Morrissey refers to Chinese as "subspecies" [Archive]

bandnamexmyname

09/05/10, 12:33 PM

I didn't know if putting this thread in politics would be a good idea, but since it's a pressing topic, I did. Feel free to close it if i put it in the wrong forum.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/sep/03/morrissey-china-subspecies-racism

Basically he's pissed off about their lack of consideration for animal rights.

"Did you see the thing on the news about their treatment of animals and animal welfare? Absolutely horrific. You can't help but feel that the Chinese are a subspecies."

Personally, I myself am Chinese and I guess I have to be offended, which I am. But then again, you have to realize that it's Morrissey and the guy gets so tangled up and outspoken about his beliefs that he's bound to say things like that. He's such a fervent supporter of animal rights that he feels that anybody who treats animals the way the Chinese do is subhuman. I would have to agree with that point, as I've been to China multiple times and seen these atrocities. It's pretty damn disgusting.

The media is tearing him up (especially those retards at AltPress) and I guess they have reason to do so, because they're really not that familiar with his mannerisms, but I still think the whole thing was taken out of context and you really have to understand his train of thought before placing the racist label on him.

What do you think?

caveBEAR

09/05/10, 12:38 PM

perceptrons

09/05/10, 12:39 PM

Even in context, it is a very poor choice of words.

Scrandon

09/05/10, 12:50 PM

The train of thought is obvious. It's the same as anyone who has ever said something racist. He didn't like what some people were doing so he made a racist generalization. I don't think his "mannerisms" cut him any slack.

secretsociety92

09/05/10, 12:50 PM

What did we do to animals when the western world was becoming an industrial empire?

yves.

09/05/10, 12:59 PM

i think he could have put it in a better way and was probably just caught up in his emotions and spoke without thinking. he probably shouldn't have generalized like that, but the fact is that the way chinese culture is, some things can be (and are) seen as outrageous by western culture, whether it's china's human rights violations (freedoms of speech and religion, lack of political freedom, ridiculous capital punishment, torture, worker's rights, etc) or their lack of animal rights. i understand that chinese culture is thousands of years old and going in and trying to change things that have been the norm for forever isn't just going to be accepted, but something really should be done about these things. raising awareness on the lack of animal rights in china is a step in the right direction, though, and maybe that is what moz was trying to achieve with this statement.

slightly off-topic: love him so so so much.

<*)))><

09/05/10, 01:07 PM

Sticks and stones.

cuzimlefthanded

09/05/10, 01:21 PM

What did we do to animals and people of other ethnicities when the western world was becoming an industrial empire?

fixed.

Simulcast

09/05/10, 01:31 PM

I'm sick of all you guys in this forum, your tattoos, and the way you ALWAYS criticize the Smiths, AND Morrissey.

Flaming Piranha

09/05/10, 01:34 PM

deFobbed14yrs

09/05/10, 01:40 PM

I'm sick of all you guys in this forum, your tattoos, and the way you ALWAYS criticize the Smiths, AND Morrissey.

was waiting for someone to say this.

bandnamexmyname

09/05/10, 01:41 PM

The way the Chinese see it (i.e. my family, even though they don't eat dog and whatnot), what the people there do to cats and dogs is really no different to what the Americans do to pigs, chickens, and cows. They feel that you shouldn't have to elevate some animals above others.

deFobbed14yrs

09/05/10, 01:42 PM

I may be generalizing, but most Asians don't view animals the same way westerners do. To them, they're just animals, not our friends or humans. And yeah, what they do to them in China is kinda messed up, but they do what they have to do.

Besides, if China has to work on improving any rights, it should be human rights first.

There are about a billion Indians who wouldn't hurt a cow.

Millions don't even hurt bugs.

And many "westerners" view animals as crap -> dog fighting, eating many types of animals, wearing leather, cock fighting.....

The Indigo

09/05/10, 01:44 PM

I wonder if this thread would go differently if this quote came from someone who wasn't a beloved scene hero.

yetconfused

09/05/10, 01:52 PM

I wonder if this thread would go differently if this quote came from someone who wasn't a beloved scene hero.
most likely.

Flaming Piranha

09/05/10, 01:59 PM

There are about a billion Indians who wouldn't hurt a cow.

Millions don't even hurt bugs.

And many "westerners" view animals as crap -> dog fighting, eating many types of animals, wearing leather, cock fighting.....

