Stating that Noam Chomsky is a Communist is like saying that power cables do make a difference in sound - i believe McArthy is long gone- !
He is a great professor in his subject, inclined to pacifistic anarchism and not in communism. Absolutelly not the same thing.
There are certain reasons to denounce Roger Waters (his last record was atrocious !!!!! ) but not his anti-semitism. I am sure he has many Jew friends that support him too.
Critisising a certain regime for inhumane acts is not a reason of accusing anyone of certain -isms. I myself with an uncle being one of the few Greek survivors from the concentration camps, two broken ribs from a fight with some Golden Dawn Neo-Nazi goons, for their acts in the local synagogue and having read with my kids, while they were still in the kindergarden, Art Spiegelman's "Maus" as "lesson to be learned early in your life kids" i cannot say that i stand sympathetic to a regime that advertises their weapons as reliable since they were primarly tested in people.
Unfortunatelly the whole hatred in our mediterranean neighborhood is fed by religious beliefs which in turn -as they are based on religion not objective hard facts- promote dogma, fanatisism and hatred between people. I have critisized both sides attrocities but right now the bully in the area is the state that builds huge walls, bombs hospitals, shoots kids and condemn people to starvation.
There is no difference here with the fight (???) between Greece and Turkey. I have many Turkish friends that i enjoy their open minds and friendship and on the other side i see all the religious morrons, Christian Orthodoxes and Muslims that they fanatically support their f...ing absolute God-given truth and superiority both promoting violence and hatred. Since this is an objectivity promoting forum it is good not to be guided by sentiment but on facts and to recognise fanatisism as a power that keeps us blind-sighted and deprives us from our objectivity.
Apologies if with all above i offended someone, Didn't mean to.
Long talk short
i cannot denounce Waters for his beliefs but for his present music (his work with Pink Floyd is another matter!)
I cannot denounce Wagner for his racism, "Der ring des Nibelungen" is my second most favourite classical composition (Beethoven's ninth being my first
). Still, i will point Wagners beliefs every time a discussion about his work and life arise.
Being a great artist does not make you a great person or immune to strange dogmas and actions. No person is without fault.
Someone above mentioned paedophiles. That is another story. Practising absolute power to defensless living creatures that kids are, is barbaric and a hideous monstrosity, there is no excuse for such an act. There's no support nor sympathy for any paedophile being a good artist, good scientist, good whatever. He/She is a monster.