At the Alaska 9/11 Palin/Beck rally they played IZ's song. Shame on them!

[Tx4obama]

Run time: 05:05 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWeL181JFIk   Posted on YouTube: June 26, 2010 By YouTube Member: butoias20072007 Views on YouTube: 2244   Posted on DU: September 14, 2010 By DU Member: Tx4obama Views on DU: 509

 
I am so very upset with Palin & Beck which is not very unusual, but I am even MORE upset than usual due to their playing (Israel Kamakawiwo'ole) IZ's 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' song.

Excerpt below regarding the Palin/Beck rally from: http://www.themudflats.net/2010/09/12/beckpalin-911-palooza-in-anchorage-the-pre-game-show/

The loudspeaker pipes in Iz’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” I smile at the irony that the only thing in the room I survey that has any hint of ethnic diversity is the guy singing over the loudspeaker. Then comes Elton John’s Tiny Dancer, and I smile at the irony that the only openly gay person in the room is the guy singing over the loudspeaker. By the time Jimmy Buffet came on, I am deep into my plastic cup of White Zinfandel, just feeling thankful that it isn’t some awful Christian rock band or country music.
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The video I posted is NOT the official version since DU wouldn't allow me to post it because it has been previously posted on DU.
HERE is a link to the official version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I

IZ was a wonderful person.
IZ was a very gentle and loving person.
He was very famous in Hawaii.
He passed away in 1997.
I believe it is a disgrace that Palin and Beck used IZ's song at their hate/fearmongering event!
IZ's BIO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Kamakawiwo%CA%BBole

For anyone that doesn't know -- IZ's version of the song "Somewhere over the Rainbow" was the last song played at Tim Russert's memorial service. Right before the people that attended Russert's memorial service exited the building it began to rain and there was a DOUBLE RAINBOW that stretched across the D.C. sky.
A double rainbow signifies 'a blessing from up above'.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Iz was everything that they are NOT!

I hope Iz's family releases a statement voicing their displeasure!:grr:

[Ineeda]

2. How painful and insulting.

BTW - and Buffett is as liberal as you get, whether you like his music or not. They should have only played military and patriotic music, along with a little Ted Nugent.

[herbm]

5. Why do they get dibs on patriotic music? I am GOP, voted for the President and John Kerry before him

and I supported Gov Dean. I am patriotic and am amazed that too many mistake jingoism for patriotism. Palin and Beck have no sense of the Bill of Rights, what it means to serve the nation in uniform or otherwise. They are the venders outside selling inchoate teabaggers flags to wrap themselves up in. And not one of them is patriotic, let alone a Patriot.

[Iterate]

3. It's what religious warriors do - seize the sacred icons of the other side

and defile them, whether it's a burning a Quran, "taking back" the Lincoln Memorial, claiming ownership of special dates in our history, or playing this most peaceful and hopeful song at an event designed to stir nationalism and revenge fantasies.

We should expect anything we hold dear as sacred to be assaulted in this way, but it's hard to imagine what's left.

ETA, and from today's news, the Statue of Liberty.

[pinboy3niner]

4. The Right rips off the work of artists who would never support them...

...all the time. Ironically, they've even misappropriated Springstein's 'Born in the USA.'

Earlier this year, Mitt Romney was played onstage at a Michele Bachmann campaign event to CCR's recording of John Fogerty's 'Fortunate Son' (I swear I'm not making this up).

Recently, Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey (the surviving members of Peter, Paul and Mary) sent a cease-and-desist letter to the National Organization for Marriage after they learned NOM was using their PPM recording of 'This Land is Your Land' at events on NOM's anti-gay summer bus tour. DU link:

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=556660&mesg_id=556660

Thanks for the story and for the links on Iz and his work. (And the official video is far superior to the other.)

[Dennis Donovan]

6. agreed - the official video puts a lump in my throat every time

:cry: