Dear Editor:
I was very disappointed when I read the Sacramento Bee's
extensive article on the new CD release by Eminem.
Alison apRoberts' article condemned the "new king" of hip pop, for using adult
language and phrases like "Shut up when I'm talking to you" "Blood"
"guts" "knives" "nuns" and "duct tape." The
article suggested these words may offend the parents of young people buying these CDs. She
also compares them to older albums such as the Rolling Stones' "Let's Spend the Night
Together."
My disappointment came as I finished the article to find there was not one mention of
homosexuals. I was quite surprised since almost every song on Eminem's CD talks about
killing and beating gays, lesbians and transsexuals.
Did Ms. apRoberts somehow overlook such lyrics as "My words are like a dagger with a
jagged edge/ That'll stab you in the head whether you're a fag or les/ Or the homosex,
hermaph or a trans-a-ves/ Pants or dress/ Hate fags? The answer's yes." or "When
you see me dressin' up like a nerd on TV/Or heard me on the CD using the fag word so
freely/It's just me being me/Here, you want me to tone it down?/Suck my fuckin' dick, you
faggot, you happy now?"
Somehow I don't think The Rolling Stones' album sent shivers through the LGBT community as
it raced up the music charts.
Or maybe Ms. apRoberts feels that this is acceptable? That parents, while outraged their
child would hear the f-word, would have no problem with their child listening to music
that promoted violence against the LGBT community.
Once again I ashamed of the Bee. Ashamed that it has yet again allowed the gay community
to be shoved under the rug. Ashamed that as more hate and violence against our community
rears its evil head, the Bee is content with happy, harmless articles aimed toward the
nuclear family.
Sincerely,
Matthew Burlingame |
