No 1836 Posted by fw, December 1, 2016
If you liked the song “Gee, Officer Krupke” from West Side Story, you are going to love this version.
Posted below is an embedded 6:48-minute video, Bulldozer, with my added transcript.
***********
TRANSCRIPT
Sept 24 California becomes 13th state to outlaw BDS
In 1957, four queer Jewish artists created West Side Story
Three were lefties who fought the [Joe McCarthy] blacklist – Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents
The other one named names – Jerome Robbins — after the House Un-American Activities Committee threatened to out him as gay
Together the four created West Side Story, a classic fable of two nations at war:
The LISTS (who support blacklist and silence) Robbins and Bibi
vs. The LISPS (who support boycotts and debate…and free speech — Sondheim, Bernstein, Laurents)
In 2016, the LISPS were gaining ground, with boycott victories around the globe.
The LISTS fought back, pushing anti-BDS laws…
In New York, Governor Cuomo banned state funding to BDS supporters…
Lyrics…
Dear Bibi-loving censors
You’re clearly on a roll
You love to ban and silence
(and oust and stalk and troll)
You thrive on double standards
You Orwellize free speech
Suppress dissent – what a prayer to preach!
Gee, Bulldozer Cuomo, your blacklist is gross
Your McCarthy moves
Are going to stink up the house
You’re such a Goliath, commending the yard
Who knew you’d play the victim card!
In 2013, the Student Centre at Toronto’s York U hangs a show of 35 student paintings
This one shows an Israeli bulldozer plowing down an olive tree…
And a Palestinian hunk holding some rocks.
CBC Headline, January 27, 2016 – “Pro-Palestinian mural causes deep divisions at York University”
Toronto Sun Headline – “York University accused of allowing anti-Semitism to spread.”
They demand that York remove this ‘anti-semitic mural’
York refuses, rightly saying “We don’t censor.”
In protest, Wiesenthal Board Member Paul Bronfman yanks his gift of equipment grants: $12,500 worth of in-kind gripstands. (Followed by headlines about the withdrawal of support, including one by the National Post quoting Bronfman – ‘It’s just pure hate’)
He gets lots of press. Which seems to be his real agenda.
Weirdly, the Wiesenthal Centre homepage features world famous boycott champions like Gandhi and King yet works fulltime to outlaw the BDS movement.
Lyrics…
Wiesenthal Centre Censors
You tried to ban this dweeb
He wants to stop a dozer
That’s plowing down a tree
He can’t afford a slingshot
But he’s got arms to throw
Leaping Lizards! Michelangelo!
Bulldozer Bronfman, you’re hooked on the hype
This sort of grandstanding
Is such cynical tripe
You slaughter dissension
And so does Lantos
Free speech is Trumped by Thanatos!
Recent LISP Victories: Ahava, Veolia, Sodastream, G4S and Orange have pulled out of illegal Israeli settlements.
Canada’s Green Party and 100+ Students Unions (including York) have endorsed BDS
Catherine Hall, Roger Waters, Stephen Hawking and hundreds of others have refuse Israeli gigs, protesting the occupation.
That’s why the LISTS are running scared…and trying to outlaw the LISPS
…because boycott is working, in synch with other boycott campaigns…
OSCARS Boycott
Stevie Wonder boycotts Florida following Zimmerman verdict
Bruce Springsteen joins boycott of North Carolina over transgender law
Alice Walker wants Alicia Keys to boycott “Apartheid” Israel
When LISPS voluntarily withdraw their work in protest, they start conversations and promote debate
Lyrics…
Whheeeeennnnnn…
Will boycotts the Oscars
And Stevie does Florida
And Bruce ‘cotts Carolina
And Alice, Tel Aviva
They join a great tradition
Of artists who boycott
Winning victories! Tactically it’s hot!
Video clip of Hillary Clinton: “We have to be united in fighting back against BDS. Many of its proponents have demonized Israeli scientists [NOT TRUE] and intellectuals [NOT TRUE]. Even students [NOT TRUE]
And what’s her Orwellian ‘solution’?
Criminalize BDS.
And she claims SHE’S a champ of free speech?
Clinton: “Don’t let anyone silence you, bully you, or try to shut down debate. Especially in places of learning, like colleges and universities.” [Standing applause]
Lyrics…
Bulldozer Clinton, you’re way out of line
You can’t censor art
Just cause you hate Palestine
Your McCarthy tactics are so much hot air
We snap against your new red scare!
In 2016, the anti-boycott United Jewish Appeal boycotted a talk by Tony Kushner…
…because this queer lefty Jewish writer is on the board of the pro-boycott Jewish Voice for Peace (even though Kushner is personally anti-boycott).
It was like a scene from a new Kushner play.
Lyrics…
Gee, Bulldozer UJA, you’re silencing Jews
You can’t declare a veto on dissenting left views
Despite your best efforts, there’s more and more LISPS
Please stop your traffic in black LISTS
In 2016, Ontario LISTS tried to pass an antic-BDS law…
Video clip of Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne: “I’m a strong, strong supporter of Israel…I said that BDS is not the position of the…it’s not my position, nor is it the position of our government…
…but was roundly defeated because it outlawed free speech.
Premier Wynne has promised to re-introduce new anti-BDS legislation this fall, in the support of the censorious LISTS…
Lyrics…
The trouble is they censor
The trouble is they ban
The trouble is they silence
The trouble is they damn
They vilify and libel
They occupy and slang
Wynnie, we’ve got censors up the yang!
Bulldozer Wynnie
Were properly pissed
We want a fair debate
And not some Fifties blacklist
Bulldozer Wynnie
What are we to teach?
Gee, Bulldozer Wynnie
Free Speech!
Oh yeah – guess who’s writing the remake of West Side Story?
Tony Kushner.
END
FAIR USE NOTICE – For details click here