Kanye’s newest album is at turns haunting, petty, and discordant. And you can’t ignore the shadow of his antisemitism over the whole thing. So why did I like it?
Eli should be ashamed to listen to Kanye. Hey Eli I understand that Hitler wasn’t a bad artist, maybe you should consider purchasing some of his art, he had a knack for his use of colors, since you like to elevate art above the artist regardless of how vile the person is. Unlike you I have standards , for example when Pink Floyd comes on the radio, I change the channel as a matter of principle. Obviously, your principles are just whatever makes you feel good like I said, you should be ashamed in your attempt to defend such a disgusting antisemite
Just because he is a genius and there is something to glean from his art, doesn't mean you have to partake. It is not punishment to say to yourself...no, I can live without that. If he was convicted of murdering Jews would you still say it is OK to partake? Where is the line? How is your life better for buying/listening? It is not better...it is worse for the listening. Because your soul/brain knows you abhor the man, and you are not fooling yourself that it is OK. In your heart of hearts you know it is not...that is why you had to write this article to validate your position. You can do better Eli.
I have tried to support really crappy people with really needed ideas, and they always make me regret it.
The latest was my 3-year loyalty to the GAB social platform. Even though Andrew Torba is competing with Kanye for the global antisemitism awards, GAB's free-speech principle was a real one, extended to Jews as well as Jew-haters. It was the only place where you could post about Covid vax failures, challenge climate-change with skepticism, and even argue with Hamas supporters and neo-Nazis, without censorship.
I say "was" because as of January of this year, GAB has blocked all Israeli users from accessing the platform, with no explanation and no appeal. Even trying to access the upgrade and pay them for user privileges is blocked.
After several off-grid queries to GAB support, they finally suggested that I hide my location by using VPN -- in effect, they wanted me to support a *myth* of free-speech rights on their platform.
So I expect that sooner or later the Jews who still support Kanye "for art's sake" will get pushed to a similar red line.
Yes, well, I have tried to admire people who showed amazing talent while displaying morals that were disturbing. The older I got, the more I realized that creative genius in a crappy human being is like lipstick on a pig... except it's dangerous rather than silly. Swallowing Kanye's crap for the sake of his genius sickens the soul that tries it. (Note how Eli the author explicitly admitted it when he got to the lyrics about Scooter's Jewish wife.)
This compromise also spells doom for Kanye as a human being. Since he is not experiencing the righteous consequence of causeless hatred - but is rather being celebrated, enriched and encouraged by others for their own agendas - his chance of repenting is like the proverbial snowball in Hades.
I think you had to grow up with rap to like it. I clicked through and listened to some of your links here and it sounds like the same boring self-aggrandazing crap I heard on radio starting in the '90s, and turned off.
I enjoyed reading this. It's written by a sane coherent person......but to tell you the truth I cannot be bothered to listen to the music of someone who is as deranged as Kanye is....so you have me as a reader but I can't be bothered to listen to an idiot....Stuart
If I only watched and listened to those with whom I agree politically, I would seldom if ever attend a movie, watch a TV show or listen to pop music. I suspect my reading list would also be pretty short. I'm no fan of Ye or his music, but I see nothing wrong with listening to his music or praising his art if you appreciate it, even though I'm outraged at the antisemitic nonsense he's spouted.
Kanye is an antisemite who has fomented violence and has blood on his hands.
It is as simple as that.
No, we should not, as Jews or as decent human beings, subsidize or in any way support him. I don't care that is mentally ill. As many have already said, one can be bipolar and not a raging, sick antisemite.
His music has never been the great art some consider it to be. He is a hateful antisemite and his supporters take his views to heart and act on them. How can it be a question as to whether we should or can still "like" him?
No. We can't. Anyone who does has questionable taste to begin with but trying to support someone who spreads hatred and causes literal violence the way he does is astonishingly stupid. There is no nuance here. Don't support someone who wants you dead. Don't support someone who uses their money to harm you.