I guess I should have just stuck with saying Chinese instead of Asians. I'm just used to saying Asians when arguing with friends.

And as for the westerners viewing animals as crap, I said I was generalizing. I know that many don't love animals, but there are many who do. So much that they have them as pets and treat them like another family member.

bandnamexmyname

09/05/10, 02:08 PM

I guess I should have just stuck with saying Chinese instead of Asians. I'm just used to saying Asians when arguing with friends.

And as for the westerners viewing animals as crap, I said I was generalizing. I know that many don't love animals, but there are many who do. So much that they have them as pets and treat them like another family member.

Especially since the Cultural Revolution, when pets weren't really allowed...a lot of my family members are afraid of dogs and cats because they'd never really encountered them in their childhood, so I considered it a personal victory a few years back when my parents actually let me get a dog. But there are so many other Chinese families who wouldn't even consider it for a moment.

Simulcast

09/05/10, 02:11 PM

was waiting for someone to say this.

Had to be done.

Love As Arson

09/05/10, 02:16 PM

It's pretty racist, even if you take it in context.

paper halo

09/05/10, 02:25 PM

I wonder if this thread would go differently if this quote came from someone who wasn't a beloved scene hero.

Is he? I just tend to think of him as a massive tool.

Carolina.Alex

09/05/10, 02:26 PM

yves.

09/05/10, 02:35 PM

I view animals as crap because I love steak. Nailed it on the head.

ur such an animal h8r~!!!!!

deFobbed14yrs

09/05/10, 02:40 PM

I guess I should have just stuck with saying Chinese instead of Asians. I'm just used to saying Asians when arguing with friends.

And as for the westerners viewing animals as crap, I said I was generalizing. I know that many don't love animals, but there are many who do. So much that they have them as pets and treat them like another family member.

I understand

and i'm sure there are many Chinese who love their dog and wouldn't want to eat him. They have over a billion people in that country, just because a few million are doing something doesn't mean everyone is doing it.

Had to be done.

completely understandable.

I view animals as crap because I love steak. Nailed it on the head.

Meaning they don't equate all animals as equal to humans. You don't eat humans, because they are your equal.

Why does China viewing dogs as something to eat differ from Americans believing cows are ok to eat when they are sacred to many other people in the world.

coma

09/05/10, 02:46 PM

If this was Kanye, we'd eat him for dinner. But since it's bitch ass Morrisey, he's gonna get a pass for this.

bandnamexmyname

09/05/10, 03:19 PM

If this was Kanye, we'd eat him for dinner. But since it's bitch ass Morrisey, he's gonna get a pass for this.

This site likes Kanye too...

coma

09/05/10, 03:20 PM

This site likes Kanye too...

Doesn't matter. Even though he's generally well liked around here, he was spitroasted pretty bad for Taylor-gate.

Numero10

09/05/10, 03:36 PM

Robert Smith would never have said that

Scrandon

09/05/10, 03:46 PM

Why does China viewing dogs as something to eat differ from Americans believing cows are ok to eat when they are sacred to many other people in the world.

I'm sure his issue is not over which animals the Chinese choose to eat, but how they treat those animals beforehand.

deFobbed14yrs

09/05/10, 03:47 PM

I'm sure his issue is not over which animals the Chinese choose to eat, but how they treat those animals beforehand.

Last part wasn't directed to him.

We treat a lot of animals horribly in this country. From animals mills to abusive owners. It's just not widely talked as much as how the Chinese abuse their animals. This country isn't very far from the days of product testing on animals.

Carolina.Alex

09/05/10, 03:48 PM

Meaning they don't equate all animals as equal to humans. You don't eat humans, because they are your equal.

Why does China viewing dogs as something to eat differ from Americans believing cows are ok to eat when they are sacred to many other people in the world.

You gotta do what you gotta do.

RushAndAPush

09/05/10, 04:03 PM

As much as i love Morrissey, I can't agree with him on this or even defend him.

BornUnderPunches

09/05/10, 04:11 PM

So China differs from the rest of the world on this matter?

EchoPark

09/05/10, 04:53 PM

I didn't know if putting this thread in politics would be a good idea, but since it's a pressing topic, I did. Feel free to close it if i put it in the wrong forum.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/sep/03/morrissey-china-subspecies-racism

Basically he's pissed off about their lack of consideration for animal rights.

