I disagree with these beliefs because people who listen to these songs should not take the meanings in all songs literally, these are just songs. "In wake of numerous school shootings, the whole world is looking for solutions to the youth violence problem. In difficult times, it is easier and quicker to look for handy scapegoats that search for viable solutions" (RosenRIAA.com). Parents should talk with their kids before they accuse musical lyrics of violence and see there kids viewpoint of why they choose to listen to this music. The lyrics of songs are not affecting teen's actions compared to today's violent movies and television shows. Teens seem to act out these more in recent acts, such as a murder committed by two sons saying they got the idea from the "Sopranos". Music has not influenced anyone to perform violent acts, so restricting music and freedom of speech is wrong.
Recently a bill was proposed that would ban the sales of violent music and video games to teens, by placing a warning label, a parental advisory sticker, on them. Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello states that, " the practice of stores restricting sales of stickered products literally keeps music away from kids who want to hear it"(Desroisers30). That is why I disagree with restriction and banning of certain CDs and believe that it is not necessary to ban these CDs to teens just because it may have explicit lyrics. Many record sales are brought into record companies by teens. An example of warning labels on CDs is the controversial Eminem Marshal Mathers LP. Many people have objected to his lyrics but all he has to say is " people criticize me for my lyrics and subject I rap about, but they haven't lived my life"(Paker114). No one has the right to restrict Eminem's right to express the feelings and stories in his songs. Although his lyrics are about hate and killing, these stories he shares about his life are true things in this world.
