Thanks for this. Her death has really hit me. In 1992 when she tore up the pope, I was a young gay guy in Boston. It was the height of the AIDS epidemic and I was watching people die around me. In Boston the city and the community were trying to do really important harm reduction work to slow the spread and keep people alive, and one of the biggest obstacles was Cardinal Bernard Law, who used his political clout to shut things down. When I think of it I see the faces of people dead 30 years who should be with us now, and mourn for them and for all the gifts they would have given us in these years.
So when we learned about the scandals if the church, with Law at the center of the cover up, I thought, “of course.” People said “How could we have known?” Well, many of the victims were powerless and voiceless but... they could have listened to Sinéad.
I cried when I heard she was gone. Then I listened to her music for a while and cried in wonder at the power of it and that she could make me feel so much. The world may not have deserved her, but man did we need her.
John, thanks so much for this very moving remembrance of Sinead and your own experience of being a young gay guy in Boston in the early 90's. I'm so sorry that you had to experience that. I think some people forget what a horror show the AIDS epidemic was for the queer community. And the disgraceful resistance that certain figures in our society like Cardinal Bernard Shaw put up against the type of vital harm reduction work you and others were doing. I've talked about this era a fair bit with the writer Edmund White and he is always so frank about how many amazing young gay writers he knew back then who died from AIDS.
And yes bless Sinead for sounding the alarm. For seeing no distinction between her activism and her art. For cracking open our consciousness like that.
Bernard Law was a despicable man. No one really understood Sinead's actions when she tore up the photo of the Pope. I think only those of us with an disdain for the Church might have understood. She was an amazing woman. I lost a dear friend and a cousin who was a hemophiliac to AIDS in the 90's. A few others to it since.
She was a warrior songstress... Chris Marker's very definition of a super cobbler artist... using what's at hand to make great work. And you've given us the most powerful tribute here… That it includes the rare Irish ballad I am Stretched on Your Grave with the lyrics “And I'll lie here forever. If your hands were in mine, I'd be sure they would not sever,” is beyond poignant. She made our rage both sacred and useful. May she humble the darkness with her light.
Ty so much Gabe for your amazing tribute to our generation's beautiful "one woman revolution" as well. She was indeed a brave, far ahead of her time, truth teller extraordinaire. It was your episode where I learned it was her mother's picture she tore up on SNL, and then better understood the deeper context of that iconic event. Indeed she was a "canary in the coal mine."
Cheers to you my fellow truth-teller inspired by Vonnegut & Sinead. We are indeed in a war for the truth.
This is a truly thoughtful and heartfelt tribute. Power to all who stand up to bullies, abusers and those who turn a blind eye. Sinead courageously called for the righting of wrongs and used her platform to shine a light where she saw unaddressed horror. Gabe, I applaud you for finding your own platform to speak truth. Peace to you.
It still wrenches my gut that she is gone. Did you read her memoir Gabe? Did I miss that mention perhaps? It was very powerful and sometimes difficult to read what she endured.
What a heartfelt tribute! I had no idea she was met by such hate. She was a truth speaker. People struggle with that. I relate with the emotions you shared. Any artist with a fan of your calibre… consider yourselves rich. Respect!
Thanks for this. Her death has really hit me. In 1992 when she tore up the pope, I was a young gay guy in Boston. It was the height of the AIDS epidemic and I was watching people die around me. In Boston the city and the community were trying to do really important harm reduction work to slow the spread and keep people alive, and one of the biggest obstacles was Cardinal Bernard Law, who used his political clout to shut things down. When I think of it I see the faces of people dead 30 years who should be with us now, and mourn for them and for all the gifts they would have given us in these years.
So when we learned about the scandals if the church, with Law at the center of the cover up, I thought, “of course.” People said “How could we have known?” Well, many of the victims were powerless and voiceless but... they could have listened to Sinéad.
I cried when I heard she was gone. Then I listened to her music for a while and cried in wonder at the power of it and that she could make me feel so much. The world may not have deserved her, but man did we need her.
John, thanks so much for this very moving remembrance of Sinead and your own experience of being a young gay guy in Boston in the early 90's. I'm so sorry that you had to experience that. I think some people forget what a horror show the AIDS epidemic was for the queer community. And the disgraceful resistance that certain figures in our society like Cardinal Bernard Shaw put up against the type of vital harm reduction work you and others were doing. I've talked about this era a fair bit with the writer Edmund White and he is always so frank about how many amazing young gay writers he knew back then who died from AIDS.
And yes bless Sinead for sounding the alarm. For seeing no distinction between her activism and her art. For cracking open our consciousness like that.
Anyway, heartfelt thanks for your words.
Bernard Law was a despicable man. No one really understood Sinead's actions when she tore up the photo of the Pope. I think only those of us with an disdain for the Church might have understood. She was an amazing woman. I lost a dear friend and a cousin who was a hemophiliac to AIDS in the 90's. A few others to it since.
She was a warrior songstress... Chris Marker's very definition of a super cobbler artist... using what's at hand to make great work. And you've given us the most powerful tribute here… That it includes the rare Irish ballad I am Stretched on Your Grave with the lyrics “And I'll lie here forever. If your hands were in mine, I'd be sure they would not sever,” is beyond poignant. She made our rage both sacred and useful. May she humble the darkness with her light.
Ty so much for this, Alisa, & total pleasure to read your beautiful & moving words on Sinead✨
Beautiful and moving tribute
Ty so much, yr kind words mean the world.
Ty so much Gabe for your amazing tribute to our generation's beautiful "one woman revolution" as well. She was indeed a brave, far ahead of her time, truth teller extraordinaire. It was your episode where I learned it was her mother's picture she tore up on SNL, and then better understood the deeper context of that iconic event. Indeed she was a "canary in the coal mine."
Cheers to you my fellow truth-teller inspired by Vonnegut & Sinead. We are indeed in a war for the truth.
<3 <3 <3
I'm still editing and just added a link to your podcast remembrance here: https://bit.ly/3Kpd5jp. Just a phenomenal job.
This is a truly thoughtful and heartfelt tribute. Power to all who stand up to bullies, abusers and those who turn a blind eye. Sinead courageously called for the righting of wrongs and used her platform to shine a light where she saw unaddressed horror. Gabe, I applaud you for finding your own platform to speak truth. Peace to you.
Ty so much for your incredibly kind words, Erika, they really mean the world, as do yr wise words abt bullies & light. Peace to you.
More love and truth from our generation in honor Sinead O'Conner. https://samray.substack.com/p/through-their-own-words-they-will
Ty so much, Sam, this was lovely✨
It still wrenches my gut that she is gone. Did you read her memoir Gabe? Did I miss that mention perhaps? It was very powerful and sometimes difficult to read what she endured.
What a heartfelt tribute! I had no idea she was met by such hate. She was a truth speaker. People struggle with that. I relate with the emotions you shared. Any artist with a fan of your calibre… consider yourselves rich. Respect!