Defending Morrissey against accusations of racism sometimes feels like being a holocaust denier. Except... context is everything.
It should have been cause for celebration. Two of my greatest heroes in conversation. Marsden poet and part time Scaremonger Simon Armitage interviews Morrissey - my idea of bliss! But then it all turned sour due to another of those incendiary remarks that always get Morrissey in trouble and fuel the fire of his detractors and all those who believe he's a racist.
Whatever you believe about Morrissey and his outspoken opinions, this blogpost won't change your mind. I'm wasting my time even typing it. But as one of Moz's biggest fans, there's a part of me feels I can't stay silent when he does something like this. Doing so while continuing my vociferous support of his work may indeed seem like tacit agreement with his supposed racist opinions. And so I granted a rare interview of my own...
"OK, Rol, let's get right to it. Do you think Morrissey, your Number One Musical Hero, the artist you believe has spoken more about 'your life' in his lyrics than any other, the 'pop star' you consider the most quotable of his - or any other - generation... do you think Morrissey is a racist?"
"No. I think Morrissey is a misanthrope. As a partial misanthrope myself, I recognise that in him. (Normally I wouldn't use the word 'partial' to describe my own misanthropy, yet compared with Morrissey... I'm an idealistic humanitarian.) Morrissey takes misanthropy to levels even I occasionally find... extreme. But I'm sure he feels entitled to think that way, and why should I care if he does? Sometimes I feel bad for him, but I don't condemn him for it."
"Yeah, yeah, but you're getting off the point. You really think when he says the Chinese are a 'subspecies' for the way they treat animals... he's not being racist? Really?"
"Oh boy, where do I start? Firstly, whatever else you might think of Morrissey, I can tell you one thing unequivocally... if you think he's stupid: you're wrong. A remark like that, with his reputation, he'd have to be a complete idiot to say something like that and not know that it'd kick up a shitstorm."
"So why say it?"
"Well, it's no secret that Morrissey is someone who has more sympathy for animals than his fellow human beings. This is the songwriter who gave us Meat Is Murder, who is a vocal supporter of extreme animal rights activism, who refuses to perform at any venue that even allows meat on the premises while he's there. Now it appears he's got a bee in his bonnet about China's record on animal welfare. And he's got an interview with a major UK newspaper. And he knows that merely saying "I don't like the way the Chinese treat cats and dogs" as part of that interview won't be enough to make the headlines he feels this issue deserves. So he chooses far more controversial words, words that he knows will guarantee headlines and a stink. He doesn't care if a few more people hate Morrissey as a result of those comments - he long since gave up caring how many people hate Morrissey. But if one more person is made aware of a subject he feels passionately about... if one more voice is raised in protest as a result of his comments... then in Morrissey's mind, it'll all be worth while."
"But... 'sub-species'... isn't that verging on the kind of language Nazis would use?"
"Do you know what? I think if Morrissey ever met me, he'd think I was a subspecies too. I had a bacon sandwich for my lunch, I'm having chicken for tea. I already know he thinks I'm a murderer. I'm certain he'd rather I died than one more pig or chicken. He feels that strongly about vegetarianism and animal rights. Anyone who doesn't agree with him, I'm sure he reckons they're a lesser form of life. I'm not losing any sleep over that. I grew up on a farm where animals were sent to market every few months and turkeys had their necks wrung at Christmas. I am his enemy. Compared with Morrissey's 'higher' ideals, I probably am a sub-species. I don't agree with him, but I respect his right to speak out about something he feels so very passionately about."
"But after every other such remark he's made in the past..."
"All of which are a matter of context. Ignorant people complained that Asian Rut or National Front Disco were racist songs, when I consider them outsider anthems. Just as November Spawned A Monster looked at negative attitudes towards the handicapped. Controversial, yes... bigoted? I'm sorry, I just don't see it."
"There are many who would disagree with you about that..."
"There are many who would disagree with me about all kinds of things. And I don't expect to change their opinions any more than I expect them to change mine."
"So basically, nothing Morrissey says will make you think ill of him? He can do no wrong in your rose-tinted fan-worship sunglasses?"
"No. He can do wrong. He has. Do I wish he hadn't used the words he used in that interview? Absolutely. Because, whatever his motivation, his carefully considered choice of language won't change anything, all it does is give the anti-Morrissey lobby another stick to beat him with. But just like Simon Armitage, it doesn't change how I feel about him as an artist."
"Because you don't believe he's a racist."
"Because I don't believe he's a racist."
"But if you did...?"
"If I did believe he was a racist, would it change how I felt about his music and his art? No. It'd change how I felt about him as a person, but it wouldn't stop me loving There Is A Light That Never Goes Out or Every Day Is Like Sunday or First Of The Gang To Die. Here's a question for you... Does that make me a racist?"
