Music invokes emotions of all kinds in all of us, which is why we love it. Music can be offensive, and many use this emotion to try to get people to think. America is great because of our tolerance for new, often offensive, ideas that have molded our history time and time again. These are the reasons we so value the freedom of speech, and these are the reasons we are quick to rise against those who threaten to quench that freedom through censorship.
But that doesn't apply here. Not only is Clear Channel not censoring anything, Clear Channel is not capable of censoring anything. Even if they did order all of their affiliates not to play certain songs -- which they didn't -- this isn't censorship. Clear Channel is not preventing the public from accessing any music; they simply choose not to be the medium by which the public listens to the music.
As a business Clear Channel has the right to play the music they see fit. Whether a song isn't played due to the genre of the music, the views of the management, or the threat of public reaction, it doesn't matter. They make the play list, because they own the station. Go buy "Bodies" if you want to hear it, or listen to it on some other radio station. Clear Channel isn't stopping the NBC stations from doing anything, nor are they pulling any CDs from store shelves.
Additionally, Clear Channel's concern here isn't that they are afraid of merely offending their audience. The fact that "Bodies" was ever played in the first place implies that they have a healthy respect for the First Amendment. By playing music referring to death, flying, New York, etc., Clear Channel would be prolonging an already long and painful road to recovery. America does not need salt rubbed in a fresh wound. When we as a nation are healthy again, then we can go back to such topics.
I know if I lost a loved one in these attacks, I wouldn't want to have to worry about hearing "let the bodies hit the floor", regardless of the artist's intended meaning.
A tip for the future: whenever an article is written with that much of a slant, throw it in with the editorials.
Spring Break
anonymous932
posted 10/01/01 @ 6:59 PM EST
But that doesn't apply here. Not only is Clear Channel not censoring anything, Clear Channel is not capable of censoring anything. Even if they did order all of their affiliates not to play certain songs -- which they didn't -- this isn't censorship. Clear Channel is not preventing the public from accessing any music; they simply choose not to be the medium by which the public listens to the music.
As a business Clear Channel has the right to play the music they see fit. Whether a song isn't played due to the genre of the music, the views of the management, or the threat of public reaction, it doesn't matter. They make the play list, because they own the station. Go buy "Bodies" if you want to hear it, or listen to it on some other radio station. Clear Channel isn't stopping the NBC stations from doing anything, nor are they pulling any CDs from store shelves.
Additionally, Clear Channel's concern here isn't that they are afraid of merely offending their audience. The fact that "Bodies" was ever played in the first place implies that they have a healthy respect for the First Amendment. By playing music referring to death, flying, New York, etc., Clear Channel would be prolonging an already long and painful road to recovery. America does not need salt rubbed in a fresh wound. When we as a nation are healthy again, then we can go back to such topics.
I know if I lost a loved one in these attacks, I wouldn't want to have to worry about hearing "let the bodies hit the floor", regardless of the artist's intended meaning.
A tip for the future: whenever an article is written with that much of a slant, throw it in with the editorials.
rob carter
robert.carter@jhu.edu