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Ed Sheeran/Macklemore

650 replies

WallyHilloughby · 15/09/2026 19:36

what are your thoughts on this whole debacle?
quite frankly I’m sick and tired of artists using concerts etc as some political forum

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localnotail · 19/09/2026 07:23

FragrantRosePetals · 18/09/2026 21:34

If children being killed is awful and no nation should becwiped out (which I agree with) why wouldn’t gay people be as concerned about the fate of the Palestinians as anyone else?

I’m straight but I don’t want to live under Islamic law either. I don’t see why it is any more strange for a gay person or a straight person to protest against Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.

Are you saying gay people should automatically side with Israel just because of its treatment of gay people? Even if they think a genocide is underway?

I really just can’t grasp this viewpoint, and to be honest, I think it’s bordering on homophobic. Gay people are just as capable of full ethical judgments as any one else. This is about stopping the killing and displacement of tens of thousands of people. It is not equivalent to choosing which party you want to run your own country.

Firstly - yes, I think its really stupid for a gay person to support an ideology (Hamas in this case) who routinely prosecute gays.

Secondly - despite what the war they are involved with and despite their shit current government, Israel is still the most democratic and progressive country in the Middle east.

Thirdly - "genocide" - you spelled "war" wrong.

I would suggest to go and read what Hamas are doing in Lebanon and Syria and how many people they killed there. Children including.

DonnaHadDee · 19/09/2026 09:59

@localnotail There are a lot of "useful idiots" in the west supporting Hamas, Iran, Russia, and Israel too. The lack of understanding with respect to Hamas is stunning. If they had the means the Oct attack would have been much much worse, they have no limits. There are many great books on extremist Muslim terrorists by they are ignored by these people (same can be said for Israeli apologists).

"Israel is still the most democratic and progressive country in the Middle east." Fully agree with that, but only if you are Jewish. The Freedom house analysis is worth a read. https://freedomhouse.org/country/israel --> long-term discrimination against Arab and other ethnic and religious minority populations has resulted in systemic disparities in areas including criminal justice, local government budgets, education, and economic opportunity

The democratic nature of Israel is also notable. The majority of the population support policies that result in ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and mass killing of non-Jewish women and children. This is a deliberate choice made by the electorate.

Anyone in doubt about these Islamic terrorist groups read -> https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/mar/08/our-bodies-their-battlefield-christina-lamb-review-women-war-rape-victims

Israel_hero_map

Israel: Country Profile

Access Freedom House reports on Israel, see recent news and perspectives, and learn about our work in the country.

https://freedomhouse.org/country/israel

ERthree · 19/09/2026 10:14

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noblegiraffe · 19/09/2026 10:30

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Because "Muslims" are a hive mind and all think the same?

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 19/09/2026 10:30

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Jesus.

Martymcfly24 · 19/09/2026 10:39

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All 2 billion Muslims have one mindset?
Seriously.

localnotail · 19/09/2026 10:43

DonnaHadDee · 19/09/2026 09:59

@localnotail There are a lot of "useful idiots" in the west supporting Hamas, Iran, Russia, and Israel too. The lack of understanding with respect to Hamas is stunning. If they had the means the Oct attack would have been much much worse, they have no limits. There are many great books on extremist Muslim terrorists by they are ignored by these people (same can be said for Israeli apologists).

"Israel is still the most democratic and progressive country in the Middle east." Fully agree with that, but only if you are Jewish. The Freedom house analysis is worth a read. https://freedomhouse.org/country/israel --> long-term discrimination against Arab and other ethnic and religious minority populations has resulted in systemic disparities in areas including criminal justice, local government budgets, education, and economic opportunity

The democratic nature of Israel is also notable. The majority of the population support policies that result in ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and mass killing of non-Jewish women and children. This is a deliberate choice made by the electorate.

Anyone in doubt about these Islamic terrorist groups read -> https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/mar/08/our-bodies-their-battlefield-christina-lamb-review-women-war-rape-victims

Israel can not allow non-Jewish citizens to vote for obvious reasons. Its massively unfair, I get it, but they have to protect themselves and their country. You can't give vote to people who don't believe you country should exist.

Israel is not immune to right wing propaganda and the population is not much different here where people are voting in scum and are happy for people who are "others" to suffer (small boats etc). And you got to remember that Israel suffers from small scale terrorist attacks pretty much daily - missiles, stabbings, car ramming, shootings - its just none of it gets reported in Western press.

