Morrissey’s Defense Of Free Speech Underlines What Both Right And Left Get Wrong - The Federalist

Morrissey’s Defense Of Free Speech Underlines What Both Right And Left Get Wrong - The Federalist

Morrissey has penned an eloquent attack on those who oppose free speech, but it has lessons for the defenders, too.

Excerpt:

"Former Smiths front man and international superstar solo artist Morrissey has found himself in progressives’ crosshairs again. This time, the controversial crooner has hit back in a new form. After being savaged as a racist xenophobe by the United Kingdom newspaper The Independent in what was supposed to be a concert review, Morrissey launched a new website with a brutal screed attacking both the outlet and British society in general.

This is not the first time Morrissey has been attacked by the politically correct brigade. Last year he came under fire for suggesting that acts of Islamic terror are often committed by Muslims and that the U.K. government has been far too lax in confronting the problem. This year the issue seems to be that he has said nice things about Brexit and had the temerity to waive a Union Jack flag that a fan brought to his concert in London."

The Federalist.com - by David Marcus.

A long examination of the topic.
Regards,
FWD.


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He’s a person who exists in the world and that alone makes him eligible to comment and express his thoughts on it. At the end of the day no ones making anyone read it or pay any attention to what he says. If people just want him to sing then why don’t they just listen to him sing and let that be it instead of suggesting he shouldn’t express his opinion. It’s like they can’t let it go. That he should just go to work hush and sing for them because duh he’s a singer

Because his music isn't good enough to overshadow his views like it was in the past. Some fans feel like they're not getting enough in return for sitting through his drunk uncle rants. They've overshadowed his music.

He's also become less of a sympathetic and vulnerable figure, and more of an outright asshole seeking to attack people in rather immature, and unproductive ways. Only people with personality disorders are attracted to that.

Also, I don't think any critic expects him to shut up. I think they wish he felt differently, and now feel more distance from him as his worldview comes into focus.

Look, you lie with a dog, and you're going to get flees. At this point, Morrissey is infested with flees, and he only has himself to blame. This is what people are going to talk about when Morrissey is dead. The Internet never forgets.

Finally, I don't want to hear anything about "freedom" from Morrissey ever again. The man is a petty dictator in his own world who attempts to shame, and control other people's behavior.

These faux rebels like Morrissey who play to both extremes aren't freedom advocates, they're little politicians trying to curry favor from both extremes. It's equivocating. It's a cop out, and neither brave, nor a meaningful tool for change.
 
Most Brits here would be aware of Orwell’s essay The Lion & The Unicorn. It’s a brilliant skewering of England and Britain from an old fashioned patriotic socialist, but is famous particularly for a passage often quoted when discussing the modern left. I’ll paste it here for those abroad who may not have read it:

“In intention, at any rate, the English intelligentsia are Europeanised. They take their cookery from Paris and their opinions from Moscow. In the general patriotism of the country they form a sort of island of dissident thought. England is perhaps the only great country whose intellectuals are ashamed of their own nationality. In left-wing circles it is always felt that there is something slightly disgraceful in being an Englishman and that it is a duty to snigger at every English institution, from horse racing to suet puddings. It is a strange fact, but it is unquestionably true that almost any English intellectual would feel more ashamed of standing to attention during “God save the King” than of stealing from a poor box. All through the critical years many left-wingers were chipping away at English morale, trying to spread an outlook that was sometimes squashily pacifist, sometimes violently pro-Russian, but always anti-British.”

It is as true today as when he wrote it in 1941.

https://www.orwellfoundation.com/th...the-unicorn-socialism-and-the-english-genius/

The left are so intolerant now even pointing out there are two genders sends some over the edge. You can’t have meaningful discourse with such people. It’s become a form of insanity, first fostered and now magnified by social media.

The problem with most people, across the entire political spectrum, is that they don’t think. They regurgitate opinions they’ve heard elsewhere. Anyone who can stomach more than ten minutes of the BBC’s Question Time must see that, yet the banality of the points made by the panel of experts and MPs or a carefully selected member of hoi polloi is matched only by the seal like clapping of the audience when the latest tedious platitude is delivered. In part it is because people are so busy in their daily lives they have no time to ponder the great issues of the day.

