Hmmm.
Puzzled and angry at being barred from the United States, the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens returned to London on Thursday vowing to find out why.
Interesting. I heard him speak in 1984 (85?) at Syracuse University. From the information available, it seems Yusuf Islam’s mission in life is to promote peace. I’d like to see the information the government says indicates he has been involved with activities potential related to terrorism. This should not have happened.
[via Axe Handles]
I think…they are trying to make a point with him and make him a scapegoat of what is happening to anyone who is of this religeon.
ps have been reading your blog of ra ages now – love it!
that was – for ages now! oops typos!
Hi Kathryn:
He talks a good line, but consider the following:
from
http://partners.nytimes.com/books/99/04/18/specials/rushdie-cat.html
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May 23, 1989
Cat Stevens Gives Support To Call for Death of Rushdie
By CRAIG R. WHITNEY
LONDON, May 22 — The musician known as Cat Stevens said in a British television program to be broadcast next week that rather than go to a demonstration to burn an effigy of the author Salman Rushdie, ”I would have hoped that it’d be the real thing.”
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Indeed, a man of peace!
But wait, there’s more: The Israaelis think he donated a money to Hamas in 1998. See http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/5922705?rnd=1095862190805&has-player=true
Apparently, this is corroborated by printed material, as there was apparently an article in GQ that’s not available on the Net. Here’s a quote:
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I ask him about something else I find, an old leaflet attributed to the Islamic Association of Palestine—a group U.S. Intelligence considers a front for Hamas—titled Eyewitness. By: Yusuf Islam (The Former British Singer Cat Stevens). “The Jews seem neither to respect God nor his creation,” it says. “Their own holy books contain the curse of God brought upon them by their prophets on account of their disobedience to Him and mischief in the earth.”
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If I seem to know a bit about this subject, it’s because whe I was growing up, Cat Stevens was one of my favorite singers. I watched with dismay when he converted and gave up his music, and have kept an eye out for him in the intervening years. He’s just kept getting loonier and loonier. Here’s a blog post where he’s quoted as supporting Sharia in it’s nastier aspects…
http://joelbrondos.worldmagblog.com/archives/008904.html
He’s backpedeled somewhat over the years, denying he supported the fatwa against Rushdie for example. And condemning 9/11 and Beslan. But then he turns around and helps to fund Hamas and Hezbellah. The Taliban were big fans (altho he says he disapproved of them) see
http://catstevens.com/articles/00100/
We have more than enough home-grown religious zealots here: we don’t need an import.
Be well,
Dave H.
Dave — Aaargh. You make some good points and provide sources. This is difficult. I, too, was a big fan of his. When he appeared at Syracuse University, the announcements were for “Cat Stevens” but the talk he gave was about his conversion. I remember the feeling of bait-and-switch as I listened to him. There was nothing in the announcement that mentioned his life change, and I was disappointed that I was not getting what I’d expected.
It is difficult to know what is real and not. It’s regrettable that he has said and done these things. It is difficult to let go of images we hold people to — uncomfortable to admit they may have a darker side. This is why I often try to keep politics off this blog. I don’t like the debate. However, since I posted this, I’m glad you’ve provided counterpoint for me and others to consider. As much as I wish it could be otherwise.
He supported the call for Rushdie’s death? If that’s true, it’s certainly disappointing, to say the least.