![People act like musicians standing up for what they believe in is anything new. #FreePalestine [Slyngstad]](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/229b1cbc-f82b-471f-a5b1-7aae0efb6aec.png){kind=link}
Slyngstad | Bluesky
Transcript
A three-panel political comic by Slyngstad highlighting the long history of political activism in music. In the foreground of all three panels, two audience members are seen talking in profile.
Panel 1:
On Stage: A modern musician holding a microphone calls out, “FREE PALESTINE!”
Foreground: One audience member complains, “UGH, WHEN DID MUSICIANS START TO BE SO POLITICAL?”
Panel 2:
On Stage: Freddie Mercury performing at the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert, with the “Live Aid” global logo in the background.
Foreground: The second audience member replies, “START?”
Panel 3:
On Stage: Folk singer Woody Guthrie playing an acoustic guitar with his iconic slogan written across it: “THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS”.
Foreground: The second audience member continues, “MAYBE YOU JUST WEREN’T LISTENING.”
The problem I see is that Ed is pretty direct about keeping things apolitical.
If Mackelmore had his own “Free Palestine” tour, or if he was opening for someone like RATM, it would be a different story.
Apolitical should literally mean:
I don’t care what you say during your set, it’s your time.
If someone wants to kill 10 people, and another person wants to kill 0 people, what is the apolitical number of people to be killed?
Obviously five.
“apolitical” is a shorthand for “in favor of status quo”
Is there an appropriate time to stand against genocide? I feel like that’s an “always” kind of thing.
Maybe Ed is more chill, like: “Have a little genocide, as a treat.”
That’s political 💁♀️
You may have saw the middle example and thought hey there is a band that broke the South Africa Boycott over Apartheid and played there anyway.
The comments speak for themselves.