clumsy?, harmful?, careless?...
yes. People can often say things in a heated debate or on a subject that one feels strongly about. And when pulled out of context it does and easily makes the one making the comments look totally wrong for saying what they said. But when taking it into context and with some knowledge of M's views on the subject and the
whole not just part of the comment he made, one could see what he meant.
'
The outspoken former Smiths frontman, a longtime vegetarian and animal rights advocate, told the Guardian Weekend magazine:
“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.” '
' The interview was done by poet Simon Armitage, who told the Guardian:
“I thought at the time it was a dangerous thing to say into a tape recorder. He must have known it would make waves, he’s not daft. But he’s provocative and theatrical, and it was one of dozens of dramatic pronouncements. I’m not an apologist for that kind of remark, and couldn’t ignore it. 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.” '
Harmful?
yes. Careless with choice of wording?
yes. It's JUST my opinion, but when I read it with the knowledge of how strongly M feels on this subject, and when I read his comment in context of the subject at hand, to me he is clearly talking about the people (that might be Chinese or live in China)who practice such disgusting and barbaric acts of cruelty towards other animals. Besides that, giving a voice to the voiceless, when so little in the media or society does, can at the end of the day, only be a good thing.
What would be interesting to know is what M fans
in China feel about that comment, but I guess, regardless where one is from, if you do eat other animals, it may play a large part in not seeing the true (as it does to me) intention of his comment.