Also, there were many people got brutally murdered on 7th October who were very pro-Palestinian and who were helping them a lot and working with them - its a well know fact, and I would imagine it affected many people's outlook. Many in Israel simply can't see any positive approach working in any shape or form. Sadly.

dairydebris · 19/09/2026 10:46

I'm going to cross the lines and say I can understand Gays for Gaza. I think people can care about what they perceive as oppression towards others even if those said others would condemn them for their own messed up moral reasons. Theres almost something noble, taking the higher ground about it. I don't see why their being gay has any real contradiction to how they feel about injustice...

localnotail · 19/09/2026 10:48

The bottom line is, a lot of Israelis are questioning their government, openly advocate for peace, openly support Palestine - even when threatened with sanctions from the government. I dont see ANY criticism of Hamas and their actions from the other side, or any calls for peace that does not include destruction of Israel. Zilch. That's a big difference.

localnotail · 19/09/2026 10:49

dairydebris · 19/09/2026 10:46

I'm going to cross the lines and say I can understand Gays for Gaza. I think people can care about what they perceive as oppression towards others even if those said others would condemn them for their own messed up moral reasons. Theres almost something noble, taking the higher ground about it. I don't see why their being gay has any real contradiction to how they feel about injustice...

Do you find turkeys voting for Christmas noble, too?

dairydebris · 19/09/2026 10:52

localnotail · 19/09/2026 10:43

Israel can not allow non-Jewish citizens to vote for obvious reasons. Its massively unfair, I get it, but they have to protect themselves and their country. You can't give vote to people who don't believe you country should exist.

Israel is not immune to right wing propaganda and the population is not much different here where people are voting in scum and are happy for people who are "others" to suffer (small boats etc). And you got to remember that Israel suffers from small scale terrorist attacks pretty much daily - missiles, stabbings, car ramming, shootings - its just none of it gets reported in Western press.

Also, there were many people got brutally murdered on 7th October who were very pro-Palestinian and who were helping them a lot and working with them - its a well know fact, and I would imagine it affected many people's outlook. Many in Israel simply can't see any positive approach working in any shape or form. Sadly.

What are you talking about? Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel have the right to vote in Israel. There are Arab parties and Arab politicians.

dairydebris · 19/09/2026 10:53

localnotail · 19/09/2026 10:49

Do you find turkeys voting for Christmas noble, too?

I don't find the comparison terribly useful tbh. Gay people can think about a moral position, Turkeys can't.

Cailleach1 · 19/09/2026 11:04

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 19/09/2026 10:30

Jesus.

As in our lord and saviour… ? At least he is reported to have said that those without sin should cast the first stone. Which renders that action moot, as who is without sin.

Unfortunately for women and girls, many (if not most) countries where Islam is the main religion, their rights and treatment in life and law appear to be tragically inhumane. I’m not sure apartheid was as vicious, in every single aspect of everyday life, as the treatment of women and girls under Islamic rule in Afghanistan. There is no refuge, even amongst your own community, family, or home. Trapped, brutalised, deemed undeserving of human rights (never mind equality), and deprived of the smallest of human dignity, care and education. Your very body an illustration of your badness. I read that some of the women incarcerated in Iran for exposing strands of hair, had them ripped from their heads. And were then murdered by the state. Half of the entire population dehumanised to the nth degree, and treated little better than cattle.

There are many elements of religions that have been bad for women through history. However, I’m not sure any reached the level of misery inflicted on women day in, day out, as is forced upon women in Afghanistan (and maybe to other varying degrees in other majority Muslim countries) as they are suffering through today.

I don’t see any contemporary, mainstream Christian church (and I include Catholic in that) even in the near vicinity, of happily creating the same, inescapable circle of hell for women.

No ‘identifying’ out of it either. Whatever about any other groups in society.

noblegiraffe · 19/09/2026 11:05

I guess historic groups like Gays and Lesbians support the Miners didn't focus on gay miners but the general struggle against oppression and there was probably homophobia in the mining community that meant it didn't seem to make particular sense. It did eventually end up with reciprocal support but there wasn't an expectation of it.

TheFlandersPigeon · 19/09/2026 11:10

dairydebris · 19/09/2026 10:52

What are you talking about? Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel have the right to vote in Israel. There are Arab parties and Arab politicians.

Yes, what the actual fuck? The franchise absolutely isn't restricted to Jews in Israel. Non-Jews not only vote but in some cases serve in the legislature, which is not surprising since they're about 20% of the population.

Here is a list of Arab Knesset members. It includes Israeli Druze, which is controversial because they're a separate cultural group to other Israeli Arabs and don't necessarily identify as Arab.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arab_members_of_the_Knesset

There's also people who aren't religiously considered Jewish because they don't have a Jewish mum but still have some Jewish heritage. They also get the vote.

