The Tug of War Tour: Coming to A Conscience Near You

The Tug of War Tour is a thought-provoking and multi-dimensional artistic endeavor that explores narratives of conflict and co-existence between Muslims and Jews. The brainchild of M.C. Sneakas and M.C. Serch (of Third Bass fame and VH1’s White Rapper Show), the tour features the controversial rap group Most Hated (consisting of Sneakas and Muslim-Iranian rapper Mazzi), in addition to spoken-word poets Vanessa Hidary and Tahani Salah (both of whom have been featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam).

One of the unique features of the show is our artists’ commitment to eschew clichés and authentically express “hot button” issues without fear of offense or name-calling. The goal is to challenge our viewers (and ourselves) to see that subjects such as religion, identity, racism, terrorism, and peace have many sides to them. The artist on the tour often vigorously disagree with one another, but succeeding where politicians have failed, we are also united by a vision of respectful co-existence.

Check out the promo video for the tour and help spread the word.

Featured Friend – Vanessa Hidary: ‘His First White Girl’

His First White Girl

The first night we hooked up, he told me he’d never been with a Jewish girl before.
He looked at me like he wanted me to tell him I’d never been with a Puerto Rican before.
But it was little too late in life for all that.
My very first kiss was with Anthony Santiago in the PS 166 playground.
He Said, I mean I’ve been with a white woman before but not a Jewish one.
I think he said White woman cause he thought white girl would be
offensive to me.
Me being a “conscious poet” and shit…..
Unfortunately for him It was the other way around.
White woman always sounded strange to me.
like Barbara Bush or women who clench their purses tight when black men enter elevators.
I’d rather be called girl.
Actually I’d rather be called nothing.

He wandered around my apt. stopping at family photographs and the Hamsas,
The Hands of G-d that align my walls.
“Can I touch it?” he asked, a finger above one like a hot stove.
“No no,” I told him, “Only Jews can touch that!”
He jumped back.
I laughed. I’m Just fuckin’ with you fool , of course you can touch it.
It’s a Hamsa. It’s to ward off the evil eye.
I wear it around my neck every day.
When he came to my grandmothers face in a frame he stopped.
“Who’s that?”
My grandmother.
When she came here from Syria through Ellis island.
He told me “your family looks dark. Like Arabs.”
And I told him, “yes because they are.”
“Arab Jews how could that be?”
And so as we sat on my hardwood floor I explained the Inquisition, and the Jews Expulsion from Spain,
and how my ancestors fled to Syria.
I explained that my grandmother spoke Arabic and that
When my grandfather came here he sold linens on the lower east side.
I told him of how sometimes the lighter Jews from Eastern Europe looked down on the darker Jews and it was older immigrant fighting newer immigrant,
Like the way things still sometimes go down today.
I told him how my grandfather contracted this awful condition called
Hoof and mouth disease from the imported linens,
And was saved by a miraculous invention that year of a new drug called Penicillin.
I told him of how my grandfather had made a contract with G-d that if he survived he would devote his life to Hashem.
And he did.
And so all of a sudden my mother become orthodox.
And that it really sucked because my grandfather got transferred to Oklahoma City
and there were no Jews there.
So the kids teased my mom, because she had to bring an all kosher lunch to school and couldn’t go play with her friends from Sundown on Fri to sundown on Saturday to observe the Sabbath.
And because of this,
My mother became a fervid reader and a writer,
Because that was all she could do for those 24 hours every week,
While the men prayed at temple.
And she passed this passion on to me,
And I
Fell in love with words.
He looked at me and seemed surprised by my story
What? I snapped. Did you think Jews landed on Plymouth Rock, like the Pilgrims??
I think I sounded defensive.
I sometimes get this way.
Sometimes I’m right,
sometimes I’m wrong.
I dunno.
It’s a strange thing,
Cause many people don’t assume I’m Jewish,
So sometimes they say crazy shit around me.
So I kinda blurt it out,
or wear a star of David,
or call myself The Hebrew Mamita,
So It’s just out there.
And so someone I’m enjoying talking to, won’t disappoint me.
But sometimes I’m wrong.
and I caught myself being defensive with him.
And I liked him.
He was sitting on my hardwood floor.

