KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Jesse Leach says that he "won't give up on trying to make this world a better place" despite the fact that "we have been conditionally dumbed down, divided and controlled" by "those in high authority." In a lengthy statement on his Facebook page, the singer blasts the use of death as a "political platform" and the pervasive "denial of deep-rooted inequality" in modern society, but vows to "be an instrument of light and hope" by writing "lyrics and songs for ALL of us." Leach's statement reads as follows: "Knowing full well the insurmountable ridicule and abuse I may receive from this post (by those polarized in one direction or the other), I cannot stay silent anymore. "I realize my thoughts, concerns and observations may mean nothing to you. If that is the case, simply stop reading. For those reading on, thank you and back to your regular unscheduled program of social media to resume in a minute or two. "I can't just take a 'side' or allow a hashtag to define my grief (we all have our ways to mourn with respect). "I have been contemplating and mourning the current state of the world and this country for days now. I still find it hard to find the words, but I wouldn't be able to look myself in the mirror tomorrow if I didn't attempt to formulate my thoughts and speak my mind and heart. "I mourn the murder of any human! "The fact that we as a people use death as a political platform or an agenda is despicable. The denying of deep-rooted inequality is also equally despicable! "How can we foster progress and actual equality when no one is willing to listen to each other? "We must be willing to be considerate and walk in one another's shoes to find understanding. I don't see much of that, sadly — just division and disregard for one another. "What a sad, troubled and shockingly ignorant state of affairs we are caught in these days. "The division between us as a people grows daily due tragic events paired alongside calculated disinformation and false flag or 'wagging the dog' (look up these terms if you are not familiar and then examine certain current events that change over time). "There is much outside of our history books and news reports to learn from. "These days, we are swallowing blindly what they feed us. "Instead of uniting to stand against a common enemy (the ones in power that manipulate justice and care not for the common people), instead we are divided against each other! While we bicker and fight over hashtags and who's killing who, the clandestine dismantling of this country and the world economy continues unchecked. "Racism (among many other warped and conditioned hateful thinking) is alive and well, people! It is being arrogantly displayed by many on both 'sides' of the current issues. Yet we are distracted by social status, fantasy games and vanity glued to our phones like zombies. We swallow manufactured media as clickbait conspiracies to occupy our minds. "We have been warned for decades about these times from literature, to movies and songs. Yet here we are in the midst of yet another crucial downfall and all we are doing is infighting and pointing fingers at each other. When, in fact, the blame lies upon those in high 'authority.' Those very few at the top who oversee the passing and amending of laws, the controlling of wealth and the distribution of power ARE the divisors and dictators of the system. "We have been conditionally dumbed down, divided and controlled. This is 'idiocracy' in full effect, but the vast majority can't see it! We have been indoctrinated and brain washed so cleverly, patiently and precisely that the vast majority are completely unaware of the state of emergency. We lash out against one another in fear and anger. Anyone trying to make a change and speak out is violently and or verbally struck down by an opposing view. It's ether that or threatened, ridiculed or simply... silenced in death. "How many more of 'US' will die before we realize the truth has been disguised? "How long do we allow those in control to manipulate us, humiliate us, steal from us and kill us like pawns in their game of power? "There has got to be a better way. There has got to be a radical change. Sadly, I fear the worst as it seems most are too far gone, trapped in the 'matrix,' as it were. "The only thing I can offer is my personal action. My lyrics in my music, my choices, the companies I support or boycott with money. The effort I will put forth to be understanding, compassionate and, yes, loving when I have the strength. "My faith is that there is enough good with us all to begin to heal and help one another (even in small simple ways). "For those of you who believe in God, I urge you to pray. "For those of you who gather in protest and activism, do so in peace. "For those of you in uniform, show honor and control. "For those of you who have compassion and charity to give, give it in abundance. "We are facing troubling times, and I feel it will only get worse before it improves. In the meantime, pause and think before you speak or act and ask yourself: am I a part of the problem or a part of the solution? You can control and change the way you think and act. "Think about this, if only for a moment. "I am just a man trying to find understanding and do the best that I can to help in anyway. "I will continue to strive to write lyrics and songs for ALL of us. "I will strive to be an instrument of light and hope in this world of darkness (albeit a flawed, sarcastic, head case of an instrument)... but it's all I have and all I can offer at present. "I am heartbroken for us all, but I won't give up on trying to make this world a better place one little tiny effort after another. "Be good to one another. "With respect and sincerity. "Peace, love, wisdom, strength and light to all!" KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's new album, "Incarnate", debuted at No. 6 on The Billboard 200, having shifted 35,000 equivalent album units in the week ending March 17.
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