LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts) - Many artists have spoken out about the terrorist attacks that struck New York and Washington, D.C., last Tuesday (Sept. 11) some more than others.
Alanis Morissette has taken time out from readying her third studio album, due by the end of the year on
Maverick Records, to issue a letter to fans via her official Web site.
The letter, in its entirety, reads:
"Sweet friends...
"I send you all so much love during this time filled with so many emotions. There is grief and shock and anger and confusion and despondence and depression and analysis and fury and numbness and fear and disbelief and denial and compassion and concern and love. All of which, I feel, is totally understandable and natural...
"This is a time of true self-definition in the face of what has happened and I send support during this process of defining who we are in accordance to what has gone on over the last few days. You are not alone. This is an intense time, the likes of which most of us (particularly of my generation) have never experienced before.
"I send love and care and empathy to those whose family and friends were directly touched by what has happened... and I send the same love to those who are affected because they feel others' pain as deeply as if it were their own (and I believe that others' pain is our own). I send love to everyone who is afraid.
"My hope is that we respond from the highest level of self-care as is possible as well as with a curiosity toward what the root of the motivations to attack were. The amount of large decisions being made over the next many hours are the kinds that can attempt to form a collective message about who we think we are as people and as a country. My wish is that this message represents us as a people who can take care of ourselves with strength and conviction as well as our being able to show our wisdom, compassion, and awareness of our interconnectedness as human beings at the same time.
"I send support to those who, at this time, are at the helm of making these decisions... may they be able to respond with strength, clarity, wisdom, and compassion during a very fraught time.
"This seems to me to be an amazing time of value forming and of defining who we truly are. And I offer as much support and comfort as I can in these words to all of us who are doing so. May we define our beliefs as consciously as possible and may our choices be fueled by the desire to understand and resolve rather than to perpetuate these complex conflicts and all that is at the root of them.
"My deepest thanks to everyone who has written messages about how they feel about what has happened this week. Your compassion and wisdom and care is the greatest of contributions to all who are grieving right now. I am having a prayer sweat in my sweat lodge this afternoon and evening...I will be with you and sending prayers your way, which I know will be intermingling with yours. Bless you each... Keep on....ox.
"I love you.
"Alanis
"P.S. Talking about putting on some sort of relief show(s) with the purpose of reaching out to those who have been touched by all that has happened this week...I'll keep you posted."
Next up for Morissette is a benefit concert for Voters for Choice in Washington, D.C., on September 25, which also includes Blues Traveler's John Popper and Chan Kinchla, Michael Franti and Spearhead, and Joe Henry.
