Consumer choices send stores and musicians clear message

Beware of witches disguised as boulders and henchmen masquerading as stumps. The recent fuss over the coercion of musicians to alter lyrics and album covers by the leading discount retail chain, Wal-Mart, comes down to that bit of wisdom contained in C.S. Lewis' timeless children's book "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."

When the evil White Witch and her dwarf henchman are being sought by the those who would destroy the witch's cruel reign, she turns herself into a boulder and turns the dwarf into a stump to evade capture.

Since the censorship issue surfaced last week, both Wal-Mart and vociferous free-speech advocates have been playing dress-up with the real issue - the nature and impact of popular music on our society. Their postures are unfortunately superficial and pred ictable attempts to close this huge issue from discussion.

Wal-Mart fancies itself a boulder, standing-up for what we once may have called "family values." Now inappropriate actions such as Wal-Mart's have so politicized this term as to make it practically prejudiced and useless in public circles.

In truth, Wal-Mart is behaving in an un-American, though not uncommon, manner by using its economic clout to impede the liberties of others, namely musicians, while continuing to profit.

If Wal-Mart truly had the courage of its convictions, it would exercise its right not to sell offensive material in an honorable way: it simply would not sell any version of obscene, crude or violent music, and risk the profit loss when buyers seeking suc h would go elsewhere.

Instead, it pressures the musicians, such as Sheryl Crow and Nirvana to change objectionable lyrics and art for versions sold off its shelves, while continuing to make a handsome profit for these same musicians and itself. Crow took her business elsewhere , while Nirvana changed a title from "Rape Me" to "Waif Me."

We can, of course, pretend that the issue is simple, as The Arizona Daily Star did in its Nov. 15 editorial, reprising its role as a stump for freedom at all costs. The gist of the commentary was that free speech is good, which is agreeable as a general s tatement.

A problem arises, however, with their view that it is not Wal-Mart's place to determine what constitutes obscenity, crudeness or violence in music when stocking its own stores. Wal-Mart's penance for allegedly squeezing smaller competitors out of business is apparently to sell stuff it deems unfit for human consumption. This seems a little like mixing music and manure.

In reality, it is Wal-Mart's place, it is my place, and it is your place to opt for honesty over political correctness in our areas of influence. We must call such music what it often is: poison. And we must choose not to buy it wherever is sold, unlike W al-Mart, which protests with one hand while collecting money with the other.

In a society where cultivating a conscience is often sadly out of vogue, the only real way to reach retailers and musicians is through their wallets. This means buying music at places other than Wal-Mart, even if we have to pay more. It also means reaffir ming our respect for ourselves and others by not seeking music that glorifies using or abusing others for personal gain, or that reduces the rich English language to strings of ugly epithets.

Take, for example, much of Nine Inch Nails' "music," titles and lyrics too indecent to print because they are often so vile and violent. I chose this example because I have actually listened to this group and perused its lyric sheets, but I have not liste ned to rappers and others often described as being far worse.

If their bitter words are the cure for something, the illness must be unspeakable. Yet, stores line the shelves with their albums, complete with advisory labels, and people buy them, keeping these musicians in business.

There is something a little unsettling about groups and stores making a profit by exploiting people's misery, and defending it as the same free speech that newspapers and others exercise.

It is time for us to curb our free speech excesses voluntarily, lest our retailers continue to feel compelled by America's growing cynicism to do it for us. By doing the wrong thing, Wal-Mart has forced us to reconsider the powers we have as consumers to do the right thing for ourselves.

Kristen Roberts is a pre-education sophomore. Her column, 'Life in Balance,' appears every other Thursday. Her homepage can be found at http://www.u.arizona.edu/~knr.


(NEXT_STORY)

(NEXT_STORY)