My response to a NY Times article about Israeli artists being “cancelled”.
There was a thought-provoking Op/Ed piece in the June 14, 2026 article about the effects of Israeli artists being “cancelled” outside of their home country.
Written by Sharon Waxman, the article makes the case that the refusal to give Israeli art an audience, while very likely well-intentioned, is depriving the world of informed voices and viewpoints that are most critical of the Benjamin Netanyahu.
Considering the dire situation in The Middle East, and keeping in mind that quality journalism being almost non-existent, this is very, very sad self-inflicted wound.
In other words, cancelling Israeli art is another example of “The road to hell being paved with good intentions.”
It all reminded me of the “Elbows Up” movement in Canada: people think they are doing the right thing for themselves and “teaching evil a lesson”, but in actual fact they are simply making matters worse for themselves by “poking the bear”.
So I wrote a reply. Here it is:
More voices are better. Freedom of speech, baby!
As a Canadian, this article resonates with me.
Many Canadians, including some I know, have stopped visiting the USA and are boycotting all things American because of the Trump Administration.
The Canadian Prime Minister largely became PM by taking an “Elbows Up” anti-US stance. (How authentic Mr. Carney actually is remains another matter.)
I understand that point of view, but I completely disagree with it.
Personally, I still love Americans. I have friends and family “south of the border”. I visit the USA whenever I can. I grew up close to the US/Canada border and have been crossing the Niagara and Detroit Rivers for over 50 years, and I am not going to stop now.
This article makes me understand that there is a difference between the genocidal Israeli Government and the Israeli people, just like there is a (massive) difference between the US people and the Trump Administration. That is the key takeaway for me.
Meh ChatGPT image based on above copy:
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