Personally, I myself am Chinese and I guess I have to be offended, which I am. But then again, you have to realize that it's Morrissey and the guy gets so tangled up and outspoken about his beliefs that he's bound to say things like that. He's such a fervent supporter of animal rights that he feels that anybody who treats animals the way the Chinese do is subhuman. I would have to agree with that point, as I've been to China multiple times and seen these atrocities. It's pretty damn disgusting.

The media is tearing him up (especially those retards at AltPress) and I guess they have reason to do so, because they're really not that familiar with his mannerisms, but I still think the whole thing was taken out of context and you really have to understand his train of thought before placing the racist label on him.

What do you think?

I'm certain people born in the USA are by Nationality, Americans and not Chinese. Chinese people are those who are born in China.Now If you identify more strongly with your Chinese heritage, I don't see why his comments would have affect you that much. Do you feel it a personal attack against you? If he called "Americans" a subspecies, would you also be outraged?

Morrissey has been putting his foot in his mouth for the better part of 2 decades, these flippant remarks are nothing to get riled up over.

caveBEAR

09/05/10, 05:04 PM

I wonder if this thread would go differently if this quote came from someone who wasn't a beloved scene hero.

I don't particularly care for Morrissey one way or the other, but this is an odd situation because it's obviously a racist statement, but there aren't really (traditional) racist undertones to it. If that makes any sense.

thesollopsist

09/05/10, 05:11 PM

Snore.

The Indigo

09/05/10, 05:28 PM

I don't particularly care for Morrissey one way or the other, but this is an odd situation because it's obviously a racist statement, but there aren't really (traditional) racist undertones to it. If that makes any sense.
He's referring to them as a subspecies due to cultural differences. Sounds like traditional racism to me. :shrug:

The Indigo

09/05/10, 05:32 PM

I'm certain people born in the USA are by Nationality, Americans and not Chinese. Chinese people are those who are born in China.Now If you identify more strongly with your Chinese heritage, I don't see why his comments would have affect you that much. Do you feel it a personal attack against you? If he called "Americans" a subspecies, would you also be outraged?

Morrissey has been putting his foot in his mouth for the better part of 2 decades, these flippant remarks are nothing to get riled up over.

i think he could have put it in a better way and was probably just caught up in his emotions and spoke without thinking. he probably shouldn't have generalized like that, but the fact is that the way chinese culture is, some things can be (and are) seen as outrageous by western culture, whether it's china's human rights violations (freedoms of speech and religion, lack of political freedom, ridiculous capital punishment, torture, worker's rights, etc) or their lack of animal rights. i understand that chinese culture is thousands of years old and going in and trying to change things that have been the norm for forever isn't just going to be accepted, but something really should be done about these things. raising awareness on the lack of animal rights in china is a step in the right direction, though, and maybe that is what moz was trying to achieve with this statement.

slightly off-topic: love him so so so much.

Sticks and stones.
Again, ask yourself if you'd react quite the same if Jefree Starr or Glenn Beck made this same statement in the same context.

raptorz44

09/05/10, 05:40 PM

To be honest, when I saw he said this, I was more excited over the fact that he actually made a somewaht public statement and that he's alive.

caveBEAR

09/05/10, 05:46 PM

He's referring to them as a subspecies due to cultural differences. Sounds like traditional racism to me. :shrug:

I just meant his reasoning of 'they are cruel to animals' seems a little less vitriolic than 'they're all secretly jihadists'. He's still in the wrong, but at least his concern seems rooted in reality. :shrug: He definitely needs to alter the vocabulary/mindset though.

fightinirish217

09/05/10, 05:51 PM

Probably shouldn't be calling any group of people a "subspecies," for any reason. Unless we're talking about the French.

/sarcasm

The Indigo

09/05/10, 06:10 PM

I just meant his reasoning of 'they are cruel to animals' seems a little less vitriolic than 'they're all secretly jihadists'. He's still in the wrong, but at least his concern seems rooted in reality. :shrug: He definitely needs to alter the vocabulary/mindset though.
Just the fact that he makes that generalization towards all Chinese people removes any semblance of "rooted in reality" from his argument.

I'm not trying to be particularly argumentative. It's just weird to see you cutting bruh man a break when you rarely, if ever, cut anyone any breaks.

SlappedActor

09/05/10, 06:20 PM

I wonder if this thread would go differently if this quote came from someone who wasn't a beloved scene hero.

