The Personal is the Political

A Polish concert pianist named Krystian Zimerman, who said he would not return to the United States until the chimp was removed from the White House, has given a recital in Los Angeles only to announce that he won't be back again until Washington's military policies meet with his approval. Zimerman is apparently annoyed at the Obama administration's decision to maintain the missile defence shield boondoggle, which is designed to neutralise any threat to the United States from Iran by stationing missiles in central Europe and pointing them at Russia. Zimerman has also denounced the Guantánomaly, but Britain's leading liberal newspaper has traced the source of his indignation to a piano which was pre-emptively disassembled by zealous airport customs officials. He may also have been irritated at having to perform at a venue called Disney Hall. I certainly would have been.