When I first read the press release on true-to-you.net from Morrissey explaining his decision to boycott Canada as a protest over the seal cull, I admit that my reaction was, "oh, dear, here he goes again." Let me state that in no way do I support the cull. I think for the Canadian government to fall back on economic reasons avoids the fact that they should be doing more for their poorer citizens who rely on such barbaric methods to make ends meet. Ever since I first heard about the cull, which was many years ago, I was utterly repulsed by the needless cruelty of it, and I find it impossible to see reports on the television or read about it in newspapers as it's horribly upsetting and makes me thunderously angry. To the point where, yes, as crazy as it seems, I would throw myself in front of a seal and be bludgeoned over the head in its place. In the UK at the moment, there is discussion over the badger cull, because farmers are complaining that TB in the badger population passes over to their cattle herds - and where is the sense in banning badger baiting, and yet allowing a cull for the benefit of an already morally bankrupt industry?
My thoughts were, how can Morrissey think that the boycott will work? It seemed to me that he could do more good by playing Canada and informing the audiences there about what is happening and what they could do to stop it. Perhaps invite the Canadian Prime Minister to a gig, or go and meet him? Because, at least then, he would please the Canadian fans by giving them their gigs and would still be doing something to protest against the cull.
But then... as the day wore on, I saw some of Morrissey's fanbase turn on him, in a shockingly vile manner. Lest we forget, this is the man who cancels gigs if he finds out the venue used to be a slaughter house. Why, then, should it come as a surprise that he would make this choice to boycott a country? Yes, the Canadian fans are upset because they won't get to see him, but the abuse I have seen flung at him far exceeds mere 'disappointment'. The jokey remarks of "I'm going to club a seal just to annoy him", the expletive-ridden invectives of "F*** you, Mozzer, I ain't going to buy your album now, you ****!", the badly-made and bad taste Photoshops of Morrissey and seals merely showed that some fans were having Tourette's-like knee-jerk reactions left, right and centre....
And then I realised that Morrissey has done a very brave thing, and something which, in this day and age, is rare and noble. He has principles, and he has stuck to them, at the risk of upsetting the people who love him. Like Melville's Bartleby, he has said "I prefer not to." This is Morrissey's way of showing what he thinks, where his absence is so much more potent than his presence. "This is what I think of you, America! I'm moving to Italy!"
Indeed, perhaps it is logically lop-sided - where else will he refuse to play because of its animal rights track-record? Yet what he has done is sponsor this particular issue and has, perhaps intentionally, forced people to discuss the rights and wrongs of it. Some fans complain that he doesn't back human rights issues, but human rights has its champions already (step forward Bob Geldoff), and Brigitte Bardot won't live forever. Morrissey has stood up and made a statement. Of course fans are upset that he won't play in their country, and to them it seems as if Morrissey is attacking them. But the man's beliefs have pushed him into a corner where he has felt he has had to do something. Morrissey, who has for over twenty years repeatedly griped that no one loves him, has forfeited the love of many in order to live with his conscience.
There is no reason to crucify him. Instead, here is a reason to respect him, to grasp him to you, glad that he exists and continues to stand up and be counted, that he's not just a face and a voice, but a whole, complicated person - that he does indeed deserve the wallspace you've given over to his posters.
What will be interesting is whether any other musicians follow his lead.