Absolutely it would.

caveBEAR

09/05/10, 06:35 PM

Just the fact that he makes that generalization towards all Chinese people removes any semblance of "rooted in reality" from his argument.

I'm not trying to be particularly argumentative. It's just weird to see you cutting bruh man a break when you rarely, if ever, cut anyone any breaks.

I'm not so much cutting him a break as I am thinking, 'fuck, if we can't get rid of racism, could the racists at least actually care about human/animal/women's/worker's rights?'

It's just not often that the concerns of a racist coincide with concerns of my own. I know for damn sure Limbaugh doesn't care about animal rights.

Juan Jose

09/05/10, 06:52 PM

kind of a dick thing to say, even if you are passionate about animal rights, so he basically demeaned fellow human beings just because they don't treat animals as well as he thinks they should be treated?

I like his music but I think he should keep his mouth shut about these kind of things

<*)))><

09/05/10, 06:57 PM

Again, ask yourself if you'd react quite the same if Jefree Starr or Glenn Beck made this same statement in the same context.
I really don't care for either of those guys, both will say anything to get publicity. So yes I will say the same thing even if anyone said it. Well if Lady Gaga said id flip a pool in rage.

yves.

09/05/10, 07:04 PM

Again, ask yourself if you'd react quite the same if Jefree Starr or Glenn Beck made this same statement in the same context.

i can't answer this with certainty, but i can only hope to be unbiased enough to have the same opinion.

Flaming Piranha

09/05/10, 07:36 PM

Especially since the Cultural Revolution, when pets weren't really allowed...a lot of my family members are afraid of dogs and cats because they'd never really encountered them in their childhood, so I considered it a personal victory a few years back when my parents actually let me get a dog. But there are so many other Chinese families who wouldn't even consider it for a moment.

I understand what you mean. It's also a huge victory for me and my siblings whenever we talk our parents into getting a dog. The problem is, my parents, who came from Vietnam, still view dogs as parasites. Dogs are pretty expendable to them, so if it ruins a couch or is just too much to handle, we ship the dog off to a relative or family friend.

From what I've gathered, having a pet implies that you have enough money/food to feed another mouth. A lot of Chinese don't have that luxury, so that's probably why they don't treat animals as well as we'd like them to.

TheRealJohnOC

09/05/10, 08:02 PM

Who gives a shit? He's a nobody outside his fan base.

atticus18244fss

09/05/10, 08:21 PM

Just watched The Cove the other night. Not very please with the Japanese anymore.

yves.

09/06/10, 12:19 AM

Who gives a shit? He's a nobody outside his fan base.

u mad???

TakeLotsWithAlcohol

09/06/10, 12:39 AM

Bigmouth Strikes Again, eh?

saysmydoctor

09/06/10, 01:14 AM

Gibson'd.

Steiny29

09/06/10, 07:00 AM

There are about a billion Indians who wouldn't hurt a cow.

Millions don't even hurt bugs.

And many "westerners" view animals as crap -> dog fighting, eating many types of animals, wearing leather, cock fighting.....

Well that's irrelevant. To them cows aren't animals, they're gods and I would like to see one culture willing to even try to treat a god like they would an animal or even another human.

Steiny29

09/06/10, 07:06 AM

deFobbed14yrs

09/06/10, 09:55 AM

Well that's irrelevant. To them cows aren't animals, they're gods and I would like to see one culture willing to even try to treat a god like they would an animal or even another human.

i do not think they are gods, though many do, but i don't eat them out of respect, or an other animals for that matter.
and I was trying to point out that cows to India are like dogs to America in respect that they are held in high regard and only Americans get pissy when another country eats a sacred animal.

deFobbed14yrs

09/06/10, 10:00 AM

anthonydarko

09/06/10, 10:15 AM

That was pretty shitty to say, even to what context he meant.

TheRealJohnOC

09/06/10, 10:16 AM

u mad???
not at all. Just tired of everyone making a big deal about it.

Scrandon

09/06/10, 10:43 AM

_ - American should only apply to people who have dual citizenship. Calling a citizen African-American or Chinese-American or Japanese-American or whatever is more demeaning than any other slur you can come up with.

I'll bite... how so?

yves.

09/06/10, 10:48 AM

Well America sucks in that respect. Ask 100 Americans their nationality and if you get 3 that say American I'd be surprised even though most of these people have roots in America for at least 2 generations.

