What I remember about the incident was the outrage it inspired. A lot of people were really angry about what he said. People had loved his music, and bought so many of his records, but then, suddenly it didn't matter. Suddenly, people could not forgive him; they were demanding that all of his records be banned and that he never be allowed to come to the United States again. It was March of 1966, and John Lennon of the Beatles had said in an interview that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. I think I knew what he meant-- it was a somewhat flippant comment about the nature of fame and how influential rock stars were with young people. But in the Bible Belt, it was considered blasphemy, and they took it as an attack on their faith. Some radio stations stopped playing Beatles records, some even held public events where Beatles records were burned. Lennon did get to travel to the US on numerous occasions, and eventually became a permanent US resident; but there were some people who never forgave him for what he had said.
Fast forward to February 1989. Cat Stevens, who had so many hits in the early 70s, great songs like "Peace Train" and "Wild World" (and an album track I always loved, "Father and Son"), had converted to Islam in late 1977 and walked away from his music career. He became very fervent in his beliefs, and at a forum at a London university, where he was giving his views on world events, he was asked about controversial author Salman Rushdie, whose book was deemed blasphemous by religious Muslims. Rushdie had been put under a fatwa by Ayatollah Khomeini, who called for his death. Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, seemed to agree that anyone who blasphemes the Prophet Muhammad was indeed deserving of death. And when the New York Times reported that the former singer had been approving of the fatwa, many of his (now former) fans were appalled. Stevens seemed to realize he had expressed himself very badly, because he tried to clarify his remarks almost immediately, explaining that he was just describing the sentence for blasphemy in Islam, but he was not calling for Rushdie's death. Many people saw this as a distinction without a difference, and even years later, they couldn't forgive him.
Fast forward to 2025. Yusuf Islam became a lot more moderate as the years passed, and today, as Yusuf Cat Stevens, he continues to try to explain what he said, what he meant, and what he believed back in 1989, compared to where his spiritual journey has taken him since. For years, he has lived a peaceful life, eventually coming back to his music (after years of not playing it), but some fans have never forgiven him; by many accounts, Rushdie hasn't forgiven him either. And now, more than 35 years later, the US government is also unwilling to forgive him. He has a new book and was planning to tour some US cities, discussing his life and playing some of his songs. But the tour had to be cancelled because he was unable to get a visa.
We are living in a time when lots of famous people, are getting in trouble for making statements that are perceived as controversial. When Republican activist Charlie Kirk died, comedian Jimmy Kimmel made some remarks that were perceived as offensive by Kirk's supporters, and he also mocked the president at the same time; the president and the chair of the FCC were furious and suggested that ABC needed to take some action. So, Kimmel was suspended, while outraged conservative commentators demanded he be fired. On the other hand, many folks debated whether what he said merited a suspension and the precedent it set for the government to imply that a network would be in trouble if the president disliked what someone on TV had said. He was back on the air several days later, but the debate continues.
And here we are, in a media universe where it's easy to stir up outrage, and where people can hold onto grudges for decades. So, are we better off because Yusuf Cat Stevens can't tour America? Are we better off that a comedian can be suspended for something he said to displease the current administration? Back in late September 2001, after comedian Bill Maher made controversial remarks (leading to his show being cancelled), then-president George W. Bush's press secretary Ari Fleischer reminded everyone to "watch what they say, watch what they do." I found that chilling advice then, and I find it a very frightening prospect now. I may not agree with certain views, but the threat that they'll be banned worries me a lot. I doubt I'd attend Yusuf Cat Stevens' talk, but he ought to have the right to deliver it. I mean, how long do we hold what someone said against them? And who decides which views are permissible? That, my friends, is the question.
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