F@$K Censorship and Grow Up People......

Seems as if Wal-Mart is in the hot seat yet again regarding music sales. The company, famous for selling edited and censored CDs to its customers (often unknown to the consumer until they play it and wonder where all the lyrics are) because they may contain a few off color words (even those that the FCC allows these days) is being sued by a family because the CD they purchased for their 13-year-old daughter contained the "F-word." These ultra-prude wackos in Maryland feel that they should get $74,500 because Wal-Mart knew the Evanescence release "Anywhere But Home" contained the "F-word" but did not edit or advertise it as such, even though they edited the sound sample on their website. $74,500? If anything, I'd say a refund for the CD purchase if they are that put off by it (and I highly doubt their daughter was put off by it) is more than reasonable, but $74,500? For that many greenbacks, the new release should consist of 95% profanity with a bonus porno film and design plans for pipe bombs. Then, maybe, I could see $74,500 in damages.

Why sue Wal-Mart? Why not the record label? Why not the band? Why not the people that print the CD inserts or form the plastic for the jewel case? Why not the delivery guy who drove the shipment to Wal-Mart? Afterall, all of these people are interconnected, at least in the eyes of the RIAA when they rant against music piracy.

The Skeen's (the family in question) lawyer plans on taking the case nationwide, filing suits state by state in order to make Wal-Mart remove or censor the CDs. Once again, people seem to have forgotten about a little thing called the Constitution in which the First Amendment clearly prevents "prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech." Censoring and /or editing the content of the CD violates the First Amendment. We've been through this before so many times with so many bands, artists, and journalists. Yet, we still get cases like this over and over again. Come on people, grow the hell up.

First off, to the Skeen family, do you really think your teenage daughter has not heard, or for that matter, said the "F-word" enough times in her life that you can really protect her from it? This is just a piss-poor opportunity to pay off your mortgage is what it all comes down to. If you really are so offended, you'd better be ready to sue National Geographic and PBS for showing topless natives from the South Pacific, Nabisco for selling Cheese Nips, (isn't that an attack on the people of Japan?), and Van Halen for releasing an album titled, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (you know, the F-word). Not too mention every gangsta rap artist, The Who, Pink Floyd, Nine Inch Nails, Love & Rockets, U2, etc..... Then, you'd have to hit the other retailers in the country. Every single one in fact who sells the same CD. Good luck with that.

America, the country that stands for freedom (or at least the country trying to force it upon every other part of the world) is too prude. We have ratings for movies, TV, music, print, photography, and every other form of artistic expression there is. Hell, you can't even keep a lamp, modeled after a famous nude sculpture, on your desk in Vermont. We also choose to sue everyone, all the time, for no good reason. From McDonald's to Ozzy Osbourne, Americans find it much easier to place the blame on other parties for their problems. Is McDonald's really to blame for people who can't stop eating Big Macs? Is Ozzy Osbourne to blame for people who take their lives while drunk and high on drugs, just because they had Crazy Train playing at the time? Is Wal-Mart the vilan for selling an unedited CD? I applaud them for doing as much, because for me, and most people I know, I'd rather have the choice to buy or not buy a CD because of its content than have someone else edit it for me, leaving no option.

So, you grabbed a CD with the "F-word" for your 13-year-old daughter, who has no doubt heard the word, and others countless times. She most likely knows most of the words in the Urban Dictionary too. That is part of being a teenager. This is when you discover all the words George Carlin says you can't say, and then you grow up.

Return the CD, and ask for your $14.99 back, and if there are other people who wish to do the same, Wal-Mart will no doubt provide a refund. There is no reason to sue for $74,500. You will actually do more damage to the artists and musicians than you ever could to Wal-Mart. The FCC is going overbaord as it is, don't fuel the fire. And if you still want to pursue this case, then this is all I have to say.

Grow up folks... There are bigger problems in the world right now than any CD with profanity could ever hope to match.

Paul......