So, Waters probably needed to answer what are, in fact, absurd and offensively exaggerated claims, that show more the ignorance and extreme political leanings of those who make such claims, rather than on Roger Waters himself.
Here is the link to the official Roger Waters Facebook Page, where his letter can be found, and the content of the letter can be found below it:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/roger-waters-the-wall/an-open-letter-from-roger-waters/688037331210720
There has been some comment on the Internet about the
Wall Show in Belgium to which I feel I should respond.
One Alon Onfus Asif, an Israeli living in Belgium, came
to The Wall show in Belgium last week and being an observant sort of chap Alon
noticed a Star of David on the Pig that is destroyed by the audience at the end
of the show. Then Alon dutifully videoed our Pig on his phone, posted this
video, and alerted Israeli Daily, Yediot Ahronot. This story was duly picked up
by the ever watchful Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center
and the entirely predictable resulting rant is attached here:http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/07/24/massive-pig-balloon-at- roger-waters-concert-features-star-of-david-video/.
Often I can ignore these attacks but Rabbi Cooper’s accusations, are so wild and bigoted they demand a response.
Dear Rabbi Cooper,
I hold your outburst to be inflammatory and un-helpful
and would suggest it can only impede progress towards peace and understanding
between people. It is also extremely insulting to me personally in that you
accuse me of being ‘Anti Semitic’, ‘A Jew Hater’ and ‘Nazi Sympathizer.’I have three specific points to make:
1). Your use of the adjective “ANTI-SEMITIC”.
First I direct you to an announcement by ‘The Anti
Defamation League’ an American organization, who’s declared aim is to defend
Jewish people and Judaism from attack. They recently said.“While we wish that Mr. Waters would have avoided using the Star of David, we believe there is no anti-Semitic intent here.”
I should point out that in the show, I also use the
Crucifix, the Crescent and Star, the Hammer and Sickle, the Shell Oil Logo and
The McDonald’s Sign, a Dollar Sign and a Mercedes sign.
2). JEW-HATING? I have many very close Jewish friends,
one of whom, interestingly enough, is the nephew of the late Simon Wiesenthal.
I am proud of that association; Simon Wiesenthal was a great man. Also I have
two grandsons who, I love more than life itself, their Mother, my daughter in
law, is Jewish and so, in consequence, I’m told, are they.3). NAZI? Not only did my father, 2nd Lieutenant Eric Fletcher Waters, die in Italy on February 18th 1944 fighting the Nazis, but I was brought up in post war England where I received the most thorough education on the subject of Nazism and where I was spared no horrific detail of the heinous crimes committed in the name of that most foul ideology. I remember my mother’s friends Claudette and Maria, I remember their tattoos, they where survivors, two of the lucky ones.
My Mother spent the whole of the rest of her life, involved politically to make sure the future for her children and grandchildren, in fact for everyone’s children and grandchildren, black, white, Gentile, Jew, Latino, Asian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, et al, had no Sword of Damocles in the form of the despised Nazi Creed hanging over their heads.
I for my part, as best I can, have continued along my
parent’s path. At the age of nearly 70, in the spirit of my Father and Mother
and all they did, I have stood my ground, as best I can, in defense of Mistress
Liberty.
The Wall Show, so lamely attacked by you, is many things.
It is thoughtful, life affirming, ecumenical, humane, loving, anti war, anti
colonial, pro universal access to the law, pro liberty, pro collaboration, pro
dialogue, pro peace, anti authoritarian, anti fascist, anti apartheid, anti
dogma, international in spirit, musical and satirical.
It is not.
ANTI-SEMITIC or PRO NAZII have often come under attack by the pro Israel lobby because of my support for BDS, (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) which I won’t go into here, anyone interested can access a speech I made at The United Nations on the 29th November last year.
However I will say this, in a functioning theocracy it is
almost inevitable that the symbol of the religion becomes confused with the
symbol of the state, in this case the State of Israel, a state that operates
Apartheid both within its own borders and also in the territories it has
occupied and colonized since 1967.
Like it or not, the Star of David represents Israel and
its policies and is legitimately subject to any and all forms of non violent
protest. To peacefully protest against Israel’s racist domestic and foreign
policies is NOT ANTI-SEMITIC. Your contention that because I criticize the Policies
of the Israeli government I should be lumped in with the Muslim Brotherhood is
risible, and again a personal affront. I have spent my whole adult life
advocating separation of church and state.
At every Wall Show I invite 20 vets from whatever country
we are in backstage at half time to meet, exchange handshakes and good wishes
and mementos. At one show, a year or so ago, an older vet, Vietnam era, at a
guess, blocked my exit, he put out his hand which I took, he did not let go, he
looked me in the eyes and he said “ Your Father would be proud of you.”
Tears burn my eyes.
The Wall is reaching out to you and all the other Rabbi
Cooper’s out there.
Come to the show!
Love
Roger
P.S.
For the sake of some perspective. The inflatable pig that
so offended young Alon has appeared at every Wall Show since September 2010,
some 193 shows, yours is the first complaint. Also the pig in question
represents evil, and more specifically the evil of errant government. We make a
gift of this symbol of repression to the audience at the end of every show and
the people always do the right thing. They destroy it.
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