If John Oliver or some other talent black hole tells you Trump is bad or Brexit is worse and your reaction isn’t “he’s an unfunny, smug self-satisfied arsehole” you really aren’t paying attention. You are letting Mr. Oliver give you an opinion to share at work the next day with the rest of the nodding dogs.

My disagreements with Morrissey have never been about politics or the Monarchy, but when I’ve believed him to be being wilfully offensive to get attention, Utoya being the most egregious example.

He can hate Thatcher or the Queen for calumnies not always outlined if he wishes. That’s entirely his prerogative. I can think he’s wrong, and that’s mine.

Blah, blah, blah. "Orwell! Freedumb! Fascist! Accept me!"

Enough. Issues matter, not artists opinions on liberal, critics, or conservatives. White noise.
 
Right or wrong, what Morrissey fails to realize, is that 98% of the people who listen to his music could give less than half a shit about anything he says outside of the context of song and that it would benefit him to just do his job, for lack of a better way to put it. I mean, he could put on his pompous authority shirt and go on a Henry Rollins tour, but it would be kind of like farting in the car with the windows up and savoring it.

A simple solution then, if you only care about the music don't read or watch his interviews.
 
I used to hate it when people asked me my opinion as a barista at work because I often couldn’t actually say what I wanted to but had to be nice. Of course global warming doesn’t exist because it’s cold today etc. I’d rather people say what they feel and just deal with it for he most part. In morrisseys case I think he’s created his own platform because people care about what he has to say so I feel he’s entitled to it and I dont have to listen if it bothers me or support him if I don’t want to. I don’t need to agree with or have my artists, those who’s work I enjoy, think or feel like me and nothing morrissey has said has made me think him horrible enough to actually be angry with him (or his public persona at least). I’m fine with enjoying his music and saying what I disagree with to the small group who might actually listen to what I have to say. I don’t think morrissey really cares if people disagree but he gets a lot of insults and at times warped exaggrated claims and imo illogical biased allegations thrown at him. I mean I can’t tell you how many to
Ive read and half the venue walked out when no video shows this to be true and most comments said the opposite. I guess like most of morrisseys statements I feel like he’s somewhat got a point there though the way he expresses it and how far he takes it is counter productive
What inaccurate claim has been leveled at Morrissey?

I've never seen the claim that half of the audience walked out. I've read that people walked out.

Sometimes I think the knee jerk defenders do more to advance the criticism of Morrissey than the actual critics.

Also, Morrissey is notorious for insulting people. He loves doing it. Even in the Morrissey documentary from years back, one of his friends said that his favorite thing to do is to put on a pot of tea, and destroy people's characters.

He has no room to play the victim. None. He baited the hounds that are at his door, and now he wants them gone. Stop showing sympathy for him. He's a grown man.

Morrissey is long past due for a serious backlash toward his commentary, but he's like Rush Limbaugh at this point. He's not popular enough anymore for it to matter.
 
A simple solution then, if you only care about the music don't read or watch his interviews.
That's all fine, and dandy until you have to pay lots of money to see him live, and are then subjected to adolescent political questions like, "Does anyone here like so & so?"

We need to put Morrissey's mental health into perspective. This is a man who believed that he saw a ghost on the side of the road, a flying saucer, and was sure that he was trying to be kidnapped in Mexico when a company driver got lost. Anti-immigrant panic is just another in a long list of paranoias he's interested in. Fear, and anxiety rule Morrissey's world.

He is an amazingly ignorant person on just about every topic except jingle writing. He should stick to what he knows, and have more interest in not embarrassing his fans.

After all, this is what the criticism comes down to. Many fans are simply embarrassed.
 
A simple solution then, if you only care about the music don't read or watch his interviews.
Easy enough, and sooner rather than later, he will retire or die and the sideshow with him. It's infiltrated the last two albums though so it's harder to escape through his music.

If he were a bit more entertaining about it he could probably pull it off, but he has a tendency to sound like he's serious when he's joking, and joking when he's serious, especially concerning sensitive topics. In a private discussion, his intentions probably come across more clearly, but in print, he's fairly insufferable. That's why I guess if I were in that position, I'd not give interviews or even really discuss my opinion with "my public." It would be irrelevant to my job.
 
That's what it all comes down to.

It's meant to try and legitimize attempts to marginalize people as a form of protected speech worthy of not being criticized.

