During a recent concert in London, pop icon Madonna gave an impassioned speech touching on heavy current events and appealing to her fans’ sense of humanity. (READ AND LISTEN PART OF HER SPEECH BELOW)
What the f*** is going on in the world?
Speaking bluntly and from the heart, Madonna expressed horror at ongoing violence against children in conflicts like the Israel-Palestine crisis. “What the fuck is going on in the world?” she asked, citing graphic examples of decapitated babies and other atrocities.
The iconic singer asserted forcefully that “children belong to all of us” regardless of background, referencing author James Baldwin as inspiration for this belief in universal human bonds. She also condemned the recent stabbing death of a 6-year-old Muslim boy in Chicago as a hate crime, evidence of the growing darkness she hopes to combat.
Madonna’s speech stressed that despite surface differences dividing societies, we cannot “lose our humanity” or allow our spirits to be broken by tragedy. She insisted that each person has power to “turn light on in the world” through acts of generosity, unity and consciousness.
Asking the London crowd “are you with me?” throughout her address, Madonna underscored her belief in collective action unconstrained by politicians or laws to drive positive change. The uplifting speech ended with Madonna rejecting helplessness in favour of lighting “enough candles” to bring light and transform consciousness.
Madonna’s frank tone and skilful blend of harsh facts, rhetorical questions, and inspirational exhortations compelled her fans to see themselves as partners in creating a more just and peaceful world. The speech exemplified Madonna’s lifelong willingness to use her global platform to promote human welfare and social progress.
Transcribed Madonna’s speech:
I need to talk about children and all the things that are going on in the world right now. It would be irresponsible of me not to say something. What’s happening right now between Israel and Palestine, obviously is heartbreaking, and nobody wants to see what’s happening. I turn on social media and I, I wanna vomit. I see children being kidnapped, pulled off motorcycles, babies being decapitated, in peace raves being shot and killed.
What the fuck is going on in the world? How can human beings be so cruel to one another?
And it’s just getting worse and it frightens me and I wanna paraphrase James Baldwin who’s been a great inspiration for me all my life, and that is, the children of the world belong to all of us, each and every one of them, I don’t care where they’re from, what their headdress is, what the colour of their skin is, what their religion is.
The children belong to us, and we are responsible for them.
A six-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Chicago yesterday, it was a hate crime because he was Muslim.
Now, we have to remember that we are human beings here, we cannot lose our humanity. So, our hearts can be broken but our spirit cannot. No one can break our spirit, and you might look at what’s going on in the world and say: what the fuck? What can I do? I’m just one person, I’m helpless… No, you are not!
Each and everyone of you have the power and the ability to turn light on in the world. We are all candles. We can bring light to the world. Are you with me London? And if we turn enough light on, if we light enough candles, the collective consciousness of generosity and unity will change. No politicians, no laws, no sanctions, no land given or taken.
We with our consciousness can change the fucking world. Are you with me London? And thank you for turning your lights on! that means everything to me, that means you are listening, this is not for me, this is for all of you…
