Some hipster thoughts from Divest This!

BDS activity in the UK tends to careen between worrying (such as the recent anti-Israel agitation in the British trade union movement) and ridiculous (such as moronic attempts to protest all things Israeli, including violinists and oranges, the political equivalent of a loud, unexpected, public belch).

The latest example from the ridiculous category includes pleadings to the American poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron to cancel a concert he has scheduled in May in Tel Aviv. Now I'm embarrassed to say that I'm not familiar with Mr. Scott-Heron's work, but that is just testament to the fact that I was as lame in the 1970s and 80s when the musician made his mark (and I was listening to George Thorogood and Sweet) as I am now.

But from these protests I have learned a powerful lesson from the BDSers who have made it clear that any visit to Israel by a famous performer indicates strong support for the Jewish state. They have certainly said that loud and clear in their appeals to Mr. Scott-Heron, just as they have made it a point to claim that any performer who refuses to visit Israel is a tremendous triumph in their march to have Israel made a pariah.

That being the case, and following the boycotter's own rules, what are we to make of this long list of famous men and women who have made the trek to the Holy Land to sing and dance in front of those dastardly, Apartheid-y Jews?

Iggy & the Stooges
Incubus
Juliet Lewis
Chick Corea
Nine Inch Nails
Paul McCartney
Sean Lennon
Tokio Hotel
Joe Jackson
Mediski Martin & Wood
Joe Cocker
Lauryn Hill
Erika Badu
Branford Marsalis
The Streets
Lord of the Dance
Macy Gray
The Breeders
Pet Shop Boys
Lady Gaga
Kaiser Chiefs
MGMT
Faith No More
Air
Cypress Hill
Jethro Tull
LCD Soundsystem
Madonna
Paul Anka
The Wailers
Myslovitz
Depeche Mode
Lou Reed
Susan Vega

Now I can't claim to recognize all of those names (except, perhaps Jethro Tull), but this long list of the famous who trooped to Israel in 2009 (with an even longer list of high-profile visitors expected in 2010) seems by the boycotter's own logic to indicate that support for the Jewish state has never been higher.

Rock on!