How is this even a question? Why would anyone twist themselves into a place where they would want to make an argument in favor of an individual as harmful as Kanye?
He tells his supporters that it's "the Jews" who killed his mother, who ruined his life, who have given him bad medical advice. He tells his supporters they are right to hate the Jews and encourages violence.
Many of his supporters are already predisposed towards antisemitism. All they need is a small push from their idol. He has expressed extensive antisemitism, praising Adolf Hitler and promoting Holocaust denial. He has also gotten involved with prominent extremists, antisemites and conspiracy theorists.
All of this feeds violence. Acts of antisemitic violence are at an all time high because of the kinds of things someone like Kanye says.
If you google Kanye and antisemitism you'll pull up a lot of information, I'm not sure if we can post links in these comments, if we can let me know and I'll supply references.
When you are as famous/infamous as Kanye and have tens of millions of avid supporters who hang on your every word, what you say has real world consequences. What you say validates and pushes people to take action. You don't seem inclined to acknowledge or care about that. Do you feel the same way with regard to other famous people and groups or is only Kanye and antisemitism you give a pass to?
You can't incite violence then say "well I didn't actually say go do violence so I'm not culpable." He is culpable. He's spent decades inciting antisemitism. If you aren't aware of this, please make yourself aware. It matters.
Respectfully, I disagree. He isn't "too big" to cancel and his art - to use your term - isn't very good. Someone else below questioned if it is a case of the Emperor and his clothes. I agree, I love music and my tastes are eclectic but Kanye never appealed to me.
The short answer is no, a Jewish person should not put money in the pockets of a disturbed antisemite who has blood on his hands. This is a not a question of nuance. He has fomented antisemitism and has caused violence. For you to support him in any way is a mistake on your part.
Garbage.
Eli should be ashamed to listen to Kanye. Hey Eli I understand that Hitler wasn’t a bad artist, maybe you should consider purchasing some of his art, he had a knack for his use of colors, since you like to elevate art above the artist regardless of how vile the person is. Unlike you I have standards , for example when Pink Floyd comes on the radio, I change the channel as a matter of principle. Obviously, your principles are just whatever makes you feel good like I said, you should be ashamed in your attempt to defend such a disgusting antisemite
Just because he is a genius and there is something to glean from his art, doesn't mean you have to partake. It is not punishment to say to yourself...no, I can live without that. If he was convicted of murdering Jews would you still say it is OK to partake? Where is the line? How is your life better for buying/listening? It is not better...it is worse for the listening. Because your soul/brain knows you abhor the man, and you are not fooling yourself that it is OK. In your heart of hearts you know it is not...that is why you had to write this article to validate your position. You can do better Eli.
I have tried to support really crappy people with really needed ideas, and they always make me regret it.
The latest was my 3-year loyalty to the GAB social platform. Even though Andrew Torba is competing with Kanye for the global antisemitism awards, GAB's free-speech principle was a real one, extended to Jews as well as Jew-haters. It was the only place where you could post about Covid vax failures, challenge climate-change with skepticism, and even argue with Hamas supporters and neo-Nazis, without censorship.
I say "was" because as of January of this year, GAB has blocked all Israeli users from accessing the platform, with no explanation and no appeal. Even trying to access the upgrade and pay them for user privileges is blocked.
After several off-grid queries to GAB support, they finally suggested that I hide my location by using VPN -- in effect, they wanted me to support a *myth* of free-speech rights on their platform.
So I expect that sooner or later the Jews who still support Kanye "for art's sake" will get pushed to a similar red line.
Yes, well, I have tried to admire people who showed amazing talent while displaying morals that were disturbing. The older I got, the more I realized that creative genius in a crappy human being is like lipstick on a pig... except it's dangerous rather than silly. Swallowing Kanye's crap for the sake of his genius sickens the soul that tries it. (Note how Eli the author explicitly admitted it when he got to the lyrics about Scooter's Jewish wife.)
