Was/Is Morrissey Racist?

You think immigration is responsible for the fracturing of the 'British national identity'? I think it's way down the list.

-- Mister Craig, Thursday, 29 November 2007 00:41 (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

I think this is a fair point because Morrissey's not attributing any of this fracturing of British national identity to "non-English accents". Oh wait.

-- Dom Passantino, Thursday, 29 November 2007 00:48 (12 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

If you view the post in the context it was intended, to reject a false assumption in the comment I was responding to, i.e.

morrissey was in his youth in the 60s and 70s, i think -- so before all the immigration.

no, sorry, i mean 'during and after' all the immigration.

and refer to Morrissey's comments

"It's not true that the reason I wouldn't wish to live in England is the immigration explosion"

"The British identity (is/was) very attractive...I grew up into it, and I find it quaint and amusing. But (that) is a memory now"

To the question 'Isn't immigration enriching rather than diluting the British identity?'

"It does in a way, and it's nice in its way. But you have to say goodbye to the Britain that you once knew"

Then you might get a broader scope on his views. If you want.

And don't you think the *perceived* proliferation of non-English speakers *affects* the British national identity in some way?

Basically I think Morrissey is saying he misses a romanticised post-war Britain that was essentially fictional anyway, and that the modern world is increasingly unrecognisable to him.

Is he a racist for thinking that it's possible to have an overgenerous immigration policy?

Shit, that needed indents.

having thought about this for an hour or two, I think I need to rephrase what I said...

Morrissey's love of nation is much closer to a sort of High Romanticism than it is any sort of patriotism. I think thats why things like "Bengali In Platforms" have never really bothered me: many writers (of any sort, song or otherwise) are in love with things that never really existed. Thats why it seems so insane to me that anyone could mistake the comments of a (great) pop singer/lyricist for the comments of a member of the National Front.

"He's wearing rose-colored glasses instead of swastikas, therefore it's uncriticizable."

lol swinburning its pretty easy to mistake the comments of someone who "is in love with a thing that never really existed" based on a romantic concept of people- or nationhood with a member of the national front because, uh, the national front is all about the romanticization of a people or nation that never really existed in the way they think of it.

see: fascism.

Hey, this all worked for Eric Clapton, didn't it?

Also, I think Dom is jealous that Morrissey has zinged the NME about ten million times and he never will.

I have no idea if he's a racist or not - but he did the smart thing in getting out of England. It's a shithole full of angry, repressed, frustrated, alcoholic, ill-educated people crammed on to part of a tiny island. Give me the US, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, or Scotland any day.

-- Emily S., Thursday, 29 November 2007 00:54 (8 hours ago) Link

now this i can get behind, except the last sentence.

he's not objecting to immigration per se, he's objecting to the perceived specific consequences of immigration in England (or so i suspect).

-- blueski, Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:41 AM (8 hours ago) Bookmark Link

eh?

Next year on ILM: Morrissey releases album of Prussian Blue covers. "Clearly ironic/whimsical/nah nah not listening" claim ILMers.

Prussian Blue are just nostalgic for an era when Jews _were_ in gas chambers, they're not saying that they'd like to go back to that time. God, listen to the lyrics in context.

Prussian Blue are just trolling black people duh.

England is a memory now. Other countries have held on to their basic identity, yet it seems to me that England was thrown away

http://images.scotsman.com/2002/05/05/0505bnpb.jpg

London Bee Enn Pea head in "gay porn film" hilarity

Sheila take a, sheila take a bow
Throw your homework onto the fire
Come out and find the one that you love
Come out and find the one you love

http://ict.org.il/var/119/52807-Nazi_Book_Burning.jpg

Man, the only reason to get involved with the BNP is for the whole D/S scene.

said Morrissey exclusively in the NME this week.

http://www.sheilaomalley.com/archives/mitfords.jpg

Some girls are bigger than others

I'd let the Mitford sisters kristal my nacht any time they want, hey guyz?

Dood, it's that whole Posh Women Be Dirty thang again.

We should have a poll on which other celebrities could come out with "I hate immigration" and have ILMers falling over themselves to defend him.

My vote = Kylie.

Burial

paris hilton

oh, wait.

cheryl cole

oh, wait

That dude from Savage Garden

Maybe more of a Poptimists thing, that.

I feel a Pole coming on.

Roald Dahl S/D

Thing is, I was listening to George Formby the other day, and nobody's gonna trump him for racists-who-made-the-best-music

From what I understand, for all the comedy Chinese stereotypes he made money off of, George's politics were pretty forward thinking.

Formby >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Morrissey

^^^4-4-2

I read this in Sainsbury's last night. There wasn't much to it. Mozzer's comments indefensible really, but at the same time I can't be arsed being bothered about them. Meanwhile, a few pages later is a full page advert announcing the fact that Mozzer's Roundhouse residency has sold out.

I liked the bit in the interview about how because of the internet, everyone's a reporter nowadays. I mean, who on earth is he talking about?

But the change in England is so rapid compared to the change in any other country. If you walk through Knightsbridge on any bland day of the week you won't hear an English accent

Funnily enough, he wouldn't have heard one in his own house when he was growing up as both his parents were IRISH and IMMIGRANTS. Fucking dickhead.

Next week in NME: Zucchero moans about the dilution of Italian culture by shit indie expats from the UK.

I mean, at least Ray Davies still lives in Britain! He can boohoo about penny farthings, chimbley sweeps and powdered eggs from day-to-day experience.

Also when he goes to America he gets shot so this may colour his opinion of abroad.

Racist?
Bengali In Platforms - questionable, I put it down to bad phrasing myself.
National Front Disco - no
Asian Rut - no, but arguably quite naieve.
Did anyone see Andrew Collins pop up on the SOTCAA forum? He basically said the whole Morrissey = racist thing was the result of a slow news day and a misjudged gesture by Moz himself...

-- DG, Sunday, 3 February 2002 01:00 (5 years ago) Bookmark Link

Andrew Collins and SOTCAA = the kind of British culture we must do our utmost to save

I find them quaint and amusing. But they are a memory now.

SOTCAA was the only kind of British culture worth saving.

Some of the Patos Are Amusing

Well put.

Perhaps Morrissey is hoping England could be more like, say, France, where they preserve their national identity by putting all the immigrants where no one can see them? That works really well.

TBF you can't move on French radio for Hip Hop tho.

Most of it about how shit it is being black in France.

Somebody needs to break into his kitchen and see if he has a Ronaldinho bottle opener. That would clear up straight away whether he's racist or not.

Perhaps Morrissey is hoping England could be more like, say, France, where they preserve their national identity by putting all the immigrants where no one can see them?

You mean in the French national football team?

Saying "immigrants are diluting our culture" kinda clears up whether he's racist or not.

You mean in the French national football team?

Elephant in room.

World Cups and Euro Championships in trophy cabinet