Just a few weeks ago, a venue in San Diego, California denied on political grounds the use of their theater to renowned Lebanese musician Marcel Khalifé, after local concert organizers had already arranged the event with the Salvation Army, who operates the venue, The Joan B. Kroc Theatre at the Salvation Army Corps Community Center.
The possibly discriminatory incident demonstrates the misperceptions and tensions that exist in today’s political climate towards Arabs, even those who advocate for peace. Concert organizers—who had been in touch with the venue for several months and had followed their application process rigorously—were told that a concert by Khalifé—an UNESCO Artist for Peace— would be "divisive" and "unbalanced" because it does not present an Israeli artist alongside Khalifé.
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