American news outlets often report on the political mouthings-off of actors, from Tim Robbins’s liberal activism to Will.I.Am’s awesome Obama video. Israeli actors–one Arab and one Jewish–are also taking a political stand now, but they’re putting their money where their mouth is and boycotting a theater opening up in the Israeli settlement block of Ariel. The first play to be shown in the new venue: Bertolt Brecht’s “The Caucasian Chalk Circle,” about two peoples fighting over a piece of land. Tactful choice. [The Lede]
Back in America, Jewish Week Editor and Publisher Gary Rosenblatt wants to hear less mouthing off and more thoughtful discussion. Rosenblatt’s sad observation: “Our community is growing ever more divided, on issue after issue, and now is as bitterly polarized as I’ve seen in the last 17 years.” [The Jewish Week]
On one side of the political conversation is Billy “Upski” Wimsatt, Chicago grafitti artist and political activist, who has launched a new initiative to support liberal candidates ahead of the November midterms. The slogan for the movement is “Defend the dream,” a strange choice given how close it is to “Defending the Dream,” the title of the uber-conservative Americans For Prosperity conference. Bipartisanship? Probably not. [12-Week Plan]
On the other hand, perhaps the greatest threat to our national political conversation is the death of books, covered in slightly-fearmongering fashion here. [Chronicle of Higher Ed.]
For the record: New Voices had the story first. [New Voices]
Tired of politics? Kick back and have a brewski. [Complex]
