High Praise for Robin Williams: Much Ado About Nothing?

By Nadrat Siddique

The eulogies are pouring out of the Israeli press: the Times of Israel, Ha’aretz, the Jerusalem Post and others are raving about the life of one recently departed soul. Well it sure ain’t Ruby Dee, Amiri Baraka, Maya Angelou, or Rubin “Hurricane” Carter—all well known public figures who contributed significantly to downtrodden communities and died within the last one year. The Zionist media, both here and in Israel itself, are gushing over Robin Williams.

 

Now I hate to be a naysayer or uncouth, in having the audacity to speak critically of someone who has just passed. And—as anyone who knows me is aware, I have a seemingly endless reservoir of empathy for anyone suffering from mental or physical illness. Sufferers of clinical depression, manic depressive illness, Parkinson’s and other diseases deserve all the support in the world. However, as a Muslim, I subscribe to the Islamic maxim that “Allah alone is without fault,” and that conversely, every human is fallible and fault-ridden. Lionizing some, as the corporate media is prone to do, is not helpful, even in the case of an untimely death such as Williams.

 

In Williams case, we should, at the very least be aware of his pro-war and pro-Israel actions.

 

Pro-War

 

Williams was one of the first entertainers to travel to Afghanistan after the onset of the U.S. war there. In 2002, he entertained U.S. troops in Afghanistan while that country was being pounded by U.S. missiles.  In December 2010, he performed for U.S. troops at Baghram Airforce Base in Afghanistan. Recall this is the same base at which political prisoner Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was detained and tortured. She was already in custody at the time Williams visited. However, the comedian did not bring up her name, even as a humanitarian gesture.

 

Williams’ trips were not limited to Afghanistan. According to the Washington Post, he accompanied the United Service Organizations (USO) to Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the main objectives of the USO is to maintain troop morale. Williams spoke to and entertained groups of servicemen in both countries, thanking them for their service--in other words, big ups on maintaining an illegal occupation. (“Remembering Robin Williams’ strong support for the troops,” Dan Lamothe, August 11, 2014)

 

Support for Israel

 

Williams rise to celebrity in a heavily Zionist-dominated Hollywood did not occur by chance. He was a major apologist for the colonial-settler state, performing a major tribute to Israel at its 60th Anniversary Celebration in Times Square. The celebration occurred in 2008 while the economic blockade on Gaza was in full swing, and as Palestinians were being killed daily by the IDF. You can see his salute to Israel (along with that of several other celebrities) in Times Square here:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edIZyz3OdKA

 

Raised as an Episcopalian—and not a Jew—he helped build sympathy for the Jewish Holocaust, playing roles such as that of an occupant of the Warsaw Ghetto in “Jakob the Liar.”

Interestingly, Williams described himself as an “honorary Jew.” The actor recently posted a picture on Twitter depicting himself in a white yarmulke (while on the set of a TV series he was recording). The photo was accompanied by a quip that it might be time for a career change (i.e., to rabbi).

 

You can see the picture here:

 

http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/19955/robin-williams-honorary-jew-friend-israel/#w3ygqboihklyAej7.97

 

And—in many of his skits, he plays a stereotypical elderly Jewish lady or a New York rabbi.

One wonders why he would go to such lengths to associate himself with Jews, Judaism, and by extension Zionism, particularly in this time when the world is increasingly questioning Israel (and those viewed as associated with it), on many levels: humanitarian, Islamic, racial, or international law.

 

In other words, Israel is no longer the prima donna who cannot be questioned, and the world community is finally finding its voice in questioning the last colonial settler state to exist. And even Jews are questioning Jews on their support for Israel. One result of the scrutinizing and increased reporting on Israel’s massive human rights violations is that among some politically unaware types, anti-Semitism is on the rise. So the question arises, why would someone like Williams refer to themselves as an “honorary Jew,” particularly in this day and time? One possible answer might be that Williams wished to maintain and further his career in a Zionist-dominated Hollywood.  The censure received by actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem for their recent vocal support for the Palestinians, never mind that they are extremely accomplished film personalities, demonstrates that Hollywood remains a Zionist enclave.

Meantime, to all the Muslims gushing with praises for Robin Williams, I say save your energy. It would be better spent in fighting to liberate Muslim political prisoners like Dr. Aafia, to whom Williams turned a blind eye—or rebuilding one of the many countries destroyed by the imperialist armies whose spirits he sought to maintain.