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June 22, 2012 6:08 AM Subscribe
Alice Walker declines request to publish Israeli edition of The Color Purple. [Guardian.co.uk] Pulitzer prize-winning author cites 'apartheid and persecution of the Palestinian people' in letter to Yediot Books.
This post was deleted for the following reason: I/P is one of those super fraught topics that are not really right for "here is a bit of related news about this larger hot button topic" -- jessamyn
I thought her statement, quoted in the article, was excellent.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:17 AM on June 22, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:17 AM on June 22, 2012
It sure seems to me that the same reasonng could easily have lead to the opposite conclusion. Humanizing the Other is something literature is really good at.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:17 AM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:17 AM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm of two minds about this. On one hand, it's her book and her prerogative. On the other hand, using the book to highlight the parallels between the two situations could help with opening a dialogue. Considering that it's a book many people will encounter in high school or college, perhaps preventing the future leaders of Israel from reading it isn't the best idea. But, again, it's her book.
posted by griphus at 6:17 AM on June 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by griphus at 6:17 AM on June 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yeah. Netanyahu and Lieberman are really losing sleep over not having The Color Purple in Hebrew.
Fuck the left and its impotent, symbolic gestures. Nobody cares about its ethical purity. David Shulman doesn't get headlines and doesn't seek press. Right now, while Alice Walker is getting a virtue hummer from the leftest press. Shulman is trying to save Susya from being bulldozed.
Why aren't we talking about that?
posted by R. Schlock at 6:19 AM on June 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
Fuck the left and its impotent, symbolic gestures. Nobody cares about its ethical purity. David Shulman doesn't get headlines and doesn't seek press. Right now, while Alice Walker is getting a virtue hummer from the leftest press. Shulman is trying to save Susya from being bulldozed.
Why aren't we talking about that?
posted by R. Schlock at 6:19 AM on June 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
And don't talk to me about the fucking Gaza flotilla. Iran is smuggling shit tons of weapons into Gaza. That flotilla was a fig leaf over a throbbing Qassam.
posted by R. Schlock at 6:22 AM on June 22, 2012
posted by R. Schlock at 6:22 AM on June 22, 2012
Why aren't we talking about that?
Was your post on it deleted?
posted by pipeski at 6:23 AM on June 22, 2012 [13 favorites]
Was your post on it deleted?
posted by pipeski at 6:23 AM on June 22, 2012 [13 favorites]
Why aren't we talking about that?
No one's put together a decent FPP about it yet?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:29 AM on June 22, 2012
No one's put together a decent FPP about it yet?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:29 AM on June 22, 2012
PEOPLE != GOVERNMENT
posted by moammargaret at 6:30 AM on June 22, 2012
posted by moammargaret at 6:30 AM on June 22, 2012
She might have added a forward, drawing parallels.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:32 AM on June 22, 2012
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:32 AM on June 22, 2012
impotent, symbolic gestures
Such a foolish statement. Symbolic gestures are often incredibly powerful.
True, Alice Walker is not on the front lines of the Palestinian struggle - but that does not mean you should spit on her support.
Tommy Smith and Johnny Carlos were not on the front lines of the civil rights movement, yet their symbolic gesture is today recognized as vitally important to the movement.
Alice Walker is a hero to many African Americans. This gesture by her is going to raise the profile of the entire issue in many African American communities. Not every can fight on the front lines.
posted by Flood at 6:34 AM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Such a foolish statement. Symbolic gestures are often incredibly powerful.
True, Alice Walker is not on the front lines of the Palestinian struggle - but that does not mean you should spit on her support.
Tommy Smith and Johnny Carlos were not on the front lines of the civil rights movement, yet their symbolic gesture is today recognized as vitally important to the movement.
Alice Walker is a hero to many African Americans. This gesture by her is going to raise the profile of the entire issue in many African American communities. Not every can fight on the front lines.
posted by Flood at 6:34 AM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
They probably would've refused to publish it, although that would've gotten her point across all the better.
posted by griphus at 6:34 AM on June 22, 2012
posted by griphus at 6:34 AM on June 22, 2012
Symbolic gestures are often incredibly powerful.
