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Letter of the Day - What about other forms of slackness?
Published: Sunday | February 8, 2009
The Editor, Sir:
I view with interest, the Broadcasting Commission's ban on 'daggerin' songs. While I agree that certain songs, such as Rampin' Shop, are too graphic for airplay, I have some points to make.
In this year's carnival season, will there be a ban on certain soca songs that encourage us to get wild and 'dagger' in the fête and on the road?
I find it interesting that there is no criticism by our social elite, school principals and commentators of our yearly carnival rituals, which have wanton gyrating on the streets of Kingston and are shown live on national television.
Favourites
Many 'radioworthy' soca songs promote drinking, promiscuity and other immoral behaviour. Shouldn't these be banned as well? Is one set of nastiness worse than another?
I don't believe that banning the songs will change much, as radio is not the only medium through which children get access to these songs. The buses which transport children to schools also play these songs, which are favourites among our children.
These bans smack of blatant posturing by the Broadcasting Commission and are aimed at appeasing a noisy set and will inevitably make these songs more popular.
I find it interesting that it took a song about sex to stir the wrath of our learned school officials and society's moral enforcers as songs about violence have been inundating our airwaves for years.
Should we not be more concerned about AK-47s and slugs than daggerin'? Our society is still too hung up about sex while ignoring some of the other major issues that are affecting us.
Moral enforcers
While it is disconcerting that our children are having sex too early, I am more concerned about them shooting me. I wonder when our moral enforcers will come out in such a unified manner and push the Government and society to make tangible efforts in stemming the culture of violence that permeates our communities.
In addition, the Broadcast Commission has waited too long to take action on the bleeping of songs. The commission stood by and watched radio stations, in an effort to be competitive in the youth demography, push the envelope too far.
Dancehall's slack side
I am by no means defending dancehall's slack side, but there needs to be equity.
I believe Jamaica has bigger problems than Rampin' Shop and Daggerin'.
I am, etc.,
ROBERT NESTA MORGAN
robertnestamorgan@gmail.com Kingston, Jamaica
Published: Sunday | February 8, 2009
The Editor, Sir:
I view with interest, the Broadcasting Commission's ban on 'daggerin' songs. While I agree that certain songs, such as Rampin' Shop, are too graphic for airplay, I have some points to make.
In this year's carnival season, will there be a ban on certain soca songs that encourage us to get wild and 'dagger' in the fête and on the road?
I find it interesting that there is no criticism by our social elite, school principals and commentators of our yearly carnival rituals, which have wanton gyrating on the streets of Kingston and are shown live on national television.
Favourites
Many 'radioworthy' soca songs promote drinking, promiscuity and other immoral behaviour. Shouldn't these be banned as well? Is one set of nastiness worse than another?
I don't believe that banning the songs will change much, as radio is not the only medium through which children get access to these songs. The buses which transport children to schools also play these songs, which are favourites among our children.
These bans smack of blatant posturing by the Broadcasting Commission and are aimed at appeasing a noisy set and will inevitably make these songs more popular.
I find it interesting that it took a song about sex to stir the wrath of our learned school officials and society's moral enforcers as songs about violence have been inundating our airwaves for years.
Should we not be more concerned about AK-47s and slugs than daggerin'? Our society is still too hung up about sex while ignoring some of the other major issues that are affecting us.
Moral enforcers
While it is disconcerting that our children are having sex too early, I am more concerned about them shooting me. I wonder when our moral enforcers will come out in such a unified manner and push the Government and society to make tangible efforts in stemming the culture of violence that permeates our communities.
In addition, the Broadcast Commission has waited too long to take action on the bleeping of songs. The commission stood by and watched radio stations, in an effort to be competitive in the youth demography, push the envelope too far.
Dancehall's slack side
I am by no means defending dancehall's slack side, but there needs to be equity.
I believe Jamaica has bigger problems than Rampin' Shop and Daggerin'.
I am, etc.,
ROBERT NESTA MORGAN
robertnestamorgan@gmail.com Kingston, Jamaica
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