Opinion
A word to Roger Waters
Lilac Sigan
Published: 21.04.13, 10:52
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
92 Talkbacks for this article
1. Too wishy washy,too ignorant.
Jarred Sloane ,   London UK   (04.21.13)
First he was for the BSD of Israel.then he said maybe,and then changed his mind again and said perhaps not.He should stick to what he knows best,and keep his mouth shut about ME politics,which he has no clue about.Stop wasting time on this idiot.He waded into the murky political waters of the ME,and now he is sinking.Best ignore him,he is not that important.Just an attention seeker.......
2. Settlements
Geoff ,   London (UK)   (04.21.13)
If settlements are an obstacle to peace (and many people believe they are the main obstacle) why was there no peace before 1967?
3. Roger Waters
Roland Berger ,   Alberton,South Afric   (04.21.13)
Roger Waters who ?
4. Corruption of Balfour & White paper caused Holocaust.
BUTSeriousy ,   Sydney   (04.21.13)
Britain today is obsessed with a 3-state after transferring the Jewish name Palestinian to Muslims. Britain is guilty of the worst Post-W.W.2 crimes.
5. you do not get it Lilac
avrom ,   bet shemesh   (04.21.13)
these "peace activists"are not interested in facts or history they have their own opinion based on their preconceived prejuidices and bigotry and if they do not like the history they rewrite it and call it their own narrative. truth or revisionist history their intellectual integrity is the same as David Irving
6. He's a rock musician
Dan Calic   (04.21.13)
There's more than enough people in the field of politics who need to understand the truth about this conflict. Why waste time bemoaning what an aging rock musician thinks? His views are completely irrevelent. ....unless he's volunteered to negotiate on behalf of the Arabs or Israeli's. Heh..heh...
7. Roger Waters, a British musician
tiki ,   belgium   (04.21.13)
"He should try to understand the true complexity of the Israeli/Arab conflict......., from which the Palestinian problem is just a result! I think it's better that Mr. Rogers understands his role in this complex conflict and that is to stick to his music! Singing/writing a song about tearing down a wall might have made him a millionaire but not an expert. If he still want's to 'intervene, I would strongly advise him to learn a few facts about his country's ugly role in the whole affair. It might make him a more humble man and tone down his stupid critic.
8. Waters makes me scratch my head as well
PaulD ,   Jerusalem   (04.21.13)
But, do not forget, the progressive culture that Waters is influenced by, was built up by entities meant to destroy Western Civilization, namely the Arabs and Russia Never-mind the contradictions in their causes, these are not very thinking people. Their source of news and world view is build on subversive mind-control, capitalizing on their limited consciousness and fear. Some out-grow it, others just become life-members of the degenerate masses.
9. Ridiculous
Jarda ,   Czech Republic   (04.21.13)
"...because the Arabs living there at the time refused to accept the two-state partition plan of 1948..." Why should they share their land be
10. Very good article
GR ,   London   (04.21.13)
Education is what people need.
11. Waters has become comfortably DUMB
Rotem ,   Israel   (04.21.13)
He's not the problem, he's just the symptom of a bigger problem, which is Antisemitism in the UK media, UK academic, UK culture, UK history and UK government. He also got no clue about the behavior of the British Mandatory in their "Palestine" days, which is very much responsible to the conflicts between Arabs and Israelis!! Basically, the British weren't much better then Nazi Germany and many of them are still remain exactly the same. The scary part is that it is not only the UK, which have that problem. I guess that the only cure is PROPER education, which also includes education for consuming Media content and education which encourages people to doubt and ask questions, rather then except any piece of filth, which is being fed by the media so easyly.
12. Lilac Sigan, very well written!
R ,   Israel   (04.21.13)
Not snarky, not arogant, just touching on the facts about this complicated situation. Well said.
13. WHO CARES
EM ,   Ra'anana   (04.21.13)
He is an aging icon, albeit a great icom..but why should we be concerned with what he thinks, or whether he will perform here or not. He is just another Liberal Brick in the Wall.
14. another Brit hits the wall
patrice ,   haifa   (04.21.13)
Lilac, your article is full of optimism, i.e. the hope to be able to change Roger Waters' position. But talking to Roger is like hitting another wall unfortunately, it is blind and deaf.
15. Waters level of understanding of ME
Peter D   (04.21.13)
* Palestinians are seemingly having a hard time ( because they have no state of their own, caused only by the Israelis *Palestinians sounds like a god left wing freedom cause , fits in with rock music rebel streak The media are forever peddling the message that the whole ME crisis is due to Israel , (pictures beamed into the western media everyday, so easy to gain popularity by believing this. * ignore the horribly murderous Palestinian terrorist nasty dictatorial regimes which oppress and impoverish, torture, their own people , deny them freedom, oppress women, and expose them to deliberate danger as human cannon fodder in the greater palestinian cause. * ignore that the palestinians talk liberation all the time but do everything to deny and block peaceful negotiations *ignore the terrorists bad intentions to destroy israel as the 36th most free and democratic state in the world( independent world economic assessmemt )superceeding 150 countries in the world. * the two state solution is the only sensible and realistic solution for both the Palestinian people and Israelis ( those who retain a serious view of politics) and the only one which will lead to peace in the Israel Palestinian conflict . Time on it is not running out (contrary to John Kerry and others view , but the necessity for it, gets stronger each year particularly at this juncture in ME politics. The alternative is inconceivably bad for both peoples . Only individuals with a desire for eternal bloodshed support other ideas. and so it goes on. Conclusion : Being a good musician who can compose such great rock operas as "Atom Heart Mother" my first favourite album ever does not necessarily make one a good politician of understanding
16. From one IMPERIALIST to another
ASTRONAUT ,   SC, USA   (04.21.13)
British Waters should know all about IMPERIALISM . . . hey Roger - remember the good OLD days, when GREAT BRITAIN sailed round the world in search of a spice route, for goods from the Far East, while SLAUGHTERING every indigenous tribe in their way? The British Empire sunk long ago, Roger - throw away your hash pipe and become part of the living. AM YISRAEL CHAI!