“No”. he answered. I didn’t think that. I just never thought about it.
And he leaned in and kissed me.
“How was it?” I asked, “kissing your first Jewish Girl.”
Nice he laughed, you taste of travel and desert and sand and history.
“How was it?” he asked. “Kissing another Puerto Rican guy.”
Nice I laughed. You taste of travel, and water, el Junque and history.
You taste open.
I like that taste in my mouth.

Hebrew Mamita – Da Mix

Check it out – Some cats from Germany managed to remix the poetry (below) of my friend Vanessa Hidary, aka the Hebrew Mamita. Have a listen.

The Straw that Broke the Pussy’s Back
By Vanessa Hidary

This pussy, is shut down for your business

Closed,

moving

Far Far Away

For sale sign in the window

And the new rent -is too high for you to afford

You had it so good.

Shopped till you dropped

Access at all times of the night

Your picture on the wall-

Employee of the goddamn month

For 8 months straight

I dusted, trusted, your busted ego my friend

But now that’s all come to a screeching end

Cause This pussy, is shut down for your business!

Closed. Done.

No hairpin or credit card can pick this lock

Once a master locksmith you’ll now be unemployed

on welfare

Cause I’m telling you this pussy, is shut down for your business!

Gone south for winter

Filed for spiritual bankruptcy

Packed, duct taped, boxes piled high

Lost our lease, bye, see ya later

Glad you enjoyed the sample sales, the 4 star service,

The customer is always right attitude

The prices I marked down, down, down, down,

For your peddling ass, door to door with your hustle.

Worse than any sleazy encyclopedia salesman,

I can’t believe I let you browse my goods

let alone get them on full credit.

Once tried to close shop like a lady

But then your shady ass came back right to me

Just as I was about to do inventory!

Why? Cause It’s been convenient, warm, open 24 7

And your monopoly money was “ch- chinged” with no questions

But Playa, you just landed your dice on Go to motherfuckin jail,

The management has ordered no more red dot sales

Cause I’m telling you this pussy is shut down for your business

No pity party over here-

I admit I played the fool,

let you in time and time again

so maybe I deserve this

But now this store is being remodeled, refurbished

Construction, saw dust, rewiring and the whole shit

Motherfuckers might get electrocuted if they step a little too boldly to the right

They have you to thank

For the once friendly general store gone corporate

Yes that’s right, this pussys going corporate

The unionless pussy just got fucked just one too many times

How American

The mom and pop stores always getting fucked over by the Chains

So broke from your looting spree,

I Can’t afford to beat em, so I’ll join em,

My god, what a fool I was to trust robbers with a screen door

I should of bolted up my shit, sliding chains, padlocks, bullet proof and the nine,

Even a mere childproof latch might have kept you at bay

But now I’ve cracked my own code, saw stock in bigger business,

And now This pussy is shut down for your business!

No big loss to you I’m sure

Other stores will open their doors wide to you

Then stare Dumfounded when their shelves are empty and their registers are bare,

So go and snip opening day ribbons at someone else’s door

Tell some naïve entrepreneur, she needs not buy insurance and protection

As for me? I have no forwarding info

the better business bureau is on my side

You’ll next see me on a cruise

Pina coloda in my outstretched hand

Mr. Rork at the shore putting a Hawaiian thingy- majiggy around my neck

Aloha motherfucker!!!!!!!!!

I’m on Fantasy Island making millions writing your story

Cause when you thought you were screwing me,

I was already on page 23,

Too bad You never saw the fire in me

Now-I’m Turning rags to riches

Cause maybe you thought I was one of those forgive and forget bitches

No fool. I’m One of the slickest revenge by the pen snitches,

See who’s where- when all the power switches

Cause this pussy is forever shut down for your motherfuckin business!!!!!