Friday, March 19, 2004
This just in:
(Washington, DC) WHITE HOUSE AND INS DENY VISAS FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL MUSICIANS
The White House and the Immigration and Naturalization Service announced yesterday that as of February 1st, visas for any and all international musicians to perform in the U.S. will be denied indefinitely.
INS spokeswoman Linda Emerson read a statement issued yesterday which read, in part: "It may sound extreme or over-arching but the United States Government and the Immigration and Naturalization Service feel that the only foolproof way of preventing further terrorist activity or dissemination of anti-US or "questionable" opinion is to have the policy of total denial be blanket in nature." However, she added, "those international artists currently on tour in the United States will be allowed to complete their tours before being allowed to return home to their respective countries."
White House spokesman Jeremy Thornton added: "It's a privilege, and an often very very profitable one, to perform in the United States. We don't want, and simply can't have, anyone performing here who might be critical of either the President, his policies or his administration. That's an outrage. The President loves freedom, and we know there are lots of foreign artists who love the US, the President and freedom too, but we can't make exceptions for them. To be completely fair, everyone's got to be shut out. At least for the time being."
The White House added that it would be looking next at American groups who do "world music," or, the music of other countries. "We know there are groups and musicians in this country that are sympathetic with the people of other countries, for example Cuba or Finland, and who are critical of our government in their lyrics. We will be looking at these groups and individuals, and seeing what we can do about them."
-- from roving correspondant Mark Gorney
(None dare call it parody dept.)
(originally posted Tues Mar 02 11:13:55 AM,
but it's such a good one to keep thinking about).
¶ 3/19/2004 12:27:00 PM
(Washington, DC) WHITE HOUSE AND INS DENY VISAS FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL MUSICIANS
The White House and the Immigration and Naturalization Service announced yesterday that as of February 1st, visas for any and all international musicians to perform in the U.S. will be denied indefinitely.
INS spokeswoman Linda Emerson read a statement issued yesterday which read, in part: "It may sound extreme or over-arching but the United States Government and the Immigration and Naturalization Service feel that the only foolproof way of preventing further terrorist activity or dissemination of anti-US or "questionable" opinion is to have the policy of total denial be blanket in nature." However, she added, "those international artists currently on tour in the United States will be allowed to complete their tours before being allowed to return home to their respective countries."
White House spokesman Jeremy Thornton added: "It's a privilege, and an often very very profitable one, to perform in the United States. We don't want, and simply can't have, anyone performing here who might be critical of either the President, his policies or his administration. That's an outrage. The President loves freedom, and we know there are lots of foreign artists who love the US, the President and freedom too, but we can't make exceptions for them. To be completely fair, everyone's got to be shut out. At least for the time being."
The White House added that it would be looking next at American groups who do "world music," or, the music of other countries. "We know there are groups and musicians in this country that are sympathetic with the people of other countries, for example Cuba or Finland, and who are critical of our government in their lyrics. We will be looking at these groups and individuals, and seeing what we can do about them."
-- from roving correspondant Mark Gorney
(None dare call it parody dept.)
(originally posted Tues Mar 02 11:13:55 AM,
but it's such a good one to keep thinking about).
¶ 3/19/2004 12:27:00 PM