17. Roger
charles ,   NY   (04.21.13)
Maybe Roger Waters should smoke his usual daily joint in the morning to clear his head.
18. whenever
rm ,   Amsterdan, NL   (04.21.13)
Israel talks about a fair approach, it totally means a pro-Israel approach. It lives by the motto either you're with us cause we are right or you are an anti-semite...there is no gray area for Israel....and it really is the same thing as blind pro-palestinian support....
19. #16
Makina ,   New York, USA   (04.21.13)
Thanks for making the point for Mr. Waters. You hit the nail on the head, the "OLD" days when Britain colonized large parts of the world. The DIFFERENCE is that that was in the OLD days, centuries ago, while the Jews are doing it now, in the 21st century. It was wrong back then, and even MORE wrong today. Enough!
20. #18 Silly Comment
NudNik69   (04.21.13)
For most people there is ample 'grey area' in not just this particular dispute, but any going on around us. It is those who cannot stand the idea of Israel actually not being as culpable as they would like - now that's a problem and yes, your comment slots into that place rather nicely.
21. Colonialism
Arnold ,   Canada   (04.21.13)
It was wrong back then and it is wrong today. We all agree to that. So please explain why while other countries are exploiting close and far away other smaller countries it is only Israel being put in the spotlight. And please explain how Israel is "colonializing" land which it has inhabited for thousands of years. Land on which the Jews were at least known to be the indigenous people.
22. roger waters
PL ,   Canada   (04.21.13)
What is he smoking?
23. Roger
Dave ,   Kingston. Canada   (04.21.13)
Here's a guy who made millions exploiting teenagers and taking their cash. Their is nothing 'progressive' or enlightening about his so-called music, i.e. sound effects, that promote drug use and brain rot in its listeners. He knows that and probably has a powerful psychic need to deflect and project his guilt. As a good European he projects his guilt on the favorite scapegoat, the Jews. Show what you think of RW and his ilk,. Go listen to some good uplifting jazz or classical music. Hell, you could do so in Tel Aviv - where they have 50 more accomplished musicians per block than RW will ever hope to be. Oh, and Rog..., you can kiss my skinny Jewish ass!
24. Waters Does Not Care About the Truth
DavidM ,   USA   (04.21.13)
Roger Waters likely knows all the facts in the article. He simply does not care about them. Bashing Israel has become a means for fading or forgotten entertainers to get their names back in the news. Waters has not had a hit since the early 1970s. Very few young people have ever heard of him. This is his way of becoming relevant again. That is what he cares about.
25. Invading Jews will leave Palestine, again, then blame others
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (04.21.13)
...for their own behavior, again.
26. Colonialism
Arnold ,   Canada   (04.21.13)
It was wrong back then and it is wrong today. We all agree to that. So please explain why while other countries are exploiting close and far away other smaller countries it is only Israel being put in the spotlight. And please explain how Israel is "colonializing" land which it has inhabited for thousands of years. Land on which the Jews were at least known to be the indigenous people.
27. #9 excellent question
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (04.21.13)
Because it is not "their land", they are illegal squatters and colonists. The British mandate existed because Israel eas universally recognized as the historic homeland of the Jews (read your Koran) and she was a barren land, almost empty of people. The Jews always agreed to coexist with the people who lived here in 1920 (a few Arabs, but mostly Christians, Bedouin, Druze, Samaritans and, of course, Jews). The problem is when the British started massively importing Arab colonists from foreign countries and settling them in Israel, and these foreigners (now called Palestinians, read the PLO charter) started pogroms and claiming all of Israel as theirs. The "two state solution" was bad, legitimizing the illegal British/Arab land grab, but was seen as the only way to bring peace. The problem is that the Arabs were intent on genocide (see Arab statements, for instance, in 1920, 1948, 1956, 1964, 1967).
28. Keep reconsidering and learning
Get Real ,   UK   (04.21.13)
Mr. Waters.Then when you reach a balanced and unbiased view people might think you have something constructive to offer to help resolve the problems.
29. To: No. 22
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (04.21.13)
He's an alcoholic and has been a heroin and cocaine addict for years. No wonder his brain is rotted through. The music's not all that great, either.
30. The OLD days, biblically
ASTRONAUT ,   SC, USA   (04.21.13)
Yes, Makina NY: the OLD DAYS 6,000 years ago, when The Jewish Tribes stood at Mount Sinai and received The Word of G-d. We were given the Land by the Highest Authority in the universe. Kindly desist from twisting my words to fit your NY leftist agenda.
Next talkbacks
Back to article