On Teaching Children
What’s making me proud to be an American today? The Black Eyed Peas. I don’t want to brazenly chime in with the chorus of right-wingers who have been bashing the Peas, but they are a kind of double-edged sword for me.
The Peas make me proud because their message and sound appeals to an audience that is willing to pay for their performance, and it has made them both wealthy and famous. Good for them. I also think it’s awesome that they can do so in spite of the horde of fundamentalists and moralists who would like to see that their music is heard by no-one. It’s a fine example of first amendment rights in practice. The Peas should be allowed to sing whatever they want, just as I should be able to write practically anything I want about them. I realize at some point it becomes slander, but I could always make the case that the Peas have slandered an entire sex, and as a result, may win more than I lose.
On the other hand… “let’s get retarded” … “lovely lady lumps” … ? Are we serious? This is what we like as Americans? Does this really appeal to people? I’m skeptical.
I could go on ad nauseum about the cultural values that their lyrics reflect and the degrading morality of our country, but I think my man Billy Graham and the other Christian Conservatives have covered the bases for me. Instead, I’ll appeal to you on another level. I only care about the society as a whole insofar as it affects me, and anyone I hope to bring into the world. I don’t want my children to grow up thinking retarded—or mentally handicapped for the suddenly linguistically squeamish—should be marginalized, or that dancing is all about grinding and humping your partner on the dance floor, regardless of lovely lady lumpage.
I think it’s disingenuous that many Right-wing talkers are focused merely on the Peas simply because their message is apparently ‘so flamboyant.’ It’s not much worse than recent music preceding it. I have no problem smearing 50-cent or any other musician simply because they express support of our President, who is apparently a ‘real gangsta’ according to Mr. Cent. I similarly don’t want children growing up thinking anything that 50-cent, Snoop Dogg, Brittney Spears, or Christina Aguilera is reasonable or good. I understand that imparting such knowledge on my children would be my job, but what about the rest of the populace? Would everyone who reads this just stop to think once, is the music I’m listening to / the TV program I’m watching / the things I’m saying teaching my kids what I want them to believe?
What’s making me proud to be an American today? The Black Eyed Peas. I don’t want to brazenly chime in with the chorus of right-wingers who have been bashing the Peas, but they are a kind of double-edged sword for me.
The Peas make me proud because their message and sound appeals to an audience that is willing to pay for their performance, and it has made them both wealthy and famous. Good for them. I also think it’s awesome that they can do so in spite of the horde of fundamentalists and moralists who would like to see that their music is heard by no-one. It’s a fine example of first amendment rights in practice. The Peas should be allowed to sing whatever they want, just as I should be able to write practically anything I want about them. I realize at some point it becomes slander, but I could always make the case that the Peas have slandered an entire sex, and as a result, may win more than I lose.
On the other hand… “let’s get retarded” … “lovely lady lumps” … ? Are we serious? This is what we like as Americans? Does this really appeal to people? I’m skeptical.
I could go on ad nauseum about the cultural values that their lyrics reflect and the degrading morality of our country, but I think my man Billy Graham and the other Christian Conservatives have covered the bases for me. Instead, I’ll appeal to you on another level. I only care about the society as a whole insofar as it affects me, and anyone I hope to bring into the world. I don’t want my children to grow up thinking retarded—or mentally handicapped for the suddenly linguistically squeamish—should be marginalized, or that dancing is all about grinding and humping your partner on the dance floor, regardless of lovely lady lumpage.
I think it’s disingenuous that many Right-wing talkers are focused merely on the Peas simply because their message is apparently ‘so flamboyant.’ It’s not much worse than recent music preceding it. I have no problem smearing 50-cent or any other musician simply because they express support of our President, who is apparently a ‘real gangsta’ according to Mr. Cent. I similarly don’t want children growing up thinking anything that 50-cent, Snoop Dogg, Brittney Spears, or Christina Aguilera is reasonable or good. I understand that imparting such knowledge on my children would be my job, but what about the rest of the populace? Would everyone who reads this just stop to think once, is the music I’m listening to / the TV program I’m watching / the things I’m saying teaching my kids what I want them to believe?
posted by Hickmania at
12:42 AM
6 Comments:
Im sorry hickman but the only thing from this post that is going to stick with me is "regardless of lovely lady lumpage". Now can you guess where my morality is?
By
Anonymous, at 4:07 PM
Well, the question is, 'am I teaching my children this'? As I currently have no children, to the best of my knowledge, the answer is 'no'. When i have children, you can bet they'll know damn well what is a good message and a bad message. I sincerely doubt I'll be listening to that tripe when I've got kids of my own.
At some point personal responsibility needs to take over. I understand your concern, however, as that is not usually espoused as an American virtue.
By
X, at 12:07 AM
little history lesson about the black eyed peas. when the peas first came out in 1998, they were seen as a trio of rappers that would bring back the happy, feel good hippy vibe of hip hop that tribe, de la soul, and the rest of the native tongues endorsed in the early 90s. after two albums that were acclaimed by the hip hop community, and featured tight production, thoughtful subject matter, and positive lyrics; bep sold approximately 30 units.
since then, they have added a curvaceous, white, female vocalist; and put out two records that focus on lazy, easily accessible samples, radio-friendly hooks, and a dumbed-down message (the latest album ironically entitled Monkey Business). and while they will occassionally return to their socially sensitive roots, for every 'where is the love' there's an album full of 'my humps'.
in short, the peas sold out, and now they're multi-platinum for it.
what i'm getting at here, is that i don't blame the black eyed peas for what they do. they are smart business people, who tried to go the artistic route and quickly realized that it doesn't feed the family. now, they are a wealthy and famous batch of black-faced mistrels exploiting themselves and the culture for the enjoyment of white america. now everybody's happy.
the problem is, the more moralists get upset about something like the black eyed peas, the more copies of elephunk will go flying off the shelves. the establishment should stop condemning bep and worry more about providing decent education for the youth. smart people don't take the peas seriously.
my son will never own a 50 cent album (you don't even want me to start on my views about curtis jackson).
By
clavin, at 5:27 PM
I guess the problem I have here, and was not really covered, is that people clamor for positive music that they could expose to their kids. The problem is, they don't buy it or listen to it. As a result, bottom feaders like the Peas thrive.
If Heidi Fleiss told you she started her prostitution career because she 'sincerely wanted to help people', would that make her actions any less amoral--not to mention illegal?
I don't care what the Peas started off trying to do. They've been successful with degrading and disgusting material, and I find that repugnant. I similarly find the audience that supports their music--and messages by association--similarly repugnant.
By
Hickmania, at 11:23 PM
i wasn't trying to defend the peas in any way. they annoy me more than they annoy you. i was making a point, though, and actually agreeing with you that so much more of this relies on personal responsibility than many are willing to admit. instead, moralists spend their time hating and bringing unwarranted attention to the black eyed peas, when in reality, they are one of the least offensive popular acts out right now, and the fact that they make and sell bad music is only about 20% their fault (rough, arbitrary estimate).
once again, i still don't like bep. but my rant about blaxpoitation and its effect on the people is a much longer one, and off this particular topic.
By
clavin, at 4:45 PM
Boy am I late on this bandwagon.
"...is the music I’m listening to / the TV program I’m watching / the things I’m saying teaching my kids what I want them to believe?"
If the answer is no, is there a problem? If the answer is yes, is it any of your business? If there is no answer, what is there to do about it?
By
Anonymous, at 12:43 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home