"Brazil and Bahrain
Egypt, Ukraine
So many people in pain"
Has there ever been a worse Morrissey lyric than this?
Does anyone else remember when it first appeared in a Q&A in 2014 on true-to-you.net before the release of WPINOYB?
Q: I think a lot of young people, including myself, find it hard to be truly themselves. Your music has helped me immensely on this issue. What would your advice be to the younger generation on how to accept yourself?
RÓISÍN, Dunfermline.
A: I don't think we ever do! I think we all die feeling apologetic and embarrassed. I'm as much of a mess now as I was when I was 16. There are too many forces telling us we aren't good enough - music critics, bank managers, the police, the judiciary, ex-wives ... do you have the nerve to tell them all to get stuffed? That's the only thing that will do it. The sociological arrangements of the western world rely exclusively on people NOT being their true selves. Otherwise, they couldn't be governed and frightened and lost and timid – as most people unfortunately are. You can't control people by telling them to be themselves. As soon as people decide
to be themselves, the police reach for their stun guns, and governments roll out the tanks ...
Egypt, Bahrain, Thailand, Brazil, Ukraine, Syria ... the
very last thing we are encouraged to be is ourselves. This is why it's always so shocking when someone stands up and gives an honest opinion. In all cases, such people are criticized by the print media, but never applauded.
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