Roger Waters vs. Bon Jovi

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www.salon.com/2015/10/02/roger_waters_to_jon_bon_jovi_you_stand_shoulder_to_shoulder_with_the_settler_who_burned_the_baby/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow


Roger Waters to Jon Bon Jovi: “You stand shoulder to shoulder with the settler who burned the baby”

Salon exclusive: "The dead can’t remind you of the crimes you’ve ignored," writes Waters, challenging Tel Aviv show

Dear Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, and Tico Torres,

Often in the past I have written detailed, and sometimes even persuasive, letters to colleagues in the music business, encouraging them not to give succor to the Israeli government’s apartheid policies by performing in Israel. Having read Jon’s comments last week in Yedioth Ahronoth, I won’t waste my time drawing parallels with Apartheid South Africa and the moral stand that so many artists took then and that thousands are taking now in the face of decades of Israeli oppression of Palestinians.

So the die is cast, you are determined to proceed with your gig in Tel Aviv on October 3. You are making your stand.

You stand shoulder to shoulder

With the settler who burned the baby*

With the bulldozer driver who crushed Rachel Corrie*

With the soldier who shot the soccer player’s feet to bits*

With the sailor who shelled the boys on the beach*

With the sniper who killed the kid in the green shirt*

And the one who emptied his clip into the 13-year-old girl*

And the Minister of Justice who called for genocide*

You had a chance to stand on the side of justice

With the pilot who refused to bomb refugee camps*

With the teenager who chose eight prison terms over army service*

With the prisoner who fasted for 266 days until freedom*

With the doctor banned from entry for saving lives*

With the farmer who was cut down marching to the wall*

With the legless child growing up in the rubble*

And the 550 others who won’t grow up at all*

Because of the missiles and tank shells and bullets we sent*

The dead can’t remind you of the crimes you’ve ignored. But, lest we forget, “To stand by silent and indifferent is the greatest crime of all.”


Roger Waters

* indicates links to news stories documenting each event in the main article.

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But do go ahead and play "Sun City" if you so choose I guess Jon.