Why didn't we listen to Sinead O'Connor in 1992? [View All]

[Coventina]

In a 1992 appearance on Saturday Night Live, Sinead O'Connor sang an a cappella version of the Bob Marley song "War," but substituted the word "racism" with "child abuse" in protest of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. What she did at the end of the song shocked viewers: She held up a picture of Pope John Paul II and ripped it in two.

Eighteen years later, amid continuing revelations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, O'Connor's anger is matched by the public worldwide. A Facebook page has even been started called "Apologize to Sinead O'Connor NOW."

O'Connor spoke recently with NPR's Guy Raz about ripping up the photo and how she feels about the church today.

"I'm an intelligent woman. I knew how people would react," she says. "I considered myself a spiritually, intellectually developed woman. ... I was perfectly willing to deal with the consequences, the main one of which was people saying I'm a nutcase, which I agree with anyway."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127956314

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I remember that appearance well. I was a huge fan of hers, so I watched SNL specifically to watch her. I remember I was totally stunned and confused by her actions. I am not a Catholic, but I thought of JPII as a good man.

What she did pretty much killed her career in America. She was absolutely vilified for it.

Why didn't anyone believe her at the time?

Because of her shaved head? Because she was so young at the time? Because she was controversial for some of her other opinions?

on edit: I realize that this is probably going to get zero attention due to the stuff about DU's new rules and the General!
I picked a bad day to post this!