[Mpls] Babylon lost in fire, years of art and effort lost in flames

[Neal Krasnoff]

Melissa Wyatt wrote:

> 
> For those on the list who did not have the privilege and pleasure of 
> ever visiting Babylon, you have missed out on truly a gem of grassroots 
> action.  Babylon Arts Center hosted countless art exhibits, films, and 
> musicians in its brief time on the Minneapolis scene.  

> Anyone who 
> visited the center would know that the artists and community members 
> involved were deeply committed to peace and social justice.  

That is obviously a lie in this case: the website clearly has a written 
exhortation to "GET OUT AND FIGHT !" - the Jews, no doubt, since the 
pictures have titles containing the names of Palestinian towns.

It is incitment to violence. That is not being committed to "peace".


> They hosted 
> exhibits of artwork by children and women in Iraq, singers such as peace 
> activist David Rovics (www.davidrovics.com), writings and works by 
> victims of violence and torture, and many others.  Art is free speech; 
> if Mr. Krasnoff was offended by an artist's revulsion and disgust about 
> the treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeli government, that is his 
> right.  However, to say the hand of God has come down on evil people or 
> evil works is off-base, uncalled for, and offensive to me.

The Babylon, as a private entity, has the right to exhibit art as they 
wish, whether political or not, and state whatever they wish on their 
web site - and they may also choose to condemn Jews and incite violence 
against them. I, too, have a right to comment on and condemn such vile 
Okhranist filth.


> I join many in our community in feeling great sadness about the loss of 
> a great venue to exercise freedom of speech and expression, share ideas, 
> and work for peace.
> 
> Melissa Wyatt
> Uptown

I express my sadness and condolences to the owners and workers of the 
legitimate businesses that were damaged, and that hard working folks
are suffering such loss. May they find strength to rebuild their lives.

And I salute the firefighters.

Neal Krasnoff
Loring Park