Noise pollution is hurting the quality of life locally
Some powerful people have set the 'gangsta' style.
By George Poague
Hooray for the State Legislature.
I know -- I don't often praise our senators and representatives in Nashville. A few years ago, I spent weeks lambasting them for spinelessly backing down from a state income tax. And all it took to cow them was a few dozen honking horns and a couple of yahoos throwing rocks at then-Gov. Don Sundquist's office windows.
But I must praise the Leg for its recent noise ordinance bill. The only question is -- will it be enforced?
It needs to be enforced, especially in this town. Unless
you're deaf, you know that Clarksville has become Gangsta Rap Central.
We seem to have exceeded the national average for beat-up junkers (but with
expensive wheel rims) blasting rap music at deafening volume. These jerks
aren't content to listen to their "music" at home. No, they have
to inflict it on everyone around them, everywhere they go.
When they stop at a convenience store, they leave the stereo blasting away
so loud it rattles the store's windows.
I once had to vacate an apartment because the neighbors would crank up gangsta rap in the parking lot every weekend, so loud it actually shook the walls and made my skin vibrate. I do like some rap music -- mainly "old" stuff by Public Enemy and Run-DMC. I just don't want to hear it all day and all night, played at a decibel level to rival a Led Zeppelin or Who concert of the 1970s.
Bill Cosby recently said black parents have spawned -- the word "raised"
doesn't really fit -- a bunch of "knuckleheads." And so have a
lot of white parents, whose kids glorify the most negative and self-destructive
aspects of African American culture. Of course, the white kids can usually
go home to their safe, suburban neighborhoods when they're through playing
gangsta.
Listen to the lyrics of these songs blaring out of the rolling boom boxes. Every other word is "f--k." Every third word is "b---h." Every fourth word is "n----r." Violent revenge isn't just glamorized; it's depicted as the only way to settle a dispute. This is why so many older black people loathe rap. They spent most of their lives trying to get people to stop using the N-word. And now their children and grandchildren are reveling in it. The irony is that black musicians of earlier generations -- such as Ray Charles -- grew up enduring worse poverty and discrimination than most of today's musicians could imagine. Yet they didn't wallow in bitterness and hatred. Instead, they produced beautiful music that has stood the test of time. In 40 years, will anyone remember 50 Cent? DMX? Jay-Z?
Clarksville's noise pollution is affecting the quality
of life here. When it becomes clear that police and landlords will tolerate
loud, obscene music, the people with class and brains move elsewhere. More
lowlifes move in to replace them. But a strange thought occurs ... maybe
the real "gangstas" are our city officials. Let's look at the
evidence. They'd rather fight, bicker and quarrel than work together on
anything progressive.
Like the typical anti-hero of a rap song, their chief interest is defending
their turf. Their "bling bling" isn't a pimped-out Cadillac Escalade
but appointments to key committees. They don't "whack" their enemies;
they just call for their resignations. Or they file a lawsuit.
Thanks a lot, public officials. You've set a great example for the younger generation to follow. If, in a few years, Clarksville ends up looking like Compton or the South Bronx, you'll know who to blame -- the people with power. The people who cared more about turf battles than moving the city forward.
This is a column of personal opinion. Contact wire editor George Poague at 245-0744 or by e-mail at georgepoague@theleafchronicle.com.
Originally published Sunday, July 18, 2004
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