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submitted 6 months ago by Linkerbaan@lemmy.world to c/europe@feddit.de

The musician was seen wearing a keffiyeh on his arm, a symbol commonly used to show support for Palestine.

In reponse, a representative of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said in a statement: “All performers are made aware of the rules of the contest, and we regret that Eric Saade chose to compromise the non-political nature of the event.”

Despite facing criticism for its decision not to exclude Israel and worldwide protests condemning the organizers' choice, the competition maintained its stance.

“Politics does influence the event from time to time,” said Paul Jordan, a contest enthusiast and researcher who was part of its communications team from 2015 to 2018, in an interview with CNN.

However, he noted, “the presence of Israel has become such a big issue (that) I think it’s going to overshadow the event.”

The news comes during Israel’s seizure and closure of the Rafah crossing in Gaza, which has raised concerns that already-scarce food and medical supplies will be further depleted and lead to a “catastrophic” humanitarian disaster.

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[-] NeuronautML@lemmy.ml 90 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

"Guys please, can you just ignore the dead children for one minute? They're already dead, it's not like they care anyway.

We're trying to make money here and your empathy for your fellow human beings is just mucking it all up. Please, please try to follow the apolitical rules we laid out and for the duration of the show and just stfu and give us money ok ? That's all we want. Bring the money and leave your messy politics at home. Your complaining makes other people not want to give us more money.

Remember why we're doing this. For culture and money. But mostly money. Thanks!"

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[-] Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee 46 points 6 months ago

Understatement of the year -

“Politics does influence the [Eurovision] event from time to time,”

  • Paul Jordan, May 2024
[-] SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works 37 points 6 months ago

Inspired by an Israeli perspective of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and its emotional aftermath on Israelis according to Golan and its songwriters, it is set to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

Genocide perpetrators are allowed to participate with explicit propaganda. Everyone else is forbidden from even alluding to the crime. Absolute scum would be better off below the soil.

[-] Amaltheamannen@lemmy.ml 35 points 6 months ago

Worth nothing that the artist in question was born in Sweden to Palestinian parents and wore a scarf given to him by his Palestinian dad.

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[-] CaptObvious@literature.cafe 28 points 6 months ago

I’m honestly glad that Eurovision is totally irrelevant in 90% of the world.

[-] HerrVorragend@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Only because those 90% are not allowed to compete /s

For real though, a similar worldwide system would be interesting to watch, I am sure.

[-] BakedGoods@sh.itjust.works 28 points 6 months ago

Eurovision is and has always been political. They're talking out of their asses. Also why the fuck is Israel in it? Australia I kinda get but those fucktard cultists over in Israel have built their whole identity on not being European.

[-] EvilCartyen@feddit.dk 5 points 6 months ago

At least Israel is part of the European Broadcasting Union, who're doing the show, for historical reasons. Australia makes no sense.

[-] BakedGoods@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 months ago

What part of Australia doesn't make sense? The vast majority of Australians are of European descent and it used to be a British colony.

[-] redd@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 6 months ago
[-] Infynis@midwest.social 8 points 6 months ago

Isn't Australia still part of the Commonwealth?

[-] EvilCartyen@feddit.dk 4 points 6 months ago

Why is the commonwealth relevant for non-UK nations?

[-] kommerzbert@feddit.de 3 points 6 months ago

It's not about the European descent at all. Australia just loves the ESC that's why they're allowed to participate

[-] Microw@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago

They are not in the EBU.

[-] andrew_bidlaw@sh.itjust.works 20 points 6 months ago

Picking any side there is political and they've choosen the participation of one over a little sign of another.

[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 18 points 6 months ago

So I guess we're not free to wear what we want now...

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[-] Linkerbaan@lemmy.world 18 points 6 months ago
[-] CaptObvious@literature.cafe 21 points 6 months ago

Cultural? It’s a full on genocide.

[-] Linkerbaan@lemmy.world 10 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Yes of course, but that is the physical Genocide of Palestinians in Palestine. Committed by israel and made possible by America, Germany, and Britain.

But now Europe as a whole is banning all traces of Palestinian culture outside of Palestine in their "song festival".

This incident is noteworthy because does not involve the Palestinian flag. The Keffiyeh is pure Palestinian culture. Anything that has any connection to Palestine is now banned. Just think for a moment how Nazi this is. This is full on top tier CCP shit.

Palestine is literally not allowed to exist in any shape or form. Not only the people but their entire culture is now wiped out. So that after israel is done wiping out all Palestinians from Gaza nobody will remember who they even were despite all the Palestinians in other countries around the world still living.

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[-] Atomic@sh.itjust.works 17 points 6 months ago

I'll add Eric Saade's own response

Den sjalen fick jag av min pappa som liten grabb, för att aldrig glömma var familjen kommer ifrån. Då visste jag inte att den en dag skulle kallas 'politisk symbol'. Det är som att kalla Dalahästen för politisk symbol. I mina ögon är det bara rasism. Jag ville bara vara inkluderande och bära något som är äkta för mig – men EBU verkar tycka att min etnicitet är kontroversiell. Det säger ingenting om mig, men allting om dem. Jag säger som årets ESC-slogan: United by music”.

Translated;

I got that shawl from my father as a little boy, to never forget where the family comes from. I didn't know then that it would one day be called a 'political symbol'. It's like calling the Dala horse a political symbol. In my eyes, that's just racism. I just wanted to be inclusive and wear something authentic to me – but the EBU seems to find my ethnicity controversial. It says nothing about me, but everything about them. I say as this year's ESC slogan: United by music”.

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[-] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 16 points 6 months ago

And yet Russia is excluded.

[-] Crazazy@feddit.nl 7 points 6 months ago

Second semifinals are today and I kinda hope there will be a riot going on in Malmö. Or at least make sure the EBU has to make more statements tomorrow

[-] anarchist@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

Yeah. "Apolotical" bull fucking shit. If you look at 99% of eurovision songs, you'll see that's what they want - art without voice, a sort of generic smoothover that's is too afraid to even hint at a belief

[-] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 2 points 6 months ago

‘yahuvision

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this post was submitted on 08 May 2024
145 points (93.4% liked)

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