Artfullness. Just because something is artful, doesn't make it thoroughly good. Sure, stuff it away somewhere for historians and folksong enthusiasts to ponder over, but right now, its net effect may be so obviously harmful that it shouldn't be promoted or promotable.

I think if songs are good enough, most will endure regardless of censorship. So the "art" won't be lost.

Is it important for people TODAY to know that they are not alone in being angry at cops, at wanting to kill them sometimes? Maybe it helps some people a little bit. Most already know their shared anger. Celebrating the anger only increases it. Does Cop Killer help outsiders TODAY to understand the anger of its creators? I think MOST people today would close down their minds and just feel angry at the singers. It's a song aimed solely at people who are ALREADY angry at cops.

I love that East Texas Red song. I'd sing it in a second. It's about an angry guy killing a heartless guy. On the other hand, I'd never sing the hobo's lullabye verse that suggests there are no good cops (imagine the bravery of that tank commander in Tianamen Square who REFUSED to run down the dissident?) I love Mack the Knife. Maybe we would have lost these songs if censors had been more active. I doubt it though. I think a five year old would see an obvious difference between East Texas Red and Cop Killer. I think Art can too, though he chooses instead to see the similarities.

It's surprising to me that Chet says Cop Killer is a moderate song. Should there be broad censorship of these more hateful songs. Yeah, I guess so. If Chet says it's worse, it probably is.

Barry said, "I just really feel that the censoring of a song is very cheap place to start, in the scope of what's out there." I agree. I wonder WHAT is going to happen in the States when their national welfare time limits begin to kick in.

And away, away back when, someone asked if putting offensive material in the database, and the discussion forum was ok. I think it is. Don't sing it to me though.