Banksy’s Refugee Boat protest at Glastonbury drew fire from a number of corners of the political and media spectrum. Across the board it was evident that everyone missed the point.
The raft (containing dummies and emblazoned with an iconic image) was launched into the crowd during the Idles song Danny Nedelko. No one, including the band, knew this was initiated by Banksy.
In this, the audience becomes an unwitting participant as the raft is ‘body surfed’ over the heads of the crowd who clearly think that this is part of the bands performance.
It was denounced as ‘vile’ by the British Home Secretary and branded as ‘middle class self indulgence’ and ‘tasteless lazy liberalism’ by MSM. However for my money it appears that Banksy hit the target, viz public and political sentiment around the issue of ‘boat people’ and ‘asylum seekers’ at point blank range.
Have we, the public, become the unwitting means by which the media and political machinations ensure that the issue of asylum and those seeking it, is an issue forever circulating in the divisive realms of ‘personal opinion’ and public speculation, dooming those who seek to escape various dire situations and risk their lives undertaking perilous journeys in overloaded and often less than sea worthy vessels only to die at sea or face an often hostile reception or incarceration on reaching their destination.
Image @ Independent Media
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