Getting burned out on the subject? Me too, but couldn't resist
passing on portions of a column by SF Chronicle writer Rob Morse,
which raised some insightful points.
The column was titled "A Bad Taste in My Mouth" 2/21/2001
.......
The people at CBS and the Grammys are the ones publicizing
Eminem and his hateful lyrics, and for their own gain. And who are
we to talk? We've given Eminem more ink in the last few weeks than
we've given violence against gays and women in real life.
........Adult fans of Eminem (yes, there are some) say he makes
us look at ourselves in the mirror. That's us we see when we read
his lyrics, at least those snippets that get in newspapers and maga-
zines.
Well, I'm sorry, that ain't me, babe. I don't want to slash my own
mother's throat, kill my wife or beat up gays.
But one thing this controversy reveals is America's hierarchy of
hate. Some groups are more bashable than others.
The people at CBS and the Grammys have shown it's acceptable
to express hatred of women and gays in lyrics. You can even find
apologists saying the artist picks on gays because he grew up
poor, puny and picked on.
That's logical. Why not write hate lyrics about bullies instead?
Well, it wouldn't fly. In contemporary boy music, you have to play
the bully, and boys bully those who threaten their sexuality.
You can be nominated for awards for performing songs about
slashing and beating gays and women, but you'll never see a
Grammy nomination for a performer who spouts anti-Semitic
or anti-black rhetoric.
It's still acceptable to express hatred for some people in public.
As always, women and gays find themselves on the most-bashable
list.
I suspect a performer also could get away with hate lyrics about
the handicapped, the elderly, and especially the middle-aged.
We, the latter, may deserve it.
Eminem? Peanut, that's my favorite.
