Preaching hatred to the rhythm of rap...

It's not a joke. Matisyahu - the ultra-Orthodox rapping Rabbi from New York City - is not Sacha Baron Cohen with a new character. He really is a dark robed religous fanatic who won't stage-dive because of fears he might accidentally touch a woman, and sings in a cod Jamaican accent about the need to "return to Zion". (What next, and Amish version of Take That?)

But when I see his posters splattered over London, I feel pinpricks of rage. His songs might sound like pleasantly bland homilies, but in fact they are rallying calls for a particularly nasty misogynistic and homophobic far-Right strain of religous fanatacism. When he sings repeatedly "rebuild the Temple", anybody who has been to the Settlements in Israel/Palestine will know how this is interpreted - demolish the Muslim Dome of the Rock and rebuild the Third Temple on the rubble.

Calls for World War Three are not my idea of a sweet melody.

Ahhh Mr Hari, I wonder if you would ever dare criticise a Muslim singer based on your own hatred rather than facts. Ah, that's right, you can freely bash Jews all you want, but dare insult a Muslim and, well, we know what would happen.

update - it appears as though Mr Hari detests all religion, although it does seem that only Jewish reggae artists are fair game for his anger. (hat tips to the commenters for the info ;)

Permanent Link posted by J @ 7:16 pm