Tipper Gore was a friend of mine - Ifwhiteamerica...
Tipper Gore was a friend of mine - Ifwhiteamerica...
TIPPER GORE
Tipper Gore and Nazi Book Burnings. What do these two things have in common? More than the Federal Government likes to admit. You see, both of these phrases are closely related to on thing: MEDIA CENSORSHIP. The main difference is that Tipper seems to be getting away with it.
The whole thing started with a song by Prince. I'm not sure of the title any more, but the important thing about it was that it involved a girl masturbating. Apparently, Tipper overheard her daughter listening to such "filth", and decided that it wasn't appropriate for her to be listening to. She took the tape away. Now, this, in my mind, isn't so bad. But for Tipper, it wasn't enough.
Feeling some sort of "Obligation for the Children", she decided that being her daughter's mother was only the beginning. With the events to follow in the next few years, she organized groups and passed legislation to make it possible for her to be EVERYBODY'S mother! No longer would it be the parent's responsibility to decide what is and isn't appropriate for their children to be listening to. With the approval of Parental Advisory Label (Sometimes reffered to as "The Tipper Sticker"), the GOVERNMENT could tell you what is and isn't appropriate to listen to! (Call me crazy, but isn't this a form of Censorship?)
Look Familiar?
Supposedly, the original intent of this labeling system was only to "inform" parents of children. However, the sticker has had numerous other side affects, which are probably supported by, if not designed by the PMRC (Parent's Music Resource Center, the group that is responsible for rating the content of the albums). Take, for instance, the fact that certain state legislatures (mostly in the Bible Belt) have tried and nearly suceeded in passing laws that would BAN any album with the Tipper Sticker from music stores in that state. Of course, on a more common note, many large department stores will not stock an album simply because it carries this label. And those that do carry them often have rules that resrict certain people (i.e. those that look under 18) from buying the albums. So much for personal freedoms.
Luckily, there is hope on the horizon. As Americans got more and more fed up with "Morality Issues", Tipper resigned from her post as leader of the PMRC. Tipper Gore, the same woman who had written such great books as "Raising PG Kids in an X-Rated Society" and supported a raid on punk singer Jello Biafra's house based mainly on offensive album art, now is almost ashamed of her work. Her website scarcely mentions this period of her life, and is extremely vague when it does (PMRC? What PMRC?). Instead, it sticks to her more "Politically Safe" efforts, such as homelessness and mental health. Surprisingly, the PMRC itself does not have webpage that I know of.
However, it's not over yet. Yes, in no time at all Mrs Gore could be the first Lady! If Americans practise their usual tradition of electing a braindead corrupt motionless candidate, then Tipper could have her finger on the little red button. Isn't life peachy?