Okay, I'm game. Play this one out for me. How does Alice Walker's headline seeking bid to deny the Jewish state access to her book result in more freedom, self-determination and dignity for the Palestinians?
Or does it just feel good to see someone you like sticking it to people you don't like?
posted by R. Schlock at 6:37 AM on June 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
Okay, I'm game. Play this one out for me. How does Alice Walker's headline seeking bid to deny the Jewish state access to her book result in more freedom, self-determination and dignity for the Palestinians?
Or does it just feel good to see someone you like sticking it to people you don't like?
posted by R. Schlock at 6:37 AM on June 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
When it feels good to see a thing, that feeling can change an opinion or two.
For instance, fans of Alice Walker who previously didn't care about the Israel/Palestine tarpit, probably care now.
It's advertising, like most important things in politics.
posted by LogicalDash at 6:41 AM on June 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
For instance, fans of Alice Walker who previously didn't care about the Israel/Palestine tarpit, probably care now.
It's advertising, like most important things in politics.
posted by LogicalDash at 6:41 AM on June 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
fans of Alice Walker who previously didn't care about the Israel/Palestine tarpit, probably care now.
Honest question: how many people do you think that is? Just a rough guess.
posted by R. Schlock at 6:43 AM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Honest question: how many people do you think that is? Just a rough guess.
posted by R. Schlock at 6:43 AM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
More than zero. Thus it not being a symbolic, impotent gesture?
posted by introp at 6:43 AM on June 22, 2012
posted by introp at 6:43 AM on June 22, 2012
How does Alice Walker's headline seeking bid to deny the Jewish state access to her book result in more freedom, self-determination and dignity for the Palestinians?
She doesn't wanna play Sun City.
posted by Etrigan at 6:43 AM on June 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
She doesn't wanna play Sun City.
posted by Etrigan at 6:43 AM on June 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
Honest question: how many people do you think that is? Just a rough guess.
23,348 people.
well, is that close or what?
posted by fuq at 6:44 AM on June 22, 2012
23,348 people.
well, is that close or what?
posted by fuq at 6:44 AM on June 22, 2012
It publicises their struggle to more people. Why do you think that's a think worth attacking, R.Schlock, and how does your attacking it result in more freedom, self-determination and dignity for the Palestinians?
posted by iotic at 6:45 AM on June 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by iotic at 6:45 AM on June 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
Suppose Alice Walker only changes the mind of one person?
Why would you spit on her for changing one mind?
She has raised the issue. She is a famous celebrity, and instead of using her celebrity for her own personal gain - she has used it to high-light this issue.
I will tell you one thing for sure - your angry attack of her gesture is not convincing anyone. instead, you have de-railed a potential discussion of the Palestinian issue as a whole - and instead we are now discussing the value of any one gesture as measured against your sense of what is enough. Let's not discuss the issue - let's discuss YOUR anger about the issue.
posted by Flood at 6:47 AM on June 22, 2012
Why would you spit on her for changing one mind?
She has raised the issue. She is a famous celebrity, and instead of using her celebrity for her own personal gain - she has used it to high-light this issue.
I will tell you one thing for sure - your angry attack of her gesture is not convincing anyone. instead, you have de-railed a potential discussion of the Palestinian issue as a whole - and instead we are now discussing the value of any one gesture as measured against your sense of what is enough. Let's not discuss the issue - let's discuss YOUR anger about the issue.
posted by Flood at 6:47 AM on June 22, 2012
I'm confused. Is the book now out of print in Hebrew? The article says there was a Hebrew edition published in the 1980s.
posted by chinston at 6:49 AM on June 22, 2012
posted by chinston at 6:49 AM on June 22, 2012
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posted by Jon_Evil at 6:14 AM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]