A move to ban Elton's gig is about fear of social discord. Yet in other ways the Arab world fails to address 'the public good'
Brian Whitaker
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 4 May 2010
"Elton John is due to give a private concert in Egypt later this month. Or rather, he was, until the Egyptian musicians' union stepped in.
Mounir al-Wasimi, head of the union, announced on Sunday that he is "co-ordinating" with the authorities to stop the concert going ahead because Elton John is gay, believes Jesus was gay too, and has been critical of organised religions.
Now, you might be wondering why that should be of any concern to a musicians' union or why a union set up (presumably) to promote music should be trying to ban a concert, but it's none of your business. As Wasimi points out, his union is the only body "authorised to allow performances by foreign singers in Egypt".....
It was a lack of this type of regulation that contributed to the deaths of more than 150 people when floods swept through Jeddah in Saudi Arabia last November. One important factor was the unregulated construction that had taken place over many years in normally dry river beds.
But protecting against disasters like that has never figured strongly in the Saudi concept of the public good. Instead, a huge amount of effort goes into ensuring that people comply with the rules of morality set by religious scholars....."
Brian Whitaker
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 4 May 2010
"Elton John is due to give a private concert in Egypt later this month. Or rather, he was, until the Egyptian musicians' union stepped in.
Mounir al-Wasimi, head of the union, announced on Sunday that he is "co-ordinating" with the authorities to stop the concert going ahead because Elton John is gay, believes Jesus was gay too, and has been critical of organised religions.
Now, you might be wondering why that should be of any concern to a musicians' union or why a union set up (presumably) to promote music should be trying to ban a concert, but it's none of your business. As Wasimi points out, his union is the only body "authorised to allow performances by foreign singers in Egypt".....
It was a lack of this type of regulation that contributed to the deaths of more than 150 people when floods swept through Jeddah in Saudi Arabia last November. One important factor was the unregulated construction that had taken place over many years in normally dry river beds.
But protecting against disasters like that has never figured strongly in the Saudi concept of the public good. Instead, a huge amount of effort goes into ensuring that people comply with the rules of morality set by religious scholars....."
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