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Ever since Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction,” the Federal Communications Commission has made an attempt to weed out the vulgar, the racy, and the downright offensive from the media. I am sure you have noticed that your favorite songs have been missing a few words lately, that some of your favorite music videos have had scenes replaced, and that some of your favorite television shows have added an extra outer garment to some small screen beauties. How do I feel about it? I say that it’s a move long past due. Unfortunately, it took the exposure of a breast to the biggest audience in television to compel action. However, I have heard a host of complaints from peers claiming that this sets a dangerous precedent of censorship. Please, give me a break. Do you actually believe that slicing the cuss words from some rapper’s new cut, featuring Lil’ John of course, or preventing Howard Stern from discussing nothing but sex and scantily clad women is going to lead to censorship that will threaten the our rights to the freedom of speech? I have heard the claim made already. Appalling. I must say that it is discouraging to hear negative reactions regarding the efforts of the FCC. “What’s the big deal about hearing the ‘Sword’ on the radio,” a friend recently asked, “I mean what’s the big deal?” I will tell you what the big deal is, as if it is not already blatantly apparent. Every generation of young Americans becomes less and less morally aware. Are we all that desensitized to sex, drugs, and violence that we don’t see this happening? Honestly, it isn’t the cussing. It’s the cussing, the sex in music videos and on cable television, and the advocacy of drug and alcohol use by teen icons and the entire spectrum of media elements that continue to influence young people in a negative way, seemingly perpetuating this cycle of degradation. Are people really unwilling to sacrifice a few seconds of promiscuous entertainment, the ever-witty banter of Howard Stern as he drones on about prostitutes and sex, and songs boasting references to marijuana and alcohol? It has gotten out of control. When you turn on the radio in the car we are drowned by a deluge of lyrical achievement including lines like “Errybody in da club gettin’ tipsy” and “all you females crawl,” or perhaps you are enthralled by the respectable claims of Luda as he says that “he’s gon’ spit some game” and not stop “until he get ‘em in der burfday suits.” I don’t care if you want to listen to it. Naturally, I listen to some of the hip-hop of our day myself. Yet, this music does not need to be on the radio at the access of kids. If you don’t think it’s a problem, I beg you to look a little closer. Some children are having sexual orgies at twelve years old. Many won’t make it out of high school without having sex, unaware of their luck at not being involved in a pregnancy. And people wonder why family lives are weaker. Well it all contributes; everything is relative and comprises one big cycle of social decay. Chopping sex scenes out of music videos, slashing scenes in rap videos that degrade women, removing 50 Cent downin’ a forty ounce, or making Janet wear something resembling a shirt is not going to threaten freedom of speech. Do you really think that is art anyway? Who am I to say what is art? Go ahead, ask Luda or Snoop if they think their work is art. I’d love to hear the response. The FCC has every right to do what they are doing, and I support the move wholeheartedly. When you can hear the phrase, “If you got a attitude I could treat you just like a…”, you know the rest, on the radio, things have gotten out of hand. People try to point to Europe. “Look at the sexual content there,” they say. “Alcohol is used by young people there I have heard.” Well, heads up, we live in the United States of America and from an early age our children learn the significance of these things in the contest of our culture. These words are bad. Nudity is sex. Alcohol is bad. In Europe, this is not the case. Such things as alcohol are not abused because Europeans (although we as ignorant Americans deride them as silly creatures) have learned to use things in moderation resulting from their higher level of maturity. It’s the same with firearms in Canada. If we are to stop this treacherous cycle of immorality, we have to encourage such efforts as the FCC is making, not oppose them in some foolish attempt to slander the Bush Administration as a dictatorship or gripe about not seeing Luda’s rap video girls in thongs. Pay attention to what is happening and let’s get it together. |
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