Music

If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?

Music affects everyone in their own unique way; that is one of the great things about music. Whether this impact is positive or negative depends on how one incorporates music into his/her life. One who uses music as a stimulant, such as to get pumped up for a game, or to "mosh" at a concert could definitely experience a violent behavior. However, to say that music causes violence anymore than many poems, plays, and novels that we study in our public education system makes no sense at all.

Violence has always been present in any society that has existed in the history of mankind. It's an emotion; a human tendency; and therefore, it can not be destroyed. Getting rid of violence in music would only, most likely, lead to another way for violence to be expressed. The responsibility lies on the individual to know how music affects him/her. It's no different than a nicotine addiction or alcoholism, in the sense that just because one turns 18 or 21 and is legal to buy cigarettes and alcohol doesn't mean he/she is going to become a smoker or alcoholic. So, why should music, which contains many more benefits than deficiencies, be regulated to exterminate the raw energy that one can experience through it.

One like myself, who is a musician and studies all types of music from classical to hip hop, is able to appreciate these diverse musical expressions because each one contains its own sense of originality and talent. It's true that music can have a strong impact on one's behavior and could influence one violently, but when did we lose the power to decide for ourselves how things affect us? It lies in one's own individual freedom to choose how hey take in and express emotions; and within that, there will always be those who "take it too far." Though, as music encourages learning, creativity, and expression in many