> I know that most of you forum regulars don't much
> care for rap as an art form or musical genre, but
> it is really quite prominent in America, for you
> non-US guys. Radio, being as public as it is, is
> censored for language content, as it should be.
> The f-word, the s-word, and other like obscenities
> are blanked or beeped out. But lately, like in
> the past few months, I've been noticing certain
> other words being blanked out:
> "Sawed off shotgun, hand on the pump..." THe
> shotgun part was blanked out.
>
> "....With a can full of gas and a hand full of
> matches...." The edited version was this "With a
> __________ and a ______________....."
>
> Okay. With Columbine and Arkansas and other such
> incidents still weighing heavily on our minds, I
> can understand the attempt to decrease violence in
> society. But my question is, is this butchering
> of songs on the radio really going to do it? I
> suppose a more broad question would be What should
> we as a society target as a main problem in terms
> of causing violence? Because I haven't gotten any
> messages about drugs or violence from the rap I
> listen to, even though some of it is really
> hardcore and talks only about drugs and killing.
> So basically I wonder if this radio editing is
> really the right way to go.
>
> Also, another ironic thing, is that the songs on
> the radio are edited versions, so the DJ doesn't
> have to edit them each by hand every time they are
> played. The funny thing is that if a station
> plays Gin and Guice, from 1993, the standards for
> editing were much different and more leneant, so
> you can hear "bad" words in those songs but not
> the newer ones.
>
> Finchplucker
>

The following is an E-Mail I recieved a few weeks ago. I fully agree with it and I thought it would be relevent to your post. I don't mean to offend anyone but I think this post says a lot.

On Thursday, May 27, 1999, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was
invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every
so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.

The following is a portion of the transcript - both good & evil in the hearts of men and women:

"We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers."

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it
the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. In the
days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member
of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA because I don't believe that they are
responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's
murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy - it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today."

"Your laws ignore our deepest needs Your words are empty air You've stripped away our heritage You've outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms And precious children die You seek for answers everywhere And ask the question "Why"
You regulate restrictive laws Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need!"

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our makeup, we
create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual influences were present within our educational
systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in doing so, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs, politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more
restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties."

"We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone
who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. Political posturing and restrictive legislation
are not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key".

"There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched!"

"We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more
million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored. We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God!"

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on
April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School - prayer was brought back to our schools."

"Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation
that violates your God given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere
challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!

"My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Drac