’s take on this (Other than his reaction to it being destroyed.)? Didn’t think so.
It should also be noted that one of the creators of the piece was an Israeli.
The artists intended the piece to be pro-Palestinian based on their statements. It’s supposed to justify the bomber’s actions rather than protest them. (The actual interview was in The Jerusalem Post, but they don’t keep articles online for free for more than 24 hours – which is why I don’t link to them anymore… I hate dead links…)
In any case, if someone did something similar with a prominent Nazi the reaction would be markedly different…
Jay, I think you ARE missing the point again:
this piece of art is against genocides!!! As Alex rightfully noticed it (do you even read others comments?), one of the artist was an israeli!!
Just in case you didn’t knew it, genocide means total anihilation. In the israelo-palestinian conflict today, one would rather use the term genocide to talk about the israeli oppression on palestinian than anything else.
Deal with it dude, even jews all around the world are condemning this extrem-right government that never complied with any of UN nor of the road map instructions. No settlement were destroyed under Sharon, the opposite is true. Plus some land is taking over with the construction of a wal, which is very idfficult to argue that walls are build for peace!!!
As you rightfully established it, nazi symbols, and genocide glorifications ARE forbidden throuhout Europe! This means that this piece of art wasn’t!!
Europe is not anti-semit, it is anti-fascist and this is why we don’t support the government of Sharon. Your lame propaganda trying to make us feel bad by insulting us of anti-semitism doesn’t resist to the facts. My jewish friends would confirm.
Bullshit. If the Israeis wanted to wipe out the Palestinians, they could in a second. The only reason the Palestianians haven’t wiped out all of Israel is because they can’t – not that they haven’t tried with every means at their disposal.
To suggest that Israel wants to commit genocide against the Palestinians is not only horrendously dishonest, it’s patently anti-Semitic.
Bullshit.
Walls are built to keep out people who would blow up terrorists who kill innocent children.
No, Europe just blames the Jews for things they are not responsible for, entertains anti-Semitic smears, is plagued with a rash of anti-Semitic violence, has thousands of Jews that can’t put on a kippa without fear of being beaten, and still thinks there’s no problem with anti-Semitism.
Then again, fifty years ago, Europeans didn’t think there was a problem with anti-Semitism either…