Shortly after the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, I noticed an interesting chain reaction. Billboards and advertisements containing images of the World Trade Center began to disappear. Then I heard news that the twin towers would be digitally removed from upcoming movies, including “Zoolander” and “Serendipity.” Not long after, a group of station directors from Clear Channel Communications, a media conglomerate owning radio stations that reach millions of listeners , sent member stations a list of 150 songs they “requested” not be played, out of respect for victims of the terrorist attacks. Now Aaron McGruder’s famous “Boondocks” comic strip has been removed from New York’s Daily News after McGruder focused on politics surrounding the attacks. In its place? A crossword puzzle.
So what do all these things add up to? Artistic license falling by the wayside in favor of a blander, more “politically correct” media. In the Oct. 5 issue of Entertainment Weekly, reporters mused, “Since Sept. 11, the industry’s been agonizing over questions of sensitivity: What sorts of movies, TV shows and songs are appropriate for an angry nation in mourning?” Call me crazy, but all this time I was thinking I lived in a democracy, where as soon as I turned 18, it was up to me to choose what was “appropriate” for me to watch, read or listen to. If I didn’t like what was presented, I simply walked away.
I’m not suggesting the intent behind any of these omissions was blatant censorship. The point was to pay homage to the victims by avoiding material that may remind the victims’ friends and families of the attacks (and possibly lead to a plunge in ratings). While the digital erasing of the towers from media images, not airing certain songs and removing heavy political cartoons from comic pages may be well-intentioned, none of these things will help people forget what happened Sept. 11. They won’t do anything to ease our nation’s pain or anger. These decisions are an utter waste of time that only open the floodgates for more serious forms of censorship and infuriate those of us who want to make our own choices as to what we read, watch or listen to.
As for Clear Channel’s “suggestion” of not playing certain songs on the radio, such as the Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash ” and John Lennon’s “Imagine,” it’s a notion that’s ridiculous to the point of giggles. Most of the songs require a huge stretch of the imagination to connect them with terrorism. I doubt The Clash’s “Rock the Casbah” will cause anyone to burst into tears while driving down the street. Clear Channel’s “nod” to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks reeks of ignorance and futility.
Oh, and don’t worry about the “Boondocks” disappearing from the Daily News forever. Spokesman Ken Frydman told Entertainment Weekly the funny pages aren’t for heavy political issues but assured readers the paper plans to reinstate the strip when it “returns to a milder line.” Wait, isn’t the point of a political cartoon to be political?
Please don’t misunderstand me. Don’t take my opinion for insensitivity. I’m aware our nation is in dire times right now. We need all the relief, solidarity and community we can muster. However, erasing images and music from the media is far from the answer. Even if the concern isn’t censorship, it’s frustrating that media authorities would waste their time mulling over what might be “inappropriate” for the nation. They can certainly find better ways to help victims, such as donating money to relief efforts. Benevolence can be a wonderful thing, but misguided, it can only lead to frustration.