The recent spat between Macklemore and Patriots owner Robert Kraft regarding Macklemore’s presence on Ed Sheeran’s tour has led to some good.
On Wednesday, Macklemore announced that he will be donating $1 million to Palestinian relief organizations.
“Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protection,” Macklemore wrote on social media. “A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any life on this earth.”
Macklemore “invited” Kraft to match the donation. Kraft did, and he doubled it.
“Earlier today,” Kraft said, “before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis. Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.”
Macklemore’s exit from the tour happened after support for Palestine that Kraft believed “crossed the line” into hate speech. Other venues expressed concern, leading to Macklemore’s exit from Sheeran’s tour.
Regardless of the geopolitical forces at play, the simple fact remains that many human beings who simply hope to live their lives and love their families have been caught in the middle of hostilities for which they have no responsibility and in which they have no role. They need help, and they’ll be getting more of it through these donations.
And perhaps the gestures will inspire others to donate to efforts to provide relief for those affected by the situation.
