Parental Advisory Warning

Parents, do you know what your children are listening to? My 14 year-old son recently heard about a CD he was told was really cool. The title was Ruff Ryders. He told me it carried a Parental Advisory Warning but that it was no big deal. We purchased the CD at the mall after the store manager told me I could listen to it, decide for myself if it was appropriate, and return it if I thought otherwise. Well, I managed to listen to only the first song. It was pornography disguised with a musical backdrop. Appalled, I researched the group on the Internet and found their web-site with published lyrics. The songs deal with gratuitous violence and guns, disregard for authority, drugs, and sex, violent sex with exploitation of the women. I will publish the link here but I warn you before you view that the language is graphic. http://members.tripod.com/Mekka_Inferno/... Fortunately, I intercepted this CD and did not give it to my son. I did give him a sampling of the first song and we talked about why I felt this to be not just inappropriate, but grossly wrong.

My son agreed with me but said, "You know Dad, I could just go buy it if I wanted." Not wanting to believe him I started making calls. He was exactly right. There are a couple music stores which require a person to be 16 years of age in order to buy a CD with a parent's advisory but of their own choice, not because it is mandated. Others will sell them to anyone with money citing the fact that there isn't a law enforced which prevents them from doing so. I have since learned that only two states, Florida and Utah impose an age limit for purchasing these CD's. I believe there should be one in every state.

I am not opposed to free speech or the rights of any individuals to express themselves. I am a parent. I love my children. I am consumed with both fear and concern. This past year I have seen violence in our schools escalate to the point that I breathe a prayer of relief each day my children arrive safely home. I see that there is some activity in government to finally enforce age restrictions with regard to movie ratings. I believe that this is an area that needs attention as well. At most, write your congressman as I have done. At the very least, I implore you to take notice of the music your children are listening to and the CD's they are buying. Consider this a... Parent's Advisory Warning.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic