Open letter to Morrissey, regarding the empty barrels

Dear Morrissey,

I haven’t written an open letter in a while, as frankly, it has appeared that the reality of love, adoration, and support for you is evident for all to see. As plain as day, as unambiguous as the sun rises and sets each day. And to those with actual eyes that can see, this is still evident. So I let Letters to Morrissey sit in state, a testament of reality. A statement of the bleeding obvious.

Indeed, the love for you, from the perspective of your true fans, is so tremendous, that I was beginning to feel that Letters to Morrissey was now obsolete.

But I do wonder if you know? Out of the entire packed audience in Portland, there was less than 0.1% hatred which you rightly, and swiftly, removed.

You sing and state that we should stop watching the news. I hope you are taking your own advice. There are legions of fans who love you as we always have. It is only the news-that-should-not-be-watched that states otherwise. News that lies about you, and us.

Empty barrels make the loudest noise, especially if those barrels are attention-seeking or money-grabbing. And currently, those empty barrels are rattling, the usual suspects that I do not even feel deserve to be named (they are so dull, predictable, and pathetic).

I don’t know if you hear the quiet and authentic voices of real fans. We make an effort, and a selection of our voices was collected right here on Letters to Morrissey. But we just don’t have a platform tall enough as those hell-bent on standing out and shouting hot air. It’s exasperating: We starkly see the reality that you are as loved as ever. But we also see a tiny group with an enormous platform spouting lies and filth and slander about you, asking us to deny that precise reality we see with our own eyes. But we will never stop standing up for you, and reality.

Do you know they are small in number and that the majority do not believe anything they say? I truly hope so.

Your current shows are mesmerizing. Personally, I am not in a position to come to any of the US shows (I am not in the US). But I make a playlist of the songs you have on your setlist and play them on rotation at every opportunity. I am very jealous of those who can attend your shows – and that jealousy ironically bears witness to how you are still as loved as ever by legions of fans. It feels like everyone is seeing you play except me. For if the haters were correct, then you would be playing to just me. And that will never happen, as the haters are full of shit.

With LOVE, today, tomorrow, and ALWAYS,

Rebecca