Wes Streeting says chants of ‘death to the IDF’ at Glastonbury were ‘appalling’
Wes Streeting has said chants of “death” to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) at Glastonbury were “appalling” and that the BBC and festival have “questions to answer”.
Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, on Saturday led crowds on the festival’s West Holts Stage in chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF”, before a member of Irish rap trio Kneecap suggested fans “start a riot” at his bandmate’s forthcoming court appearance.
To this observer, the most striking aspects of the chants is that they are weak. Coming from the safety of a heavily guarded music concert they display weakness as few other antics could. The IDF is not weak, chanted opposition from over 2000 miles away is.
Perhaps we are moving into an era where it is no longer cool to be shrill, outraged and weak, especially at a secure distance from the strong. It displays too much.
11 comments:
I used to think that Glastonbury was a 'pop music' gathering, but now the ridiculous shrieking of 'rap' seems to have taken over, it's worse than it ever was...
What does Jon Snow think about it all, I wonder!
Let them speak freely. Let them reap the consequences.
Didn't Streeting himself threaten to throw someone under the train, or something similar? Twitter posts recorded still exist as screen captures.
These people must feel so impotent, including Starmer. Israel and USA are not listening to them so they take it on their own people which the deeply hate.
There are no finer social commentators than a rap "artiste" and a trio of rap "artistes". "One trick pony" just doesn't do justice to their chosen genre. Their audience, of course, are daft enough to pay money to be there and so, apparently, are daft enough to join in . . .
Or to quote an AKH discovery: “Hiding from reality in a field.”
Scrobs - I don't know much about the music or 'rap'. Don't think I've missed much either.
DJ - yes they should speak freely, the market of ideas should have a chance to work. Not that they are likely to understand that.
Anon - yes he did threaten something like that, a nasty piece of work is how some describe him. I agree, these people must feel impotent, which of course they are.
Jannie - I don't know much about rap, although I once saw someone with a small head blasting it out of his car window in the Co-op car park.
James - yes I like that one, the point about hiding.
"someone with a small head blasting it out of his car window in the Co-op car park" First real laugh of the day, AK!
Now that the precedent has been set, with the assistance of the BBC, I assume it's now acceptable to publicly chant, "Let's kneecap kneecap" or, "Let's string up this Vilayn twat".
In my imaginary world, I envisage a squadron of hang gliding Welsh Baptists descending on Glastonbury, to the strains of "Men of Harlech", taking the HAMAS supporting numpties hostage, and locking them up with "Sosban Fach" on a loud repeat.
That knocking sound may denote the arrival of the men in white coats.
Penseivat
Scrobs - thanks, it was quite funny to see him and wonder what he thought he was doing.
Penseivat - it will be interesting to see how this is dealt with. In a two tier manner seems to be the odds on bet.
@AKH
Not just any two tier manner but a Fabian two tier manner.
DJ - yes, it's all very Fabian.
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