List of Arab members of the Knesset - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arab_members_of_the_Knesset

Cailleach1 · 19/09/2026 11:10

And, of course, the trade in little girls (with no lower age limit) has been reported. I’m not sure if it is a big part of trade in human females in Afghanistan. Can you imagine having a little girl, and having to see her being sold off to some disgusting creep to sexually abuse her? And this being normalised.

localnotail · 19/09/2026 13:24

dairydebris · 19/09/2026 10:52

What are you talking about? Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel have the right to vote in Israel. There are Arab parties and Arab politicians.

Only those who live in the certain areas and who have full citizenship.

dairydebris · 19/09/2026 13:36

localnotail · 19/09/2026 13:24

Only those who live in the certain areas and who have full citizenship.

Any Israeli citizen of any ethnicity can vote in Israel.

Not only those who live in certain areas. Every single Israeli citizen in Israel. Arab, Jew, Druze, whatever.

Why imply otherwise?

As for saying only those with full citizenship can vote, well yes, obviously. Would you expect English citizens to be able to vote in France?

Cailleach1 · 19/09/2026 13:39

Many (if not most) countries do require someone to be a citizen in order to vote in general elections. Some countries (I think a rarer situation) have reciprocal arrangements with other countries which allow citizens of each one to participate in elections in the other country.

@localnotail , are there full Israeli citizens (of Arab heritage, or Arab language heritage) within the borders of Israel who are barred from voting in their general elections? Areas where only full Israeli citizens of Jewish heritage can vote? That would not be good, if true.

I used to think it was wonderful when citizens of a country who do not live there could participate in general elections and referendums. The ‘diaspora’ get a say. So, they’d probably go to their embassy in the country in which they reside to vote. I have completely changed my mind on that one. It is so easy to vote for policies, tax, and legislation which will not affect you directly and the brunt is borne by others.

Cailleach1 · 19/09/2026 13:45

@localnotail , I’m curious as to what areas within Israel don’t allow those full Israeli citizens of Arab/ Arab language heritage to vote like other Israeli citizens?

If it is a shorter list, maybe outline the ‘certain areas’ of ‘Only those who live in the certain areas and who have full citizenship.’

TheFlandersPigeon · 19/09/2026 13:46

Can only think@localnotail might mean Palestinians who live outside Israeli borders and don't hold citizenship? Can't see what else she'd be getting at, as there's no distinction made between Jewish and non-Jewish citizens.

I agree with the rest of that post: it's particularly important to spell out how 7th October targeted Israeli leftists and peace activists and what that's done to sentiment there. The same thing happened in the second intifada. This wasn't accidental. Palestinian irredentists are threatened by Israelis like the late Vivian Silver. However we also need to be clear on the difference between Palestinians and non-Jewish citizens of Israel, because the latter do have full voting rights and can be in the Knesset. Likud, Netenyahu's party, even have one slot on their list specifically reserved for a Druze Israeli.

PurpleThistle7 · 19/09/2026 13:54

I was born in Israel, grew up in the states and have lived in the uk for 20 years or so. I can vote in the states and now in the uk (after getting permanent residency) but have never been allowed to vote in Israel as I only lived there as a baby. Every country has to draw the line on voting somewhere so of course not every single person of Israeli citizenship or Israeli residency can vote. But it’s not based on religion.

Dee9409 · 19/09/2026 19:22

How much money is enough money? Ed Sheeran’s net worth is $400 million dollars. He was going to lose money and opportunities “Sorry friend I need more money and opportunities. I don’t have enough.” Even on a basic level this demonstrates his character to abandon all morality and principles to chase money. That is what he will have to live with, keep supporting those billionaire capitalists that make life harder every day for working people. In History speaking out would be being murdered, imprisoned or worse, the point is he had a platform, so what he would lose a few million to stand by his friend of 13 or so years but no he took the cowards way out. Even if he didn’t take a stance on the genocide but just said “I support my friends right to free speech.” That would have been okay but this is just another demonstration of the abuse of power.

noblegiraffe · 19/09/2026 19:32

No onus on Macklemore to not cause problems for his "friend of 13 years" by breaking a venue's request not to spread "one-sided political propaganda" (their words)?

Does Macklemore have any regrets over his "friend" now being dragged in the press? Or just the smug glow of self-righteousness that clearly was fuelling him when he dropped his mate in the shit in the first place?

What a twat.

KatiePricesKnickers · 20/09/2026 08:31

If you read the Guardian this morning, you would think that now Ed is a pro-Palestine supporter.
The bias is off the scale. No wonder their readers are so blinkered if that’s their only source of information.