Should Music Be Censored?

Should Music be Censored?

Once people hear about the United States they automatically relate the country to the word "freedom." Little do they know that this country has many similarities to countries where censorship plays a major role in their daily lives, due to their government. One of the major issues that involve censorship within the United States is the question whether or not music should be censored; and how will parents or the government decide at what age it is appropriate to allow children to listen to music pertaining profanity? There are two sides to this issue; there are people who are for and there are those who are against censorship in music. At what point does action transcend from a matter of consumer choice to the matter of censorship? I think that the government and parents should not refrain their children from listening to different kinds of music, because once they do that, they deprive their children from knowing what's happening in our society.

People that are for the issue of censorship are usually from the older generation. These people consist of government officials that have children of their own. They believe that music pertaining profanity is one of the main factors for the problems that occur in our society. Such problems consist of an increase in violence and drug use amongst adolescents. An example was the incident that occurred at Columbine High School, where the media and others looked towards music as one of the causes for the incident. They feel that the music promotes sex, drugs, and violence. Critics believe that the children are not quite mature to listen to music with profanity in it.

On the other side of the issue many people think , neither parent nor the government should censor the type of music their children listen to. "By withholding art it goes against the first amendment that deals with freedom of speech, stated as; Congress shall make no law representing an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and petition the Government for a redress of grievances (Graham)." Another

reason why we should not have music censorship is because is that it makes people aware of what is going on in the world. It opens ideas, and brings a whole new meaning to "art". Music brings people together whether it's rap, rock, the blues or any other genre that might contain profane words within songs, because its art. Through certain types of songs and lyrics many people might gain a sense of understanding towards one race or another's way of living. An example is children from the suburbs gain a sense of what life is like for some people ( especially minorities) growing up in an urban area through rap music.

Within the First Amendment the phrase " freedom of speech" goes hand in hand with music. So why do the government and some parents still have a great concern for censoring the music that their children listen to? It is a learning process.

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