If Mr. Harper wishes to hear well-reasoned arguments for or against the hunt, there are plenty of experts capable of delivering them. Celebrities looking to validate their existence need not apply.

This is exactly the type of discourse that contaminates every debate of this kind. Morrissey's, Anderson's and McCartney's arguments are dismissed as uninformed and childish, as opposed to arguments presented by experts. The problem lies in the assumption that this issue can be resolved by mechanical reasoning based on self-evident premises and that these premises are accepted by everyone. This is marketed as the “rational“ way of dealing with it, as opposed to the “emotional“ way.

But when you see seals being killed by humans, why is it so wrong to just be “against“? This IS a moral issue and I think the pro-hunters are stealing the debate by trying to label certain types arguments as “rational“ as opposed to those who are childish, zealous and emotional.

"If you can, please boycott Canadian goods. It WILL make a difference. As things stand, Canada has placed itself alongside China as the cruelest and most self-serving nation."

Pedomorphic popstars... they tend to say the stupidest, most ill-informed things.

Ridiculous point taken Morrissey, but think about this:

You're against American involvement in Iraq, but will never, ever protest against America in the same way you're protesting Canada and I know exactly why. Yes for you see, Morrissey, you're a political protest bully. I mean really, you wouldn't dare diss America this tour, a nation far more self-serving ( Kyoto anyone? ) because it would snuff your stardom, but you'll pick on a generally soft-spoken nation like Canada -- where you'd of only played a handful of dates anyway -- because you think it'll be seen as admirable when in essence, it's simply flexing for the sake of flexing. Actually, quite honestly, it makes you look like just another antiquated old queen with a big mouth, Sir Elton.

Truly, acting in such a way towards those who deserve it least and saying that it's because you've the courage of your conviction is precisely what bullies do and to say that we're up there with China...well, it just goes to show that you most probably know very little about this world outside of PETA and popstars.

Don't get me wrong, the seal hunt is horrific, but so are a thousand other things happening at any given moment in any given nation.

Viva Canada!

I couldn't give a shit about Canada, and I don't care much about the seal cull either, but I do care about Morrissey, funnily enough, and he's made himself look like a fool with this. Surely his ego isn't so out of control that he doesn't have someone to suggest that allusions to the Holocaust are not the way to go? Even if he believes the allusion is fair (and it's to believe that anyone over 13 believes it is), don't fucking say it.

I don't mind that he never wants to grow up, but does he have to make himself look like an idiot in the process?

Don't get me wrong, I like Canada a lot but you have to pick you're battles and make a stand where you feel the strongest. You can't just be against everything just because the world is so bad everywhere otherwise you wouldn't accomplish anything else than being say a goth or something silly like that. Of course every country has something evil and horrible happening and every city and every street but that is no reason to just stay at home is it? If this old queen wants to protest baby seal hunting by not showing up in Canada, then let him be. It's not like he's saying that his fans in Canada suck is he? It's not like he's saying that Canadians as a whole suck is he? If you want to boycott Moz then power to you but you ought find a damn good reason and not ust this stupid puritanical an eye for an eye... 'cause you know what they say about that.

People can read there?

On Monday, March 27th, Morrissey announced that he was not touring Canada to support his latest album release due to a nationwide boycott.

"We will not include any Canadian dates on our world tour to promote our new album. This is in protest against the barbaric slaughter of over 325,000 baby seals, which is now underway.
I fully realize that the absence of any Morrissey concerts in Canada is unlikely to bring the Canadian economy to its knees, but it is our small protest against this horrific slaughter - which is the largest slaughter of marine animal species found anywhere on the planet.
The Canadian Prime Minister says the so-called "cull" is economically and environmentally justified, but this is untrue. The seal population has looked after itself for thousand of years without human intervention, and, as the world knows, this slaughter is about one thing only: making money.

…And this announcement is only about one thing: enhancing Morrissey’s profile days prior to releasing a new album at the expense of a small market country.

I am a native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada and have been an ardent fan of Steven Patrick Morrissey since his debut into the music industry over two decades ago with The Smiths. I have purchased all of his music, traveled distances to see him perform, promoted the man, his message and music to countless people. I have sold more Smiths’ albums in this city through word of mouth than any of his record companies ever will.

