Fear in the Time of Celebration

I remember the first concert I ever went to. It was a Michael Jackson concert at the “happiest place on Earth”, Disneyland. I remember the excitement, the joy and everything else that goes hand in hand with going to your first concert. The Ariana Grande concert in Manchester might have been the first for many young adults and children who would have begged their parents to buy tickets. It was supposed to be the best evening ever. Instead what they got was a horrific and cruel outcome. The concert was over and just as they were getting ready to get home to sweet dreams, they got a real life nightmare instead.

Music is supposed to be for everyone. It’s neutral ground.

When you poison the neutral ground, you affect the entire ecosystem. The sad reality is, that could have been any of us, here or there. It could have been me at the Justin Bieber concert in Mumbai or you at a smaller gig closer to home. But we can’t let hate win. Ever.

Music should never be a vehicle for hate. What happened in Manchester was disturbing, even though I wasn’t there. We’ve all been to concerts, we’ve all felt the happiness attached to that kind of experience.

I can’t even imagine what kind of burden rests now on Ariana’s shoulders.

When we listen to her songs next will we be able to remove those images of crying children? Or what about when we think of buying a concert ticket next, will we think twice before we do?

broken.
from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words.
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 23, 2017

Music has always helped me move away from the negativity in this world. It’s always been my best escape route. There is no way in hell that I will allow anyone that right to rob me of my escape, of my music.

My thoughts and prayers are with any and every parent that has sent their kid to a concert, with every artist that has ever set stage in hopes of making their audience happy, and with every child who dreams big with the soundtrack of their favourite song playing in the background. Music is love. Don’t let anyone ever convince you otherwise.

Fear in the time of celebration