It changes nothing, it solves nothing. It's simply a form of racial, and cultural resentment from groups who are not used to having their styles, and ideas questioned by the broader culture. They're used to it being all about them, and any hole in that bubble gets treated like a life or death matter. Having the mirror turned on them is a new phenomenon, and they're not reacting well to it. It's undignified, but what are you going to do?

Sometimes you have to wait for the two year old to have a tantrum, and then let it take a nap.

The problem in America is that there barely is a culture to protect, and that causes confusion, and resentment. In England, it's an attempt to recapture a rotting culture distinction that is far past due for replacement.

The reality is, they're pissing in the wind, and the culture, and demographics will change no matter how angry, and resentful they become. They're making themselves even smaller than they really are.

They don't even realize how much society has already moved on from their generational trends, but this is how many people typically die.

With Donald Trump in the White House and Brexit less than a year away I’m not sure your views of Anerica’s alleged lack of culture or Britain’s apparently dying culture are true, you know. It seems to me there’s still life in both the old dog and the boisterous puppy.

That might be in part why families are prepared to cross deserts to reach the USA and young men are happy to hang from the axles of articulated lorries to escape the EU and get to Britain.

Being written off by your enemies is always a good sign things are going in the right direction.
 
Blah, blah, blah. "Orwell! Freedumb! Fascist! Accept me!"

Enough. Issues matter, not artists opinions on liberal, critics, or conservatives. White noise.

Ah, yes. Year Zero. It worked so well in Cambodia.
 
When Morrissey gets arrested and banged up for speaking freely he can legitmately claim a problem with freedom of speech.

When people call him a twat for talking like a twat I'm not sure what his point is.

Freedom of speech is having the ability to speak your mind, not having the ability to silence people who oppose you.
 
I reckon you lots make Uncle Steve appear to be so complicated. Reckon he will say anything at the moment that he thinks the majority of the Stevebots want to hear to sell tickets or buy his next classic Americana album tittle with pics of Jan Brady, Elvis, James Dean, and JJ from Good Times all over the place. He is a classic American capitalist. Steve's real worries are things like getting to the Calabasas Costco to buy all the packs of blueberry muffins before fat John Lydon, fat Jonesy, Dave Evans, and that old brittish dude Herman and where to get "Lil Sammy" engraved on the back of a brand new Iphone X inn nn it.
 
We can end free speech but somehow I fear a few out there will miss it.

Just a feeling!
 
Another rant in a right-wing rag that completely misses the point that, of course Morrissey has a right to his opinion, but that said right doesn't let him off the hook. People fail to realise that free speech doesn't mean 'you can say what you want without consequence'. If you say things like "the Chinese are a subspecies" or "Nigel Farage is a great liberal educator", there will be repercussions.

Morrissey is allowed to have an opinion. Other people, in turn, are allowed to dismiss it, attack it, ridicule it, defend it, support it. It's called debate. Unfortunately, some people - Morrissey in particular - seem to think "being Morrissey" means "freedom from criticism".
If you by repercussions (I prefer soft cushions for me bum) mean he will get sentenced then it seems he said those things without getting a slap on his fingers.

That is free speech and if someone is upset by that you should probably stay at home all the time.
 
Where exactly has Morrissey 'complained' about free speech? the Independent used their right to free speech to publish a fairly critical article on him and Morrissey is utilizing his right to free speech to offer a robust rebuttal. That's how things work I would've thought. I suspect like the NME Morrissey will get the last laugh as newspapers gasp and wheeze towards extinction.
 
That's what it all comes down to.

It's meant to try and legitimize attempts to marginalize people as a form of protected speech worthy of not being criticized.

It changes nothing, it solves nothing. It's simply a form of racial, and cultural resentment from groups who are not used to having their styles, and ideas questioned by the broader culture. They're used to it being all about them, and any hole in that bubble gets treated like a life or death matter. Having the mirror turned on them is a new phenomenon, and they're not reacting well to it. It's undignified, but what are you going to do?

Sometimes you have to wait for the two year old to have a tantrum, and then let it take a nap.

The problem in America is that there barely is a culture to protect, and that causes confusion, and resentment. In England, it's an attempt to recapture a rotting culture distinction that is far past due for replacement.

The reality is, they're pissing in the wind, and the culture, and demographics will change no matter how angry, and resentful they become. They're making themselves even smaller than they really are.

