In another story, Clear Channel and MTV have restricted political speech not only on their airwaves but in their venues. From an interview with Michael Franti (leader of Spearhead, and formerly of Disposable Heros of Hiphoprisy), "And for musicians in particular it's a really hard time. Last week our label received a letter, a mass email from MTV instructing the fact that no videos could be shown that mentioned the words "bombing" or "war." "No videos could be shown that had protesters in it. Any footage from military – they gave a list of prior videos that could not be shown, yet MTV has aired videos that show troops saying goodbye to their loved ones and going off to war in a very heroic fashion and troops which are gonna be coming home traumatized, wounded and dead and then be treated and thrown onto the scrap heap of veterans, as we've seen veterans treated in this country."
"And at the Academy Awards, there were also letters and talk that went around saying not to speak out. Radio – mainstream radio, Clear Channel in particular, of course – has put the word out not to air songs that are in opposition to the war and in support of peace."
On an unrelated note...
(thanks to Goatboy and Your Girlfriend)
I'd like to say that personal preference is exactly that. People believe/Feel/Choose what fits them and their lifestyle.
If we all believed the same way, the Rule would be communism and we would all be happy. If we all liked the same music there would be one style of music... NO... there would be one hit song... and we would listen to it all day. And/Or all songs would be hit songs because we would all agree on what was good, therefore all songs written would be to our liking.
So until we all feel the same way, we need freedom of choice. We need to continue to create new styles of music and fashion and politics and etc...
Whatever...
This rant was brought to you by the letter U and the numeral 2.
