*Haroon Siddiqui Star Columnist* *
Toronto Star: July 08, 2012
We profess fidelity to democracy, especially in the Arab world. But our
commitment seems to come with the caveat that the will of the people is
acceptable only if it confirms our prejudices. If not — as in Egyptians'
choice of the Muslim Brotherhood for both parliament and the presidency —
some of our leaders, thinkers and media eminences get antsy and irrational.
They begin to echo the logic of Algeria, Iran, Israel and the dictatorships
and monarchies of the Middle East that have resisted democratic outcomes.
In 1993, the Algerian military annulled the election of an Islamic party,
tarring it as terrorist. In 2006, Israel did the same with the electorally
victorious Hamas, with the full support of Stephen Harper. The Iranian
clerical regime routinely rejects candidates it does not like, and fiddles
with elections to favour those it prefers. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain
and others hold elections for councils and parliaments that have little or
no power.
All these culprits are our allies, except Iran.
In varying degrees, Barack Obama, Harper and other western leaders have
paid lip service to the Arab Spring. They have failed to stand by
pro-democracy forces at key times.
They have been silent on the series of measures taken by the ruling
Egyptian military junta to consolidate its power and even attempt to derail
Mohammed Morsi's election as president.
Yet Washington lectured *him* on the need to respect the rights of women
and Coptic Christians.
This is not surprising coming from a capital that was complicit in the
crimes of Hosni Mubarak, who banned the Brotherhood and jailed and tortured
hundreds of its members for years.
Morsi himself was detained in 2006 for seven months. His sons Ahmed, Osama
and Omar were detained during last year's pro-democracy revolt and the
latter two assaulted, as were thousands of others. But the White House
remained mostly silent — as it has for decades about violations of human
rights by tyrannical American client states.
When the West speaks up, it does so mostly on behalf of selected
constituencies — non-Muslim minorities, in particular. When it advocates
for the rights of women, it does so for certain types of women — secular,
pro-western, often anti-Islamic. It did not go to bat for the women
belonging to the Brotherhood who suffered for long periods under Mubarak.
All this contradicts the West's cardinal position that there can be no
cultural or religious exceptions to universal human rights.
The double standards get more pronounced when it comes to defaming election
winners we don't like.
• Morsi and the Brotherhood are demonized for criticizing the Egypt-Israel
peace treaty. But the treaty does not have popular legitimacy in Egypt.
That's why even Mubarak never fully normalized relations with Israel, and
had the state media spew poison at Jews.
So long as Israel does not end the occupation of Palestinian land, Arabs of
all political and ideological stripes will remain antagonistic.
Anti-Israeli sentiment is not confined to "Islamists" and it is not all
motivated by anti-Semitism.
Morsi's position on Israel may be far more moderate than, say, that of
those Americans, Israelis and Canadians who are advocating war on Iran. We
treat the latter as acceptable political rhetoric or strategic positioning
but go berserk at the far less radical positions of the Brotherhood.
• Morsi and the Brotherhood are deemed dangerous radicals.
Sure, Morsi and colleagues have made extremist statements in the past, such
as that Christians and women be barred from the presidency (a proposal
never adopted by the Brotherhood) or that sharia law be implemented.
Arguably that's no worse than a significant portion of Americans saying
that a Mormon or a black should not be president. Or leading Americans
insisting that Christian principles should guide public policy.
• It is said that the Brotherhood does not show sufficient commitment to
liberalism. Does the Republican party? The Brotherhood is also accused of
being too centrally controlled. Are the Harper Conservatives not?
The Arab world is going through a historic transition. So are several
religiously inspired groups, from Egypt to Tunisia and Libya. Emerging from
oppression and moving into the democratic arena, they are learning to
moderate their ideology, just as Christian and Communist groups did in
Europe in another era.
This is a slow and painful but peaceful process. If we hope to influence
it, we need to be credible on democracy and human rights. We need to be
more principled, less hypocritical.
*Haroon Siddiqui is the Star's editorial page editor emeritus. His column
appears on Thursday and Sunday. hsiddiqui@thestar.ca*
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Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 11:09 AM
BOULEVARD MUSIC CONCERT BULLETIN
4316 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230
Phone (310) 398-2583 - BoulevardMusic.com
Come down to the crossroads... Culver and Sepulveda
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You can now follow Boulevard Music on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/BoulevardMusic
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<><><> BOULEVARD MUSIC CONCERT<><><>
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Culver City's Boulevard Music Summer Festival
CULVER CITY'S BOULEVARD MUSIC SUMMER FESTIVAL STARTS JULY 12
Boulevard Music presents 4 free concerts on Thursday evenings at 7 pm from July 12 through August 2 in the palm-lined courtyard of Culver City City Hall.
