‘Censorship — plain and simple’
Peggy Torrens
Originally published 01:40 p.m., January 23, 2008
Updated 01:40 p.m., January 23, 2008
Let's start the Legislative year out right by shooting the First Amendment in the foot!! That is what our elected legislator, Peggy Mast, thinks is the thing to do.
She is proposing a condemnation of gangsta rap music. A Topeka man tried to get his legislator to propose this idea, but was turned down because it is censorship — plain and simple. So, he went “shopping” for a legislator who would propose it and found Mrs. Mast who apparently feels as he does, that the First Amendment only applies to things you like.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t particularly like this type of music either, which is why I don’t listen to it. But it’s not my place to tell everyone else what they should or shouldn’t listen to. It’s not Mrs. Mast’s place either. Once you start down this road, where do you stop? Is Peter Cottontail next on your list Mrs. Mast? It is, after all, a story of a single mother raising her illegitimate children in a dangerous, ghetto neighborhood, while trying to deal with her criminal son who steals food for the family.
I think we have more important issues for you to deal with. Issues that are actually coming from your own constituents such as health insurance, the economy, jobs and education, to name a few. If you are having trouble coming up with ideas to propose to the Legislature, just ask us — that’s what you were elected to do.
StovePipe (anonymous) says...
"...proposing a condemnation of gangsta rap music." is a very broad statement. Perhaps The Gazette could report on what she is actually working on and what the effect would be on people who do listen to that style of music. I've noticed a strong anti-Mast stance for quite some time from The Gazette, so I have a feeling this story is being twisted.
Also, is it specific to "gangsta" rap, or did Ms Torrens just use that word to dramatize the story? That specific catagory of rap is not very common anymore.
January 23, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
Wow, Ms. Torrens, you are either very angry at the world or you are thinking about running against Ms. Mast, or both. If you are going to be successful in electoral politics, you might want to tone it down a bit, and figure out a way to get people to forget how badly you lost last time.
January 23, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
Uh, The Gazette just published the whole "gangsta rap" issue, but I don't have the link. It is on here.
I'm all about NOT censoring people. If you don't like it, change the channel, turn the station, stop reading it, turn it off.
Good on ya, Peggy!
Melissa
January 23, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
momtoall (anonymous) says...
I am not for censorship, but I am not sure your realize who listens to this music. It is young kids. Yes, perhaps the parents are to blame, but I can tell you that a lot of these children have no structure. They come home from school, babysit, perhaps mom or dad, if there is one is off for the 2nd or 3rd shift work. Sometimes the parent(s) is doing their very best to get food on the table and not what the child is listening to. I suppose that adults are ok listening to talk about "raping the ho's, killing the bi--h, f---ing the cops etc." However, I can't believe that anyone thinks that a child of 12 will of their own free will turn the channel, station or whatever. Nor can I believe that anyone believes this is healthy or okay for young teens to listen to. How many of you know what is on your kids MP3 or IPod??
Just food for thought........................
January 23, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hillbilly (anonymous) says...
Isn't this the same Peggy Torrens that was defeated off the county commission a couple of years back???
Didn't she and Mast have differences before??
I'm just asking,,,,,,,,,,,, and I am sure that one of you will set me damn straight on it...............BUT I agree jayhawker
January 23, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
momtoall--I don't disagree with you--however, if we start censoring this, we run over the Constitution as well as the rights that we all know & love.
Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Religion, etc. etc.
It's a slippery slope. And, I'm not fond of removing rights, no matter how much I disagree with the point of view.
Should we burn all the books we disagree with? I think not.
Melissa
January 23, 2008 at 8:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alfalfa (anonymous) says...
I don't think the 1st amendment was written to protect any type of music,it was written I believe to protect political speech, and has been used for years to protect all kinds of other things. This country is going to have to wise up that our crap culture is turning our kids into criminals, not all of them, I know that, but certainly some of them. My hat is off to Peggy for going against the liberal left on this one. You know what, if the music industry doesn't want to be censored, maybe they could go back to some good old-fashioned self control, and monitor themselves. Until then, give 'em hell Peggy.
January 23, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
momtoall, you may not know what your kids are listening to but its a good time to show the kids how some types of music influence people, the negative messages and how sometimes rappers have short lives. they can learn how to pick music and know why you dont agree with the lyrics. i dont like ganster rap, but its my choice not to listen to it just like its someones elses choice to listen to it, life is about making choices, not being censored by the government
January 23, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
What would you like Ms Mast to do about health insurance, economy, jobs and education?
January 23, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
StovePipe (anonymous) says...
First, I misunderstood that this was a letter to the editor and not an article by a Gazette employee. There might be a need for the online editor to make that a little more obvious in the future.
Second, I still don't know what "a condemnation of gangsta rap music" means, let alone what it is supposed to accomplish. Does it just mean the State of Kansas will officially not approve of "gangsta" rap? That seems a little silly, although it doesn't seem to be censorship.
Hip-Hop (which is what rap really is) is a beautiful, poignant and effective form of art. I would imagine that what a majority of people hear is just the commercialized form that doesn't truly reflect the hip-hop community. Just like most art forms. Listen to Nas, Common, Mos Def or Talib Kweli and you may hear stories of violence, but they are stories about life, and life is not always pretty. It's not all negative though, most of it is infused with a sense of hope, faith, compassion and family.
Hip-hop, after all, is urban poetry set to music. It's unfortunate that so many people miss out on it because they believe all the talking heads and hype.
January 23, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
To each their own Stovepipe, but I'll keep missing your form of art that to me is talentless, annoying to the ears, and obnoxious.
I agree that Rep. Mast should represent her constituents.
January 24, 2008 at 6:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoahjoe (anonymous) says...
I completely agree with Melissa and Peggy Torrens.
It is sad that Rep.Mast, finds gangsta music an important issue. If only Rep. Mast would use her power for good and address real issues facing the everyday Kansas citizen.Then she would actually represent her constituents.
This topic is reminiscent, of the 1980's, when hard rock was the cause of all social ills.
January 24, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eldiablo (anonymous) says...
There have always been criminals in our society and there always will be. Rap music does not lead to criminal activity. Poor socio-economic situations disenchanted parenting leads to criminal activity.
January 24, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DJrocksthemic (anonymous) says...
First off, gangsta rap is all but dead, even death row records hasn't put out a label project that could be deemed "gangsta."
Also, saying children listen to this and we should do something is laughable at best. Because we already do something, thanks to one Tipper Gore the music industry is now forced to put parental warning stickers on their CD's. And a child can't buy said album without permission from adults, and if your kid has the money to go on ITunes and download this music, then I would say you have the means to stop him because clearly you have a computer with the internet and Itunes will let you block the buying of music with "explicit" lyrics.
And while I'm against censorship, I give this to any young "aspiring" musician out there. I toured with my band for four years and never once did we feel the need to curse on stage. Never once did we feel it increased our "artistic integrity." So think hard before you include this in a song you write.
January 24, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )