[Note: The original version of this essay first appeared in Eastern Connecticut State University's Campus Lantern student newspaper in the early '90s and as part of my unpublished manuscript "In Mediocrity We Trust... In Debt We Die" And Other Essays before record labeling was imposed nationwide.]
It wouldn't surprise me, with the so-called War On Drug going on, if CDs with songs about drugs were pulled from record store shelves. Actually, I understand that Wal-Mart, which in some parts of the country is the only store that carries CDs for many miles around, refuses to carry many CDs which are censored by record labeling. Also, I heard that some of the record labeling bills were so broad that when passed, operas which contained violence could also be labeled. At least to me, it is absolutely ridiculous that a record store owner might get arrested and may even do time because a small minority of vocal loudmouths would like to censor or limit our musical options. Perhaps record buyers will be subject to arrest next, in our gradual decline into a Police State. It wouldn't surprise me at all that even one's choice of legal downloads could one day get police scrutiny. (to be cont'd)
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