Being of Italian-Canadian origin, I was doubly excited to hear that his latest album was recorded in Italy and has many references to my parents’ land of origin. The reasons my parents chose Canada over our neighboring United States were based on the higher standard of living and tolerance to basic rights and freedoms for its people. When John Lennon was seeking for a country or city to welcome his Peace message in 1969, Montreal boldly allowed him to host his “Bed In” and he thus rewarded us by recording “Give Peace A Chance” at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Canadians have always been leaders in terms or environmental and political reforms in contras to our American Neighbors. We are a tolerant people but by no means one of weak constitution.

Morrissey’s famous defiance and capriciousness have entertained his fans for years but his latest act of holding Canadian fans hostage is one of hypocrisy and marketing savvy. Instead of acting against The UK or USA whose record of Animal and environmental cruelty is atrocious, or against his beloved Italy where fashion reigns supreme in its use of child labour and animal cruelty for their products, he chooses a nation of 30 million people with a possible 3 concert dates as his target of sacrifice mere days before his album is due out and mere days after playing a lucrative music festival in Austin, TEXAS (the state known for its love of meat and its production. Why? The answer is simple and his recent actions are irrefutable. There are sales of units and tickets to be moved in those markets. Canada is a convenient geographical and fiscal sacrifice to make. Not exactly the definition of putting your money where your mouth is.

About a month ago, Paul McCartney visited Canada to oversee the seal cull and bring some attention to PETA’s noble cause of preventing animal cruelty. I applaud the way he went about it. He spoke to the people of Canada directly with his action. Photos were taken and he appealed to population knowing full well that governments do what they please. His concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on his previous tour included many PETA related pamphlets and was received with the open mindedness our people are known for. Morrissey chose to alienate his Canadian fans instead of asking for their cooperation (including those who design and host the free and definitive PASSIONSJUSTLIKEMINE.COM, the second most popular site in the world dedicated to Morrissey. In protest, the site is now on hiatus.

So Mr. Morrissey, as a Canadian, I refuse to be punished for the actions of

Read the rest of this comment...

I've lived in Canada for 29 years and have never been close to a seal. I think people have the wrong idea about our country. Igloos and all. Like this has always happened outside our doors and we support it. Of course we don't and we DO protest. Look at a map and see how BIG we are end to end. There are about 5 countries in one here. He just doesn't think the three stops are worth it really so he chose us to single out. It's just alot of driving (passenging) he wants to avoid.... really.

FAQ

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but this line annoys me:

"Construction of German gas chambers also provided work for someone - this is not a moral or sound reason for allowing suffering."

German concentration camps, gas chambers and so forth were all primarily built by slave labour, mostly Russian POWs or even the jews, gypsies, poles and so forth that would be herded into them after construction. Clearly Morrissey doesn't realise this. It is typical of Morrissey's misguided political views that he doesn't have a clue about this, or indeed virtually any human rights abuses, yet still attempts to somehow compare it to a quite frankly trivial animal rights issue.

Who the hell are you morrissey? I've never even heard of you so the fact that you aren't coming to Canada isn't really a big loss. The first time I heard of you was in a newspaper article talking about your stance on seal hunting. Well lets just get a few things straight. This isn't just for morrissey but other idiot celebrities like Brigette Bardot who think their opinion means more because they are famous. KEEP YOUR DAMN MOUTH SHUT! None of you stupid idiots even know what you are talking about. First off hunting baby seals (the cute white ones) that morrissey mentions is illegal you dumb bastard. Anyone that kills a baby is as stupid as you morrissey. Also most seals aren't clubbed but shot. Finally there are currently 6 million seals in Canada. If this hunt doesn't continue then they will continue to multiply and will have to be culled. That means they will die anyway you dumb hack. How about focusing on something that actually matters like Japan hunting ENDANGERED whales for "research". You can rant about how Japan has developed a new harpoon that is basically a grenade that goes off inside the whale. They hunt whales that are near extinction and not seals with a single area population of 6 million. Get your damn facts straight you poser!