Curated by producer Gary Mandell of Culver City's Boulevard Music, Culver City's Boulevard Music Summer Festival offers something for everyone: World and R& B with the Bonedaddys and Argentinian rock with Los Pinguos (July 12); Gypsy Jazz Artist Stephane Wrembel and his superb band (July 19); Motown and Soul with Brenda Lee Eager (July 26); Americana Country with actor Robert David Hall (CSI Coroner) with guest guitarist Carl Verheyen plus Rockabilly with Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys (Aug 2).
Also this year 100 premium seats are for sale for entry level sponsors at $10 each per show. Avoid the rush and get a guaranteed premium seat and support live music and a great event.
Tickets may be purchased at Boulevard Music in person or over the phone starting June 21.
For complte festival information check out this page on our calendar.
www.boulevardmusic.com/livemusic/357.html
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FREE CONCERT!!
The Bonedaddys & Los Pinguos at Culver City City Hall -7 pm
Reserved Seats $10
Thursday, July 12, 2012 (On sale 06/21/2012)
The Bonedaddys
If you like Rock, Funk, African, R&B, Soul, Reggae, Rock Steady, Jazz, Blues, Highlife, New Orleans Second-Line, Gospel, Hillbilly, Zydeco, and things in-between you'll dig the Bonedaddys. The Bonedaddys beat has its roots in twin guitar Zulu rhythms in Fela’s horn-heavy Afro-beat; bass drenched zouk and soca music from the Caribbean; and the drum heaven of New Orleans rock and roll and second line rhythm.
PLUS
Los Pinguos
Direct from their native Buenos Aires, Los Pinguos ("The Penguins") crosses boundaries, performing a mixture of Latin rhythms, salsa, flamenco, reggae, rumba, Argentine rock, and sambas with Spanish guitars, a Cuban Tres, Peruvian cajon (box-drum) and harmonizing vocals.
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Summer Music Classes Begin Here Next Monday, July 16.
If you are one of the three remaining people in LA who still does not know how to play the guitar, have we got a deal for youâ€" Eight 2 hour classes for $90, Plus we have Vocal, Harmonica, Bernie Pearl's Blues Jam Classes and several great workshops for different instruments in assorted styles. Enroll now as class sizes are limited.
www.boulevardmusic.com/classes_workshops
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Praire Home Companions Guitarist Pat Donohue
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Tickets $17.50 (On sale 06/30/2012)
Pat Donohue
Pat is one of the most listened-to finger pickers in the world. As the guitarist for the Guys All-Star Shoe Band of Minnesota Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion, Pat gets to show off his savvy licks and distinctive original songs to millions of listeners each week.
His decade-long association with Garrison Keillor's popular program has led to some unusual gigs: There was the after-show club date in Berlin, when Wynton Marsalis showed up to sit in with Pat and the Prairie Home band. Or playing music on camera for the Prairie Home Companion movie with director Robert Altman and stars Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Kline, John C. Reilly, Woody Harrelson and Tommy Lee Jones.
Besides the weekly radio broadcasts, Pat plays about 30 concerts a year nationwide and teaches at such popular music camps as Augusta Heritage Center and Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp.
Pat’s musical tastes are eclectic. Though he considers himself foremost a folk guitarist, Pat's influences are rooted in bluesmen Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters and Miles Davis. He manages to blend jazz and blues with folk, and the mix is seamless. Over the years he has captivated audiences with his unique original compositions, dazzling instrumentals and humorous song parodies, including Sushi-Yucki and Would You Like to Play the Guitar?
Honors include a 2005 Grammy for his participation on Pink Guitar, a compilation of Henry Mancini tunes on acoustic guitar, several Minnesota Music Awards, and the title of 1983 National Finger Picking Guitar Champion. His original tunes have been recorded by Chet Atkins, Suzy Bogguss and Kenny Rogers. Pat has also been a featured performer at major music festivals including the Newport, Telluride and Philadelphia Folk Festivals. Pat joins a legendary list of notables, as The Martin Guitar Company recently introduced a Custom Signature Edition Series OM-30DB guitar designed to his specifications.
www.patdonohue.com
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Tickets for all shows go on sale 2 weeks, (14 days,) before each show. They may be purchased in person at Blvd Music or by phone using a major credit card. A $1 service charge per ticket is added on phone orders. Please note all ticket sales are final. They are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
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Please note all shows start at 8pm and doors open at 7:30pm unless indicated otherwise. People who already have their tickets (purchased them in advance) get in first when doors open at 7:30 pm. After the people who already have their tickets are admitted any remaining tickets will go on sale.
If you have any comments about the newsletter, Boulevard Music,
or the sound of the music concerts please contact:
BOULEVARD MUSIC
4316 Sepulveda Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90230
Phone (310) 398-2583
http://www.boulevardmusic.com
The Boulevard Music Bulletin is produced by Bob Kinsey.
To be removed from the mailing list or if you have
any problems with the email please let me know.
Bob
Bulletin@Boulevardmusic.com
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