The Issue of Censorship

When I was younger I was a rebel, I guess, which in some way led to me being a conspirator in some sorts. One issue I was against was censorship in all manners. As I got older it became less of an issue since I don't approve of television, advertising, or commercial music, you can get what you want to watch off of the internet without censorship. Censorship laws don't affect my life in any sort of manner. As a musician I'm a firm believer of freedom of speech, and I'm very conservative in interpreting the constitution. Not conservative like the right wing neocons, but conservative by definition. (I don't like dealing in absolutes like politics, I'm against any type of labeling your belief systems)

When looking back at the political debate of censorship specifically in music, the people for censorship have completely misinterpreted the Constitution and made themselves look life fools. They take the first amendment and say that we don't have the right to say certain things that offend certain people, and most of the time they're the ones saying that this is a Christian Nation based upon Christian Morals, but the same sources of their interpretations are the same source of how our government is out of control. These individuals allow the government and mass media to make monkeys out of them.

Let's take a look at the first amendment for reference:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I can get into great detail about the topics this amendment brings up, I can
go on forever about it. Espcially in the society we live in now, it is a lot different than in 1787. That being said the ones were and are procensorship bring up that same point, but their interpretations are out of wack.

I'm going to use videos of debates over censorship from the 1980s when the issue of music censorship fired up.

A great proponent for freedom of speech was the late Frank Zappa. As one of the most creative musicians of all time, in my opinion, Frank is a very intellectual person and he was one of the original proponents for no-censorship in music. I agree with his interpretation on the first amendent 100%. He addressed the US Senate commerce, technology, and transportation committee against the PMRCs proposal to censor music.

Here is his testimony to the senate and a quote:




"The PMRC proposal is an ill-conceived piece of nonsense which fails to deliver any real benefits to children, infringes the civil liberties of people who are not children, and promises to keep the courts busy for years dealing with the interpretational and enforcemental problems inherent in the proposal's design. It is my understanding that, in law, First Amendment issues are decided with a preference for the least restrictive alternative. In this context, the PMRC's demands are the equivalent of treating dandruff by decapitation ... The establishment of a rating system, voluntary or otherwise, opens the door to an endless parade of moral quality control programs based on things certain Christians do not like. What if the next bunch of Washington wives demands a large yellow "J" on all material written or performed by Jews, in order to save helpless children from exposure to concealed Zionist doctrine?"

Wiki of Frank Zappa

Here is frank on crossfire with washington times journalist john holton. I suggest watching these videos if you have the
time, if not at least skim through them. Frank makes a great example of how a level headed individual portrays himself
and interpres law, and how mainstream journalists interpret things for their own political gain. It's a great watch.



The biggest threat to america today is not communism it's moving america towards a facist theocracy

From around 9:30 to 12:00 minutes is a great summary of the point I'm trying to make.

I used these videos to bring up the point if you can watch them or just skim through the them and retain any information. With an individual like Frank Zappa, who actually has creativity, he interprets the constitution the way it is meant to be. While the people he is arguing against interpret the constitution so wrong. The say he is unintelligent and dumb, while he is making a better point that anyone else. His job was a lot harder than writing what your editor tells you to, or being a corporate representative merely financed by corporations you represent and look at votes as merely consent forms to be governed.

An issue brought up on crossfire was that words have context and can influence the thinking of people. While that is true, John Holtons example was completely irrational. It seems that it is okay for mass media to influence your thinking while they interpret crucial news certain ways for not only political influences but to control the masses. In my opinion, "programming" the masses is a lot worse than certain references in music. It's not okay for REAL musicians to raise awareness on certain social issues that go against the status quo. In these videos the people Frank is arguing against take songs simply referring to themes of sex, the devil, and violence are condoning them, while most of mainstream musical lyrics are mere gimmicks and aren't actual beliefs or are telling people to condone what they're talking about. They called Ozzy Osbourne a Satanist when most of his music is about love

However that issue has been settled since now 5 record companies control the creativity of musicians that gets played on the radio and television. This type of corporate control of society, television, music, news, college text books, government, and other aspects of the United States is hurting us worse than anything else is. They have taken MUSIC in general from being an actual ART (Bach, Beethoven and certain modern performers) and have degraded it to being something like Lady Gaga. It's terrible and a disgrace. Bach and Mozart would be turning in their graves of what music has become and our founding fathers would be turning in their graves if they saw how our government has rapped the constitution when they fought with their hands and minds for this nation be a country.