_ - American should only apply to people who have dual citizenship. Calling a citizen African-American or Chinese-American or Japanese-American or whatever is more demeaning than any other slur you can come up with.

most people here don't seem to know the difference between the words nationality and heritage, and that is why you'd receive that answer.

I'll bite... how so?

because their citizenship isn't with japan and america, or america and an african country, and it's more likely that people that call themselves _-american have never even been to the other country and may not be familiar with its language or customs. i know i get offended when people say they are italian-american and they don't know the first thing about italy.

back on topic, moz released a follow-up statement:
If anyone has seen the horrific and unwatchable footage of the Chinese cat and dog trade - animals skinned alive - then they could not possibly argue in favour of China as a caring nation. There are no animal protection laws in China and this results in the worst animal abuse and cruelty on the planet. It is indefensible.

The Indigo

09/06/10, 10:54 AM

most people here don't seem to know the difference between the words nationality and heritage, and that is why you'd receive that answer.

because their citizenship isn't with japan and america, or america and an african country, and it's more likely that people that call themselves _-american have never even been to the other country and may not be familiar with its language or customs. i know i get offended when people say they are italian-american and they don't know the first thing about italy.

back on topic, moz released a follow-up statement:
That follow-up statement just makes me dislike the dude more. The laws the Chinese government makes is no reason to call an entire nationality of people a "subspecies." The fact that he's not only refusing to apologize, but actually defending what he said kinda cements my feelings on this issue.

Kozzy333

09/06/10, 10:55 AM

Morrissey is a douche.

Scrandon

09/06/10, 10:58 AM

because their citizenship isn't with japan and america, or america and an african country, and it's more likely that people that call themselves _-american have never even been to the other country and may not be familiar with its language or customs.
Oh really? That's most likely to happen? Nope, I don't think so.

And even if it was "most likely", how is it offensive again?

i know i get offended when people say they are italian-american and they don't know the first thing about italy.

Sounds horrible.

Scrandon

09/06/10, 11:00 AM

That follow-up statement just makes me dislike the dude more. The laws the Chinese government makes is no reason to call an entire nationality of people a "subspecies." The fact that he's not only refusing to apologize, but actually defending what he said kinda cements my feelings on this issue.

True that.
A slip of the tongue is one thing, but releasing a public statement to defend it is guaranteed racist douche.

yves.

09/06/10, 11:06 AM

Oh really? That's most likely to happen? Nope, I don't think so.

And even if it was "most likely", how is it offensive again?

Sounds horrible.

when was the last time you met someone that labels themselves as german-american or any other kind of _-american and actually had dual citizenship and knew the language and customs of the other country? and i'm sure you'd be totally kewl~ with it if you were me and you had to deal with a bunch of idiots that assume that italians are all like the people on jersey shore and real housewives of nj and that olive garden is authentic italian food, and that we're all drunks because we like to drink wine with our meals.

also, i said more likely, not most likely.

bandnamexmyname

09/06/10, 11:38 AM

I'm certain people born in the USA are by Nationality, Americans and not Chinese. Chinese people are those who are born in China.Now If you identify more strongly with your Chinese heritage, I don't see why his comments would have affect you that much. Do you feel it a personal attack against you? If he called "Americans" a subspecies, would you also be outraged?

Morrissey has been putting his foot in his mouth for the better part of 2 decades, these flippant remarks are nothing to get riled up over.

I was born in the US, so I am American by nationality. However, I am ethnically Chinese and identify with China in that respect. You have to understand that identifying with being American and being Chinese are different in the respect that I only have citizenship from one of those countries, but I do have that sense of national pride with both. So yes, I would have to be offended if Americans were the offended party, but the two things preventing me from blowing up at Moz are
1. He does this all the time, people who realize that he doesn't really wish harm upon the Chinese can understand that his support for animal rights is extremely strong.
2. I can agree with him in that the Chinese do not view animals in a particularly good light, so there is wrongdoing on their part.

Nick Hull

09/06/10, 11:42 AM

lol.

Scrandon

09/06/10, 12:32 PM

when was the last time you met someone that labels themselves as german-american or any other kind of _-american and actually had dual citizenship and knew the language and customs of the other country? and i'm sure you'd be totally kewl~ with it if you were me and you had to deal with a bunch of idiots that assume that italians are all like the people on jersey shore and real housewives of nj and that olive garden is authentic italian food, and that we're all drunks because we like to drink wine with our meals.

also, i said more likely, not most likely.

