Scapegoat + Blame = Censorship

Violence involving teenagers and children is once again in the news. The reported increase, in acts of violence, especially among teenagers and children, stems from the highly publicized school shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado and in several others states that occurred two years ago. Those school shootings made national and world headlines.

The two recent school shootings at high schools in Santee, California and Williamsport, Pennsylvania have again brought the subject to the forefront of people's minds. People have been desperately trying to find reasons why they keep happening.

Unfortunately, people have been quick to put the blame for this violence on others and on things instead of blaming themselves. Blame has been placed on video games and movies, on the music teens listen to, and on the clothes that they wear. Many people believe that listening to certain types of music or wearing certain types of clothing, (which to them seem weird and different) may cause teens to go on a mass-shooting spree.

They have said that teens who dress in the "gothic" style of fashion are a threat not only to their schools, but to their communities. So at many schools, teens have not been allowed to wear the "goth" look-trench coats and dark colors. People believe that if teenagers wear these styles of clothing they are more likely to kill someone than someone who doesn't wear them. People have said that trench coats can hide guns (yet some of those big puffy coats kids wear could do the same).

Trench coats have been labeled dangerous apparel since Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold the two Columbine students who killed their classmates wore them during their shooting spree. So in other words, this supposedly means all other trench coat wearers may do the same. Certain styles of jewelry, spikes and chains, are also a popular "goth" look. This jewelry has been restricted, because it is believed that it could aid a person in harming or killing someone. Is this illogical? I could always use my scalpel that I got from my Biology class or my scissors for the same task.

Many people also believe that "abnormal" music like the type Marilyn Manson performs should be censored and stopped. Music that talks about darker subjects like death and teen problems is seen as a threat because our young children are supposedly so easily influenced by this music that they would kill other people because of it. Moreover, since this music is "different" to some, it is seen as a threat.

But the real reason some people are blaming violence on certain music and clothing is because it is an easy scapegoat. It is also an attempt to censor something that they dislike. Some parents want their children to be "normal" like everyone else because in our society it is better to be like everyone else than to be different, and censoring certain things is a way to stop their children from being different. But what some people don't understand is that a certain type of music or clothing is not the key to the violence in this world.

Did wearing zoot suits, or being a flapper, a beatnik, a hippie, and a punk rocker in the past lead to violence? I doubt it! The teenagers and children of this world are much smarter than we are given credited for. A song or a type of clothing is NOT what makes a person kill. Instead, I believe there are deeper reasons that would make a person feel the need to kill another. We need to stop putting the blame on music and clothing as the scapegoat and start finding out why a person would kill someone.

To censor certain types of music and clothing is not going to stop violence. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, a person who dresses "normal" and listens to pop music is just as likely to kill someone as a person who dresses "differently" and listens to metal music.

Censoring is not the answer to our problems. Censoring only kills freedom. Who is to say what is good or bad for our children? What we need to do is stop trying to find a scapegoat for our problems and look deeper into why a child would kill another child-why would they take another's life? Censoring is not ever the key to happiness.

Rachel H., 16
Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Reprinted from Positive Teens Magazine Volume 3 Issue 2, Mar/Apr 2001

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