Beautiful article by Nick Cave

[Imnobody4]

www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-cancel-culture-destroys-the-creative-soul
This says exactly what I feel about the link between mercy and tolerance.

Yet mercy is not a given. It is a value we must nurture and aspire to. Tolerance allows the spirit of enquiry the confidence to roam freely, to make mistakes, to self-correct, to be bold, to dare to doubt and in the process to chance upon new and more advanced ideas. Without mercy society grows inflexible, fearful, vindictive and humourless.

As far as I can see, cancel culture is mercy’s antithesis. Political correctness has grown to become the unhappiest religion in the world. Its once honourable attempt to reimagine our society in a more equitable way now embodies all the worst aspects that religion has to offer (and none of the beauty) — moral certainty and self-righteousness shorn even of the capacity for redemption. It has become quite literally, bad religion run amok.

I'm a huge fan of his but wonder if he's referring, to some degree, to his contraversial decision to perform in Israel.

I totally agree with what he's saying about cancel culture.

Absolutely nothing to do with Israel.
He's answering questions posed to him by fans. Here's part of his reply to 'Fairytale in New York'

Now, once again, ‘Fairytale’ is under attack. The idea that a word, or a line, in a song can simply be changed for another and not do it significant damage is a notion that can only be upheld by those that know nothing about the fragile nature of songwriting. The changing of the word ‘faggot’ for the nonsense word ‘haggard’ destroys the song by deflating it right at its essential and most reckless moment, stripping it of its value. It becomes a song that has been tampered with, compromised, tamed and neutered and can no longer be called a great song. It is a song that has lost its truth, its honour and integrity — a song that has knelt down and allowed the BBC to do its grim and sticky business.

Yet, time and time again the integrity of this magnificent song is tested. The BBC, that gatekeeper of our brittle sensibilities, forever acting in our best interests, continues to mutilate an artefact of immense cultural value and in doing so takes something from us this Christmas, impossible to measure or replace. On and on it goes, and we are all the less for it.

For me 2020 was the year when I started to properly understand the importance of forgiveness in the public realm, or mercy as is used in this article. Of allowing people to say they made a mistake and the importance, in terms of society functioning properly, of accepting an apology and allowing things to move past the mistake.

It's probably due to it being a year of witch hunts on social media where it was clear that for some kinds of people, there could never be a way back if they were perceived as having made a mistake.

GrimSisters Not sure how you got from 'cancel culture is mercy’s antithesis. Political correctness has grown to become the unhappiest religion in the world.' to his performance in Israel?

It's a very good piece of writing, thanks for posting Imnobody4

@GrimSisters

I'm a huge fan of his but wonder if he's referring, to some degree, to his contraversial decision to perform in Israel.

I think he's been on this road for a while tbh. He's written about it before, and he's attended a Douglas Murray event.

www.smh.com.au/culture/music/nick-cave-slams-cancel-culture-as-bad-religion-run-amuck-20200813-p55lfm.html

A lovely piece - just perfect for the new year.

It's probably due to it being a year of witch hunts on social media where it was clear that for some kinds of people, there could never be a way back if they were perceived as having made a mistake

Absolutely this. When it comes to worrying about the level of public debate on sensitive topics, it’s a tossup whether it’s the lack of critical thinking, the immediate rush to judgement while assuming the worst possible motive, or the fact that there is no possibility of redemption or forgiveness for a transgression that’s the most troubling.

Bloody well said Nick. If people aren’t allowed to make mistakes, they’re never creative.