Dual citizenship is irrelevant. People are called Mexican-American or African-American based on their ethnicity, not where they have citizenship.

I have no idea why the rant about you being Italian is significant, but my god, your life sounds so hard.

yves.

09/06/10, 12:38 PM

Dual citizenship is irrelevant. People are called Mexican-American or African-American based on their ethnicity, not where they have citizenship.

I have no idea why the rant about you being Italian is significant, but my god, your life sounds so hard.

you asked why it was offensive. and my god, i never said life was sewwwww hard.

Steiny29

09/06/10, 12:49 PM

I'll bite... how so?

It insinuates that they aren't an equal.

It doesn't make sense either. Blacks have deeper ancestral roots in America than most people in this country. Most white people, the only people who aren't referred to as an _-American at one point or another, are descendants of immigrants to this country who arrived long after.
All of the other races and ethnicities arrived at various points in history along with whites, but get a designation that whites don't.

There's no such thing as a European-American unless they were born there and thus truly are European-American.

Although Jersey Shore did manage to create Italian-American in response to the popularization of the word guido sad enough.

But what does logic have to do with political correctness?

Scrandon

09/06/10, 01:17 PM

It insinuates that they aren't an equal.
No, it draws a distinction based on ethnicity, and allows them to retain cultural identity.

It doesn't make sense either. Blacks have deeper ancestral roots in America than most people in this country. Most white people, the only people who aren't referred to as an _-American at one point or another, are descendants of immigrants to this country who arrived long after.
All of the other races and ethnicities arrived at various points in history along with whites, but get a designation that whites don't.
I don't understand how this leads to the offensive nature of the term.

There's no such thing as a European-American unless they were born there and thus truly are European-American.
The fuck? There's no such thing as European-American unless they are European-American.

Although Jersey Shore did manage to create Italian-American in response to the popularization of the word guido sad enough.

But what does logic have to do with political correctness?
Stop rambling, it's annoying. Make a point and back it up, you're terribly difficult to follow.

loveisdead

09/06/10, 01:36 PM

No, it draws a distinction based on ethnicity, and allows them to retain cultural identity.

I don't understand how this leads to the offensive nature of the term.

The fuck? There's no such thing as European-American unless they are European-American.

Stop rambling, it's annoying. Make a point and back it up, you're terribly difficult to follow.

You just can't fathom his point.

Scrandon

09/06/10, 01:45 PM

You just can't fathom his point.

:lol:

Oh jeez, don't remind him how smart he is...

MyNameIsRoss

09/06/10, 02:42 PM

this guy's always been kind of a jackass? so is this a surprise at all? really? to anyone?

Illuminate

09/06/10, 04:11 PM

fuck you dolphin!!

kofiadrian

09/06/10, 04:23 PM

NME first (http://motorcycleaupairboy.com/interviews/1992/caucasian.htm) called bullshit on him in 1992, apparently nobody cared then.

perceptrons

09/06/10, 05:00 PM

You just can't fathom his point.
Haha, I thought about making that joke when I saw him show up. Glad someone executed.

Machu505

09/06/10, 05:02 PM

I don't know if there's anything I care about less than animal rights... maybe professional basketball.

shit stroll

09/06/10, 05:18 PM

i'm convinced these people are subspecies

KtmH-OhrRtg

Charles777

09/06/10, 05:29 PM

i'm convinced these people are subspecies

KtmH-OhrRtg
All I heard as I watched that was "derp derp derp"

Jason Tate

09/07/10, 09:33 AM

I'd be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt due to the reasoning behind his words, but his choice of words is really depressing, and I worry about anyone who comes up with 'subspecies' as a term for a people.

I'd hate to be a celebrity. What a microscope to be put under.
This. But, that said, I'm pissed he used that phrase. Ticks me off because it's stupid. But I have never been on board with his believes about animals - and he very frequently speaks without thinking.

Simon Armitage defended Morrissey’s statement, “But clearly, when it comes to animal rights and animal welfare, he’s absolutely unshakable in his beliefs. In his view, if you treat an animal badly, you are less than human. I think that was his point.”

dejaxentendu

09/09/10, 01:38 AM

its morrissey he obviously didnt mean it the way it came out. I think he thinks anyone who would do acts of cruelty against animals that some people of the Chinese race might commit is "subhuman" not the race in general. If anyone would say it while you were out to lunch with them or something you probably wouldn't think twice about the statement.