Dear Mr. Skorik,
I never thought I would write a Wespeak, but your comments in Tuesday’s Argus were so shockingly illogical that I feel compelled to. You said to Ms. Szmonko: “I’m afraid you’re missing the point about Technique’s music. He is one of the few relatively famous hip hop artists in the world who actually has something to say.” You seem to be implying that a person’s redeeming qualities (in comparison to a group of people who have very few) can excuse them from immoral conduct. I think you are mistaken. I, for example, could be the nicest inmate on Death Row. That wouldn’t change the fact that I had committed manslaughter.
You also said: “I defend Technique’s right to free speech; I would even if he had nothing intelligent to say.” I’m glad you do. So do I. So does probably every one on this campus and the greater Middletown community. This isn’t an issue of free speech. Ms. Szmonko wasn’t calling for the immediate censoring of Immortal Technique. She was noting that he shouldn’t be lionized as a savior of hip hop when he still perpetuates derogatory slang towards women.
I listen to music that uses naughty words. I listen to it because I like the music, as I’m sure you do and because I don’t think it’s causing an appreciable difference in how I treat women. But I think that it does have an impressionable effect on some people, particularly children, and I think that’s important to keep in mind. Technique’s music is good and he has important things to say, but that shouldn’t eclipse some of his detriments. You ask in your Wespeak, “Anyway, who cares?” Obviously you don’t. And, to a certain extent, neither do I for that matter; I don’t face the effects of such language. But I can certainly see why others like Ms. Szmonko feel strongly about this and I wholeheartedly respect their opinions.
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