Posted on 10/19/2014 10:56:48 PM PDT by IsraelBeach
Thousands In New York To Protest Death of Klinghoffer Opera
By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency
New York — October 20, 2014 … Over five thousand Jews and Christians are expected to turn out for a demonstration today against the opening of “The Death of Klinghoffer” Opera at New York’s Lincoln Center.
On Oct. 8, 1985, 69-year-old wheelchair-bound Leon Klinghoffer, was shot in the head by Palestinian hijackers on the Achille Lauro cruise ship.
The terrorists brutally and unceremoniously threw his body and wheelchair overboard into the Mediterranean. His body washed up on the Syrian shore a few days later.
“The four terrorists responsible for his murder will be humanized by distinguished opera singers and given a back story, an ‘explanation’ for their brutal act of terror and violence. Opera-goers will see and hear a musical examination of terrorism, the Holocaust and Palestinian claims of dispossession — all in fewer than three hours,” said daughters Lisa and Ilsa Klinghoffer.
“Our father was one of the first American victims of Middle Eastern terrorism. Today with the memory of 9/11, the reality of al-Qaida, Hamas and ISIS, and countless other attacks and threats, Americans live under the deadly threat of terrorism each and every day.
Terrorism is irrational. It should never be explained away or justified. Nor should the death of innocent civilians be misunderstood as an acceptable means for drawing attention to perceived political grievances. Unfortunately, ‘The Death of Klinghoffer’ does all of this and sullies the memory of our father in the process.”
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will lead a press conference followed by a demonstration outside of the opening of “The Death of Klinghoffer” which is expected to premier at the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center on Monday evening, October 20 at 5:00 PM.
Additional confirmed participants include Congressman Peter King, Former NY Governor David Paterson, Criminal Defense Attorney Ben Brafman, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik.
Giuliani famously expelled Yasir Arafat from a concert for world leaders at Lincoln Center in 1995, explaining he could never forgive Arafat’s acts of terror.
As the Mayor famously said, “I would not invite Yasir Arafat to anything, anywhere, anytime, anyplace. He has never been held to answer for the murders that he was implicated in.”
Following the press conference, a coalition of organizations will gather, as thousands are expected to raise a voice of outrage against this opera which promotes terrorism and anti-Semitism.
Rabbi Avi Weiss and a group of Rabbinical leaders will hold a fast and prayer and vigil across from the Met beginning at 12:00 PM in memory of Leon Klinghoffer’s soul, being desecrated by the opera.
This is the continuation of a series of efforts opposing Lincoln Center’s decision to air this play.
There will be a press conference at Lincoln Center on Monday evening, October 20th at 5:00 PM, across the street from the Lincoln Center Plaza at Broadway & 65th Street to protest the first evening that “The Death of Klinghoffer” will be shown at the Metropolitan Opera.
The threat of protests has created fears that the scene could explode into chaos or violence, Met director Peter Gelb said.
“It’s been a steady diet of e-mails, phone calls and letters for a couple of months now,” Gelb told the Sunday Times of London.
“The people who don’t want this opera to be performed are not silly; they are very angry.”
The opera features anti-Semitic language and at times tells the story from the terrorists’ perspective.
One aria in the show declares: “You are always complaining of your suffering, but wherever poor men are gathered they can find Jews getting fat.”
Protesters plan to set up 100 wheelchairs at the base of the entrance to the Met while wearing signs that proclaim, “I am Leon Klinghoffer,” said organizer Jeffrey Wiesenfeld.
“This opera is not just anti-Semitic but there is gratuitous anti-Semitism that is repeated and repeated,” Wiesenfeld slammed.
“This is a game-changer.”
Protestors will hold American flags and have wheelchairs to illustrate the plight of 69-year old New-Yorker Leon Klinghoffer, who was murdered by terrorists of the Palestine Liberation Front (PFLF).
Sponsoring organizations include the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Jewish War Veterans of the US, Zionist Organization of America, AFSI, AMCHA, Israel News Agency, Catholic League, Christians’ Israel Public Action Campaign (CIPAC), Congregation Ohab Zedek, Edmond J. Safra Synagogue, Lincoln Square Synagogue, RAJE, One Israel Fund, Stand With Us, Strength to Strength, Westchester High School.
Seems like there is plenty of money there in the protesters to fund front door survielence through the run. Simply snap lots of pics of patrons and post them daily.
Follow them out and interview them as a member of the public press and record their words. Post that with their pix too.
Take and go more in depth with a PI into a few randomly and post the results.
Shunning always did work. Personally I have mo problem walking into a church or a strip club. If I were going to do either I am going to do it without embarrassment. Lets see how many operagoers share that idea.
The Pali’s claim it was a hoax.
http://nodisinfo.com/achille-lauro-hijacking-hoax/
Of course! All the arts are supported by the NEA.
At the last protest, there were people yelling about other funding as well. “Who paid you to do this, Peter?” and the like.
What’s next? 9/11, the Musical?
then they turn around and vote for obola...go figure.
New York has fallen to the dark one...this city is no more the present day Gomorrah!
And they donate big bucks to the Met.
WHO is making this play happen???? Probably sadly some Liberal Jews are.
Islam must be destroyed.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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I’ve been to his grave!
Well NOTHING surprises me anymore!
Well there was a musical about the “Titanic”, remember?
Unfortunately the only thing that will send a serious message is if the Met has thousands of season ticket holders cancel their subscriptions.
Federal, no. The New York Met has gotten donations from federal agencies in the past but it isn't part of their normal revenue. However, they do receive annual funding from the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Knowing the schmuck they have running the city now I expect that this "opera" will cause him to double the city's funding.
It’s anti- American, anti-Israel, and anti-Semitic - of course it got tax dollars!
“La Traviata” was about a Parisian Courtesan who tries to leave “the life” and who eventually dies of TB after her lover rejects her. It was based on a play “The Lady of the Camellias”.
Hardly a “World Event”. It did, however, cause a scandal at the time because it was about “Real people” in a contemporary setting.
“La Boheme” which was also about contemporary people living in Paris, was also criticized for being too “real”.
Neither of these were Polemical, Anti-Semitic, Revisionist Celebrations of terrorism, nor did they elevate enemies of America, and certainly neither of these named a victim of Terrorism while their family was still alive.
It is dangerous to make excuses for this travesty just because “Operas have a body count”. It is NOT the “Body Count” that is causing the objection.
What if it were YOUR Dad they were “singing” about?
I had a friend like that in high school. Today, nearly 30 years later, she's a left-wing-lesbian-barking-moonbat.
La Traviata/La Dame aux Camellias is about real person, thinly veiled. Who was something of a celebrity of the day. Came out just a few years after her death. Just an example of an opera on a contemporary topic.
If they were to make an opera concerning my dad my opinion would depend entirely on how he was portrayed. Which is my point, that there is no problem with having an opera as such. The problem would be what’s in it.
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