Should Music Be Censored?
“America- It’s a free country. Part of that freedom is the right to listen to the music you love. But music can hurt, too. Some songs have lyrics that put down different races or groups. Some songs celebrate drugs and violence. What happens when music offends?” Music has always been a basic form of expression. From Antonin dvorak, to Eminem, to even ancient, tribal music, it has been a way through which individuals convey their thoughts and expressions. Everyone has the right to listen to what they want as long as they do it with consideration to others. Everywhere we turn, everything we do and say is being scrutinized, no longer are we all allowed to think freely, openly. All the censorship out there is a way of stopping our right of free expression because it doesn’t fit their description of what is decent and moral. What they fail to realize is that we all have our right to be free as long as no one is being out in danger, and I don’t think music has ever hurt anyone. Music shouldn’t be censored. Music has often been the release for some of our most troublesome times. If you are angry or sad, you go home and out on a song that relates to your feelings, making you feel better. You are free to choose what you want to listen to, which the first amendment guarantees. Also 65% of people in our community like music. There is a huge number of people who enjoy listening to music. Eventually, people listen to music while walking home, work, while there are on the bus, or driving, also even when cooking, or just to relax. Why should we take away something people really enjoy doing? To add up, due of the amendment made by our founding fathers, I do not believe there will ever be an answer to the question whether or not music should be censored. The way I see, it should not be censored. Unfortunately, many children often hear explicit language from older siblings or parents at an early age. They believe that since someone they look up to uses those words, they should too. Eventually, everyone will be exposed to language they do not find acceptable. Foul language is not permitted on media such as television or radio because it is an all audience media. However, on albums the artist is allowed to use any words he or she sees fit. Freedom of speech is the basic way for communication of beliefs, thoughts and ideas. Also, as this quote says (by the poet: john hames) ; “The words sound so simple, but without them the world would be a very different place.ʺ Without the right to speak one’s mind freely, people would be forced to agree with everything society stated. Without freedom of speech there would be no interesting newspapers, no free religion and no free thoughts. Besides, music is just a way that people use to express themselves, no one gets hurt with words. What is legal and illegal? What can be said and cannot said? Does the first amendment include spoken word only or does it includes actions also? What, if any, limits should be put to this amendment? As long as the government has existed, people have battled over censorship. Censorship takes on all different shapes and forms: banning of books, television guidelines, or the bans of teenagers in stores. Censorship is all around us, but are we going to let them take music away from us? No we are not, music should not be censored; we all have our freedom to speech; we all can express ourselves openly; we are free, and I truly believe that we are free to fight for what we enjoy to listen to. Finally, there are many reasons why music shouldn’t be censored. We all are free, and no one is willing to give up their freedom of expression. Our founding fathers gave us the freedom of speech, so by law, we have the right to listen to what we want. Music is just something we use to relax, to help us concentrate, to have a moment of peace, to enjoy a beautiful melody, to escape from all the loud sounds in the street to let your feelings out, to help you feel better. Censorship has always been an issue debated by people since a long time ago, this issue is very important in our society. Music shouldn’t be censored. I hope the reader take my point of view into consideration.
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