Climate activist Greta Thunberg attends a pro-Palestine demonstration in Malmo, Sweden, where the Eurovision song contest took place
SARAH VINE: My despair at Greta Thunberg and the insanity of her army of hate pixies
The older I get, the more I think that humans – as a species – are becoming increasingly bonkers. If not all, then quite a lot of them.
Take, for example, the hysteria over Eurovision. The annual event is a silly, kitsch, largely irrelevant music competition (I use the term 'music' loosely) in which embarrassing, regional acts perform pale approximations of proper pop songs against a background of cheerful xenophobia.
Occasionally, a decent act slips through (Abba, Maneskin, Domenico Modugno) but mostly it's all just overblown pyrotechnics and daft outfits.
In the case of the British entry, it's invariably a virtue-signalling ninny in a ripped T-shirt who thinks that simulating sex with crotch-grabbing dancers dressed as rent boys and pontificating about how much he hates the British flag will compensate for lack of vocal talent.
Eden Golan, representing Israel, holds her country's flag aloft as she sings Hurricane
Eden Golan representing Israel
Despite scoring a staggering 323 points from the public with her song Hurricane, Golan failed to win over the biased anti-Israel juries, scoring just 52 points from the professional judges
It doesn't, but who cares. It's just a bit of a laugh.
Or it was until Greta Thunberg and her army of hate pixies showed up and made it all about something else. Draped in a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, the Swede, 21, explained in her characteristically sanctimonious manner: 'Young people are leading the way, and showing the world how we should react to this.'
If only that were the case.
Sadly, I am no longer a young person, but if I were I'd like to think that my reaction – and that of my peers – to the brutal rape, murder and mutilation of hundreds of young people at the Nova music festival last October 7 by a group of Hamas terrorists funded by Iran's totalitarian dictatorship that imprisons, tortures and murders girls like me – would be absolute solidarity with those victims.
Instead, at Eurovision and elsewhere, there is sympathy for the supporters of those terrorists and their vile actions, blind hatred for Israel for daring to defend itself and its citizens – and an attempt to mobilise thousands of others to bully and intimidate Israel's entry, Eden Golan, whose only crime (apart from her awful fake nails) is her nationality.
A 20-year-old was booed for performing a song about survival in the face of suffering.
She was forced to lock herself in her hotel room for fear of being attacked. She's been treated as if she was responsible for decades of conflict in the Middle East.
I've always thought Thunberg was a bit odd, but I didn't realise she was nasty, too.
The UK's Eurovision entry, Olly Alexander, rehearses his song Dizzy ahead of the contest final
A rally in the Swedish city sees signs branding Eurovision the 'Genocide Song Contest'
But the insanity doesn't stop there. A Brighton-based group calling itself 'Queers for Palestine' (they do know, don't they, what happens to homosexuals in places run by hardline Islamic regimes such as Iran?) posted online the contact numbers of venues that were planning to host Eurovision nights, urging people to tell them 'to reconsider' because the organisers were 'complicit in genocide' for allowing Israel to participate.
Inevitably, the BBC reported this on Newsnight alongside an interview with a drag queen called 'Crystal' by presenter Kirsty Wark (poor woman: decades of experience as a respected broadcaster and this is what it's come to).
Through thick mauve make-up and false lashes, Crystal said: 'I was going to host my own screening event, with 800 people screaming, cheering along, but decided to join the boycott because of Israel's inclusion.'
I'm sorry Crystal's party was ruined – but seriously, is this how low we've sunk – that the cancellation of a North London party is worthy of a slot on Newsnight?
And doesn't the irony of a drag queen complaining about the inclusion of Israel – a nation where LGBT culture flourishes as almost no other, and which was the first country in the history of Eurovision to field an openly trans contestant (the fabulous Dana International in 1998) – occur to any of these people? Or are they just too thick to see it? Young women such as Israel's Eurovision entry Eden Golan are not the enemy of the Palestinian people.
That enemy is Hamas and the terrorist network that oppresses Palestinian civilians, building a network of tunnels under their homes and hospitals, filling their heads with hatred for Jews, fuelling this endless and brutal conflict with their barbaric actions.
And I defend Eden Golan because the fact that so many young people across the world have been trying to stop her represents a kind of derangement I shall never, as long as I live, understand.
Greta Thunberg is detained by cops as pro-Palestine protesters try to storm Eurovision: Climate activist is hauled away as demonstrators clash with armed riot police
A video shows the 21-year-old being dragged away by uniformed officers in high-vis vests as photographers flock around her.
Swedish news sight Visegrad 24 stated on social media that Thunberg is a 'repeat offender' and has been detained.
The activist wore a keffiyeh scarf over a black fleece and her hair was tied back as police dragged her from outside the arena where the song competition was in full flow.
Greta Thunberg being dragged away from the Eurovision arena in Malmo, Sweden by armed police
The 21-year-old climate activist with pro-Palestinian activists, wearing a keffiyeh scarf
The climate activist being taken away by police after a clash with with armed riot police
Thunberg's arrest comes as Israel's Eden Golan defied the pro-Palestinian protesters clashing with police outside the Malmo Arena in Sweden and took to the stage to belt out her song Hurricane during the Eurovision Song Contest final.
The 20-year-old singer was met with cheers and boos after the song, which had to be modified after it fell foul of Eurovision rules on keeping politics out of the contest, while activists were manhandled by police as they sought to storm the arena.