A lot of people are missing the point. This is not about what happens in other countries it is about making a protest at a certain time about a certain issue.

At the moment the cull is taking place, Morrissey wants to protest about it and this the best way for him to do it.

Many people feel as strongly as Morrissey, but cannot make a high profile protest. Morrissey can so he does.

To suggest that Morrissey should protest every cause in every country at the same time is rediculous.

I don't understand most of the canadians who write here and on the other thread.

If such a scandalous and useless slaughter happened in my country, I would be more than happy to have such an international coverage and to have Morrissey or Macca on my side. A normal canadian fan should already have bought ten copies of the last record !

Morrissey do what he cans, he spread the message everywhere he goes (in the 'diplomatic' manner we're used to). A lot of people admire this man for that. He opens his bigmouth and has the balls to say what he thinks.

Long live to Morrissey and Macca !

How many innocent civilians dead in Iraq so far? Oh, only 30,000.

The comparison with gas chambers is starting to back fire, and it will continue. This was one of his most stupid statements along with "black and white will never get along" 20 years ago. I hope messages have been posted on julia's true-to-you.!!!

I sincerely doubt that Morrissey would maintain that China and Canada are the only countries that condone mistreatment of animals. I have to think, though, that his problem with Canada and China has to do with those countries' official advocacy of said mistreatment, i.e. China pushing dog meat as "healthy and nutritious" and Canada's annual seal hunt.

That is what Morrissey means when he calls these countries self-interested. It's not so much the ignorance of and backward attitudes about animal rights of places like Iran and Turkey that pisses Morrissey off, because those countries don't necessarily encourage animal cruelty. Canada's economic interest in the seal hunt played a large part in Morrissey's condemnation, I'm quite sure. Someone who makes a living in large part by touring must prioritize.

At least Morrissey gives a shit, unlike so many others. If he loses money by not touring huge markets like Toronto and Montreal, then it appears he is fine with that. Once again, Morrissey's critics choose to ignore this aspect in order to make him look as bad as possible.

But, of course, the writer missed that point COMPLETELY. Isn't it hilarious that so many of Morrissey's detractors, who label him smug and ignorant, positively personify those traits themselves?

Perhaps if Canadians don't want people in other countries to think they advocate the slaughter of baby seals, they shouldn't slaughter baby seals. It's really simple.

At the end of the day, what is this author's point, anyway? "Yeah, we are cruel to animals, but other countries are too! Wahhhhh!"

Not exactly persuasive.

In one of his recent interviews, didn't Morrissey say that some people have to wildly overstate their case just to get a point across?

Did he not also say that the album title refers to his job as troublemaker?

I agree, this is not his finest hour, but there may be method in his madness.

   

Consensus amongst the singer's fans is that the US and the UK are too importantly financially for Morrissey and in particular Sanctuary Records, his record label which is facing inevitable bankruptcy.

Amongst everyone not from Canada is that you're a bunch of seal hating, nationalistic idiots (With the exception of possibly three of you)

I for on have had enough of this bollocks.

We should have another poll in line with the one currently running.

Would you like to see Canada bricked up and filled up with water if it meant you never heard from another bleating Canadian ever again?
a) Yes
b) No

As was noted in the Forum, there is an ongoing war on Morrissey's Wikipedia page. It also states that IWSYIFOP is assumed to be about Osama Bin Laden. Can't someone do something about this?

Pamela Anderson hosted the Juno Awards last night in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was promptly booed by the audience for issuing off-topic comments about the seal hunt.

Hype is in no way a manner to reach the majority of Canadians. Like the emotional response to pictures of baby seals, nationalism is an emotional response that I believe most Canadians see as irrelavent in regards to the facts. What the activists failed to understand is that Canadians aren't easily swayed, nor can they be told to be selective about their emotions.

Canadians are quite frankly so tired of the topic that they have become irritated by it. So much that they are becoming quite vocal about it.

This whole campaign is seen by Canadians as a cash grab by several overbearing American special interest groups, who want to expand outside of the U.S on the backs on a Canadian industry, like the Coalition For Fair Lumber Imports.