This compromise also spells doom for Kanye as a human being. Since he is not experiencing the righteous consequence of causeless hatred - but is rather being celebrated, enriched and encouraged by others for their own agendas - his chance of repenting is like the proverbial snowball in Hades.
Would it be okay to admire a minstrel show because it’s brilliant?
Eli, feel free to like Kanye's music (I can't stand rap and hiphop in general).
However, please do not support that disgusting POS by paying even a penny for his music, SWAG, etc.
I think you had to grow up with rap to like it. I clicked through and listened to some of your links here and it sounds like the same boring self-aggrandazing crap I heard on radio starting in the '90s, and turned off.
I enjoyed reading this. It's written by a sane coherent person......but to tell you the truth I cannot be bothered to listen to the music of someone who is as deranged as Kanye is....so you have me as a reader but I can't be bothered to listen to an idiot....Stuart
If I only watched and listened to those with whom I agree politically, I would seldom if ever attend a movie, watch a TV show or listen to pop music. I suspect my reading list would also be pretty short. I'm no fan of Ye or his music, but I see nothing wrong with listening to his music or praising his art if you appreciate it, even though I'm outraged at the antisemitic nonsense he's spouted.
Blood on his hands?? Again, I don’t really care about Kanye. But comments like this are just too much.
His genius? What a dipsh*t.
Can a Jew Still Love Kanye?
Really, who cares?
Kanye is an antisemite who has fomented violence and has blood on his hands.
It is as simple as that.
No, we should not, as Jews or as decent human beings, subsidize or in any way support him. I don't care that is mentally ill. As many have already said, one can be bipolar and not a raging, sick antisemite.
His music has never been the great art some consider it to be. He is a hateful antisemite and his supporters take his views to heart and act on them. How can it be a question as to whether we should or can still "like" him?
No. We can't. Anyone who does has questionable taste to begin with but trying to support someone who spreads hatred and causes literal violence the way he does is astonishingly stupid. There is no nuance here. Don't support someone who wants you dead. Don't support someone who uses their money to harm you.
How is this even a question? Why would anyone twist themselves into a place where they would want to make an argument in favor of an individual as harmful as Kanye?
"but trying to support someone who spreads hatred and causes literal violence the way he does is astonishingly stupid."
What literal violence has kanye caused?
He tells his supporters that it's "the Jews" who killed his mother, who ruined his life, who have given him bad medical advice. He tells his supporters they are right to hate the Jews and encourages violence.
Many of his supporters are already predisposed towards antisemitism. All they need is a small push from their idol. He has expressed extensive antisemitism, praising Adolf Hitler and promoting Holocaust denial. He has also gotten involved with prominent extremists, antisemites and conspiracy theorists.
All of this feeds violence. Acts of antisemitic violence are at an all time high because of the kinds of things someone like Kanye says.
If you google Kanye and antisemitism you'll pull up a lot of information, I'm not sure if we can post links in these comments, if we can let me know and I'll supply references.
When you are as famous/infamous as Kanye and have tens of millions of avid supporters who hang on your every word, what you say has real world consequences. What you say validates and pushes people to take action. You don't seem inclined to acknowledge or care about that. Do you feel the same way with regard to other famous people and groups or is only Kanye and antisemitism you give a pass to?
You can't incite violence then say "well I didn't actually say go do violence so I'm not culpable." He is culpable. He's spent decades inciting antisemitism. If you aren't aware of this, please make yourself aware. It matters.
Respectfully, I disagree. He isn't "too big" to cancel and his art - to use your term - isn't very good. Someone else below questioned if it is a case of the Emperor and his clothes. I agree, I love music and my tastes are eclectic but Kanye never appealed to me.
The short answer is no, a Jewish person should not put money in the pockets of a disturbed antisemite who has blood on his hands. This is a not a question of nuance. He has fomented antisemitism and has caused violence. For you to support him in any way is a mistake on your part.
Sorry Eli, not with you on this. Ignore the gross, vulgar antisemite!