[Judy]

Alright here we go, I'm planning on putting a lot out there on this one, so sit tight.
First off, I think I shall address the issue of racism. There has been some debate here over the dreaded 'N-word'. Now, I realize it is found to be offensive, but saying that it's ok when black people say it, but not when white do, indeed creates a double standard. Perhaps double standards like this do exist elsewhere, does that make them right? No. People focus on how horrible the 'N-word' is - I do agree that it is quite bad, but the white populace has also experienced racial slurrs, Italians are called whops(sp?), some Germans are called Nazis without cause, etc. These aren?t right either, but the same attitudes are adopted in those cases too. Maybe we shouldn?t give on word presidence over the others and work to wipe them all out.
Next, what does the thug look/gangsta appearance invoke in you? What do you think of? The look itself is the look of crime, who's fault is that? Who cares. The point is, why is this allowed to invoke fear in some while other looks, such as trench coats, are seen with open hostility and prejudice? Why is the kid in the trench coat called down to the office and questioned, while a 'thug', a 'badboy' type look, left alone to sit in class? I'm not saying whether or not the should both be called down, or if no one should be called down in the first place, however, what I am getting at is that what you do for one, you should do for the other. What makes the 'rapper's' culture so carefully protected? Be prejudicial to all, or better still to none.
To continue with clothing, it's not when it's 'baggy', it's when it isn't on properly that it causes a problem. It may not be everywhere, but I face guys with their pants almost falling off everyday. And when someone sees a person of this 'sub-culture' they are immediately reminded of gangs? are all rap listeners in gangs? Probably not, but the style is in fact made to emulate that look, or perhaps the other way around, either way, it still freaks the bejeuzz outta me on a dark street. Rave pants may be baggy, but the legs are flaired out when they are made, they fit properly around the waist/hips? Could you imagine if they didn't? Raver's dancing... Dancing.. and then his pants fall off from all the activity, oops! That would suck!
So back to the music; the image and the message it promotes. First off, many-I'm not saying all here!, of the 'popular' rappers today promote a very negative image with the arrests and such. Now, don?t get me wrong here, rock has its problems too, but rock stars in general are more drug related, rappers have a tendancy to be involved in heavier crimes. Now maybe this isn't all rappers, maybe the less known ones have better reps. But when a kid gets into rap, what does he listen to? The mainstream stuff that is made by well-known artists. As for the message, I can't say anything about the lyrical drug content, most rock has it too, and since I listen to rock, I can't/won't say anything about it. However, racist messages, messages degarding to women, other parts of organized crime, violence, these are things that we should not be condoning in our musical choices. A lot - again I won't say all, rap is littered with this content. Anythng that talks about causing harm to another is well? wrong, and by listening to this music people only promote a cycle of prejudice and violence. Have things like this happened before? For all intense purposes, yes. Should they have been stopped? Probably, but they weren't and everyone felt the consequences. Am I saying we should put a stop to rap? No, I would never come to such an extreme conclusion. What I am saying is we should put an end to its ability to impose horrible beliefs/ values/ messages upon the masses.
So the language of the culture? is that offensive? Yes! The 'gangsta' slang consists of curses, slurrs and other slanderous material. Does it have it's good points? Maybe.. but it's ISU time and I don?t have the time to find them. All I know is that when I walk by where a lot of the 'gangsta' types at my school hang out, I can't get by without hearing a large amount of swearing, and other offensive language. Again, other sub-cultures are discriminated against because they are deemed offensive, is it fair that another one is left alone? Again I say, same rules for everyone, no double standards, if something is deemed offensive it should be treated the same as another thing deemed offensive.
Now, as for Rammstein "causing school shootings" I have to defend that one. Rammstein may come off as a death metal, death to all band, however, and I say this laughing my head off, have you ever heard the lyrics?! Du, Du hast, Du hast mich. You , You hate, you hate me. I can't spell the rest so I'll just translate.. you hate me to say, you hate me to say, you hate me to say that I will not obey. Will you unto death's ..something- it's been a while, be a .. something, to her forever?! Never. ... Never. The whole song is about a guy that doesn't want to be whipped! Is that so evil and school shooting imspiring? Engel is about angels, and how he doesn't want to be an angel when he dies. Many Rammstein fans know this, but they listen to the band that dedicated an album to their moms, cause it sounds great and the messages are kinda cool.
K, so whether it be learned or taught racism; learned prejudice- like that expressed towards trench coat wearers; or taught prejudice - the terms we've known all along. It's still wrong. It's still offensive and while we are all striving to fight it, there should be no double standards involved. No minority should be treated differently from another.

So there's my $20.00 worth, hopefully you got something out of it- this is what happens when you're an insomniac! So in the end, like it as you may , I know I don't and I am entitled to my opinion, the rap culture promotes an image and message that is detrimental to the health/well-being of society as a whole.
*hugz to all as alwayz*
Ann-Marie -team 783
PS. a) I found the comment about your analogies and my getting them an insult to my intelligence, I got the fact that they were analogies however I found the use of that particular one in any context offensive and had to just side comment on the issue.
b)some of your comments to people being open minded and such can be taken in an offensive context.. almost a sarcastic or seering tone could be involved.. hence the problem with debates over the net. I not saying they were, but they could have been. meh. whatever.