A folk singer from Oregon plans to serenade ISIS into giving peace a chance next week when he travels to Syria to perform a concert.
James Twyman, a self-styled "Peace Troubadour," has been repeatedly warned by the State Department not to travel to war-torn Syria, but he remains committed to going,
Fox News reported.
"It’s going to be pretty powerful," Twyman said. "When people come together and focus on something in a positive way . . . there’s scientific evidence that it can change things for the better."
Twyman plans to fly to Israel on Wednesday, and will cross the northern border into Syria to arrive at a small Druze village, Majdal Shams, which is occupied by Israel.
His contacts there are currently trying to set up a concert venue in ISIS-controlled territory on Jan. 31, and Twyman plans to be joined at his show by a large group of Jews, Muslims, and Christians.
"Each one will lead the group in prayer from their religion," he said. "It’s going to be pretty powerful."
GQ magazine called the plan "essentially the sonic equivalent of a Coexist bumper sticker," and even the
San Francisco Chronicle pointed out that "the State Department’s attitude towards American citizens traveling to Syria is basically, 'Are you nuts?'"
Officially, the State Department declares on its website that "no part of Syria should be considered safe from violence. The potential for hostile acts exists throughout the country, including kidnappings and the use of chemical warfare against civilian populations."
Fox News reminded readers that ISIS has a well-documented history of beheading Westerners, throwing gay people off buildings, lighting people on fire, and raping and torturing innocent women and children.