BBC commentator Graham Norton, speaking from his commentary box inside the arena, said she had been met with a 'mixed' reaction - albeit one more positive than the large boos she faced in other performances.
He said: 'In some of the open rehearsals we heard more booing, but there was quite a lot of cheering tonight.
Her performance went off without a hitch despite pro-Palestinian protesters clashing with police outside as tensions reached boiling point ahead of the most chaotic Eurovision Song Contest in history.
Dozens of protesters locked arms and lay on the ground outside the venue draped in Palestine flags - and struggled with Swedish riot police who tried to remove them.
Eden Golan performs Hurricane for Israel during the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden's Malmo Arena
Her performance was met with a mixed response inside the arena, according to BBC commentator Graham Norton
A defiant Eden Golan takes to the stage during the flag parade of the Eurovision Song Contest grand final on Saturday night
Israeli contestant Eden Golan has become a focus for protests by pro-Palestinian demonstrators who want Israel kicked out of Eurovision
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather for a protest against the participation of Israeli contestant Eden Golan
Demonstrators hold signs and flags as people protest against Israeli participation in the Eurovision Song Contest
A pro-Palestinian rally organized by the 'Stop Israel' network in Malmo, Swede
The Stop Israel demonstration has been demonstrating against Eurovision in Malmö, Sweden
Police restrain a man wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf outside the Malmo Arena as protests against Israel's inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest continued
Several people were seen being removed from the area by police officers, who are routinely armed in Sweden
Police lift a man in a keffiyeh scarf outside the Malmo arena as a bystander films it on their phone
Greta Thunberg during protests outside the Malmo Arena
The scenes in Malmo saw a large mob of protesters attempt to storm through barriers to get into the arena, leading to riot police rushing in and forming a cordon around the entrances.
Officers then pushed back against the protestors, who attempted to fight their way past them as they screamed pro-Palestinian slogans.
Greta Thunberg, who also appeared at earlier protests, accused Israel of 'artwashing' itself with the contest, and was present at Saturday night's action wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf.
Police pushed protestors away from the arena entrance but dozens more returned, locking arms and sitting on the ground.
Other protestors waved Palestinian flags, screaming 'Free, free Palestine'.
A police helicopter hovered overhead as reinforcements in riot gear rushed to control the protest, with pepper spray being deployed.
Some protesters were seen wincing on the ground as others gave them water, after pepper spray had been used on them.
Eurovision fans appeared terrified as they queued to enter the arena, with many protestors angrily confronting them.
One woman carrying an Israel flag was shouted at, with the crowd screaming 'shame on you.'
As tensions heightened, police kettled many of the protesters, attempting to keep them away from the main entrance. But they struggled to control the crowd as others arrived to join the protest.
A protester carrying a Palestinian flag is taken away from the square outside the Malmo Arena by police
Police surround a man in a jumper bearing Arabic script on a bridge in Malmo during the protests
Police take to the river in Malmo as they step up security around the song contest
Police giving extra security escorted performers from their hotels ahead of The Grand Final of Eurovision that took place in Malmo, Sweden
Armed police officers stand outside the hotel
Swedish police gather around pro-Palestinian protesters outside the Malmo Arena ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest final
Protesters waved Palestinian flags and shouted 'shame on you' as they were surrounded by police ahead of the final
Pro-Hamas demonstrator displays a poster
Some protesters writhed in pain after being sprayed with pepper spray by Swedish police, with others assisting them with water
A woman cries and is offered water after being pepper sprayed outside the Malmo Arena by Swedish police
Some of those joining the protests were seen being carted away from the scene by police - with several people wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves.
Around 1,000 pro Palestine protesters descended on the Malmo Arena demanding Israel's expulsion from the competition in the most contentious edition of the singing competition to date.
But a defiant Eden Golan took to the stage holding the Israeli flag high as she entered during the flag parade at the start of the final - followed by the UK's Olly Alexander, who held a huge Union flag aloft.
Ireland's entry Bambie Thug missed their final dress rehearsal after "they" said a 'situation' required 'urgent attention'.
Ireland entrant Bambie Thug (pictured leaving "their" hotel wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf) filed a complaint against the Israeli broadcaster Kan
In response, a spokesperson for the Israeli broadcaster Kan told the PA news agency: 'We wish everyone the best of luck tonight.'
On "their" Instagram story, Bambie Thug wrote: 'Dear Coven, there's definitely a war drum sounding in my heart.'
Bambie has been critical of Israel competing in the contest.
Bambie Thug, representing Ireland
Eurovision 's pro-Palestine Irish act Bambie Thug launched into a furious rant about their 'horrible' experience on the show after placing behind Israel in the final
Ireland's Bambie Thug accused Eurovision bosses of 'not supporting' them amid a row with Israel
Bambie self-describes as a 'queer witch'
Bambie's performance of "their" song, Doomsday Blue, involved 'a lot of spells, black magic and dark clothing, Satanic symbols, and voodoo dolls'.
Bambie, who self-describes as a 'queer witch'
Ireland's entry Bambie
Eurovision fans said Ireland's performance should 'come with a nightmare warning'
The 31-year-old contestant cried when Israel made the finals
Bambie Thug of Ireland performs the song Doomsday Blue during the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden
Bambie, who has been outspoken about "their" pro-Palestine views
"They sang" while performing a ritual surrounded by candles and were joined on stage by a male dancer wearing demonic makeup
No comments:
Post a Comment