Classical Values :: The selective elimination of racial and sexual degradation?

April 13, 2007

The selective elimination of racial and sexual degradation?

I'm always tempted to skip the stories when I pick up the morning paper and see yesterday's online news displayed in headlines, but reading today's Inquirer story -- "CBS fires Imus from radio Show" -- I found something new, in the form of this gem from Jesse Jackson

No one should use the public airwaves to transmit racial or sexual degradation.

Considering that Imus is already off the air, surely Jackson must be calling for a ban on the transmission of racial and sexual degradation like this:

Can U Control Yo Hoe" - so asks the high priest of gangster rap, Snoop Dogg, on his CD R&G: (Rhythm and Gangsta): The Masterpiece.

In "Housewife" on his CD 2001, Dr. Dre says, "Naw, 'hoe' is short for honey."

Rapper Beanie Sigel says, "Watch Your Bitches" on his 2001 album The Reason.

And 50 Cent commands: "Bitch choose with me" on his 2003 track "P.I.M.P."

Just a light sampling of how gangster rappers, some black filmmakers, and comedians routinely reduce young black women to "stuff," "bitches" and "hoes."

I mean, whatever else could Jackson be talking about?

At the of sounding like a racist (no, seriously), I hate racial and sexual degradation like the above, but I wouldn't call for a ban, because I am 100% against censorship (or, for that matter, anything even resembling it). But if Jackson is calling for a ban on sexual and racial degrading music, he is not alone:

Rap is incredibly offensive. There are very few rap songs that do not, in some form or another, mention sex, doing drugs, or even murder. The language is incredibly horrible, as a rap song (if censored) is nothing more than a long beep. Women are mentioned in a very derogatory fashion. Examples include calling them hoes and other terms that cannot be used in this paper. These writers make them out to be nothing more than objects of pleasure. This is a horrible thing and should not be allowed to continue.

Rap is not only offensive, it is destructive. This is where the music industry has people fooled. They say that they are "just lyrics" or "just a good beat." What people don't realize is that rap promotes things. It promotes things such as gangs. It promotes things such as gang violence. Some lyrics talk about killing for the sake of gang protection, gang reputation, or just killing to kill. They promote things like gang initiations. These initiations have included some terrible things. Some of the worst include things like carjacking or killing innocent teenage girls and raping them. They also promote sex with prostitutes or other such "loose" women. They promote theft of cars or homes. I, for one, do not like the fact that people who listen to rap are being encouraged to get into a gang and kill people for the fun of it. I don't like the fact that rap encourages people to steal my things for fun. I do not understand why a ban on rap music has not been implemented. How can the promotion of these things not prove a compelling societal interest?

As decent human beings, we have to realize that rap is dangerous, offensive, destructive filth and we must not put up with it. Society as a whole would be a better thing without it, and it would absolutely cut down on violence, rape, and gangs. would be remiss in allowing this abomination to continue. If you really care about 's crime levels, you will do something about it. If you really care about society as a whole, offensive material, or the good of mankind, you would do something about it. Please, call the closest governmental official, such as a congressman or representative and push for a ban on this horrible filth.

Obviously, I don't agree. But at least that writer says what he thinks. Why can't Jesse Jackson do the same?

The artists, promoters, producers and consumers of this music would probably agree with me that it should not be banned.

Is not music (or in this case, what passes for it IMO) a matter of taste? I'd like to think so, but years ago I ran a nightclub, and when I balked at rap performances, I was told that my opposition to rap shows (and my personal dislike of rap music) was grounded in "racism."

But as an attendee to hundreds of Grateful Dead shows over the years, I hardly ever saw a black deadhead. Trust me, they're rarer than black Confederates (and probably even rarer than rainbow Confederates....)

I'm not the only one to have noticed:

There's got to be a difference between bigotry and simple observation of demographics. To say that "Black people don't like the dead" is to assume that anyone who happens to be black will dislike the dead, while to say that in nearly twenty years of attending Dead shows in California I've only noticed a few black deadheads is just an honest observation of the crowds I've been in. That observation is not exclusive or judgemental, it's just noticing that fewer of us who happen to be black have been showing up at concerts over the years.

Surely this was not because of racism, as the Dead never displayed even the slightest hint of that. The band included black guest musicians like Merle Saunders and Billy Cobham from time to time, performed benefits for black charities, and I think it's fair to characterize their politics as left of center (with a smattering of individualistic libertarianish anarchism) -- Ann Coulter's Deadhead status notwithstanding.

All this means is that musical tastes vary. So how is it that not liking rap or hip hop can lead to accusations of racism?

What are the implications in the context of Jesse Jackson's goal of eliminating racial and sexual degradation from the public airwaves?

I can't be sure, but if I had to hazard a guess at what the new rule is, I'd say it's probably racist to love sexual and racial degradation, and racist to hate sexual and racial degradation.

MORE: A woman of color called a ho "prostitute" on the air?

And no "Imus-like groundswell of outrage"?

Well, talk about use of the public airwaves to transmit racial or sexual degradation!

Jesse Jackson, call your office!

MORE: M. Simon has documented Hillary Clinton's rap fundraisers -- including one by a rapper known for his use of the n-word.

Well at least it wasn't on the "public airwaves."

And I'm sure Hillary plans to apologize....

posted by Eric on 04.13.07 at 09:27 AM

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Comments

My best friend for my later Dead years - about '77 until Jerry died - was a black Dead Head.

I will say that every time I meet a black Dead Head it is a wonder. Always a surprise and a delight.

M. Simon · April 13, 2007 02:52 PM

mabey we should review the Bible (kjv), on forgivness.
-------------------
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you
judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use,
it will be measured to you.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and
pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to
your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the
time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the
plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to
remove the speck from your brother's eye.
-----------
Mr. Don Imus worked hard to help the sick and afflicted, the poor, and All race color and creed. he and his wife sure abide to this section of the Bible: First Corinthians 13
Love:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
--------------------
Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton, you are men of the cloth, and i to quit watching imus in the morning because i to did not care for parts of his programing, but i did not forget:
Then Peter came to him and asked, �Lord, how often should I
forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?�
�No!� Jesus replied, �seventy times seven!�
-----------------
i am probably the most unworthy human on Gods earth. i am a sinner who ask for forgiveness, and i also forgive all our brothers and sisters who i think wrong me.
Just as Jesus told Peter in the Garden "your spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak. brothers, we All fall short of the Glory of God, but there is FORGIVENESS.
let us All start NOW and as Jesus commanded us, " Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and with all of your mind, and Love your Neighbor as your self. " PLEASE.
my Brothers, may the Lord Jesus Christ forever Bless and Keep all of his flock.

Doc · April 16, 2007 12:13 PM