They don't even realize how much society has already moved on from their generational trends, but this is how many people typically die.

Years go by and people like you never cease to piss me off, which you're probably very happy about because I'm certain it's the very point of your existence.

Look dickhead. Demographics don't just 'change' naturally in the manner in which you're suggesting, it's something which has to be enforced and pushed upon populations (often by 'conservative' governments which 'conserve' precisely nothing). And while you probably think you're a good socialist/leftist in reality you're merely doing the bidding of corporations, the elites, and others who serve to benefit from such a large-scale change which was never asked for or voted on by any country's general population, so well done on that front you dopey bastard.

But, believe it or not, the history hasn't been written and nothing is yet set in stone, so let's just see how this all plays out, shall we? ;)
 
Where exactly has Morrissey 'complained' about free speech? the Independent used their right to free speech to publish a fairly critical article on him and Morrissey is utilizing his right to free speech to offer a robust rebuttal. That's how things work I would've thought. I suspect like the NME Morrissey will get the last laugh as newspapers gasp and wheeze towards extinction.

I think Imam is claiming that censorship is A OK as long as no one gets beat up or arrested.
This latter type of censorship is 'dodgy' but the regular kind that you find in the Muslim world
is OK. Shutting down newspapers etc peacefully is ok. Blow up
the printing press make sure nobody explodes LOL then send the recalcitrants home with a couple
of Muftas outside with swords. Everything is OK nobody got hurt arrested All Praise to the Most Merciful.lol
:crazy:
Hes a Muslim troll for sure.
 
Because his music isn't good enough to overshadow his views like it was in the past. Some fans feel like they're not getting enough in return for sitting through his drunk uncle rants. They've overshadowed his music.

He's also become less of a sympathetic and vulnerable figure, and more of an outright asshole seeking to attack people in rather immature, and unproductive ways. Only people with personality disorders are attracted to that.

Also, I don't think any critic expects him to shut up. I think they wish he felt differently, and now feel more distance from him as his worldview comes into focus.

Look, you lie with a dog, and you're going to get flees. At this point, Morrissey is infested with flees, and he only has himself to blame. This is what people are going to talk about when Morrissey is dead. The Internet never forgets.

Finally, I don't want to hear anything about "freedom" from Morrissey ever again. The man is a petty dictator in his own world who attempts to shame, and control other people's behavior.

These faux rebels like Morrissey who play to both extremes aren't freedom advocates, they're little politicians trying to curry favor from both extremes. It's equivocating. It's a cop out, and neither brave, nor a meaningful tool for change.
100% undeniable, qualatiave and quantitatively verifiable TRUTH.

Who the f*** marked THIS as trolling? This is pure, unadulterated reality. Bugger-off, ya daft wee cut-rate, washed-up-Elvis’ taint licking twat. ;)
 
Oh joy! Twice banned former member now posting as Truth / Dr Phil / Judge Judy / Advice Animals / whatever stupid anonymous guest user name she feels like taking today est arrivé! Like f***ing clockwork.

The irony of you whinging to davidt about how unfair your banning was and how you tend to avoid the people you don’t like and how harassed you poor dear are by said people is, of course, completely lost on you. Of course, the irony of you "diagnosing" others with having unhealthy fixations is lost on you, too. How about YOU get some giant dildo and write “twelve inches” on it and stick it up your mangina.

You seem a little obsessed with me personally. None of this is about the topic of the article.
 
I don't like the fact that this article seems to asume Morrissey is a conservative when he despises both extremes: retrograde conservatives and disoriented liberals.

On the other hand, Morrissey didn't meddle with The Independent's freedom of speech, he respected it. He just said its article was full of lies. He stated it was a lying pamphlet and he said his truth: firstly that wasn't an actual review because they didn't assist to the concert and second, nobody left the place because of his words about Nicola S. Those are two very different things: freedom of speech and media (not a particular person) lying with animus injuriandi.

Speaking about nations, I want to remind everybody here that as harmful as nationalisms are able to be, and in fact they were so, most people only have their nations to protect and shelter them, for good or for bad. If you are one of those lucky ones whose life is not limited by boundaries between countries, territories, nationalities, Trump's wall, etc., I want to remember you that most people actually are. That's why poor people are more attached to their flags. So, don't be snobs.
 

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