>>First of all, it opens the door to reducing the culpability of the rapists since it lends credence to the "they're just products of their environment" defense.
Secondly, it perpetuates the (unfair) reputation that conservatives have for being racists.<<
Well stated, Jeff, we are in complete agreement...but, it raises the question...
Should we, or should we not focus on the fatherlessness-crime link...which, in my opinion, is at the heart of this type of behavior among TEEN MALES, who live according to rap lyrics instead of fatherly discipline... and if so, are we also providing the "products of their environment" excuse?
Thoughts?
Also, I'm new here...can you direct me to instructions for using italics?
I think we have to approach it another way. We have to work on reducing the socialist aspect of our government. Once we do that, everything else will work itself out.
While blacks are hurt worse than any other group by welfare, that argument just doesn't hit home with them.
As far as rap lyrics, I personally think that is a losing battle. First of all, it makes us look like old fogies. Its common practice for the older generation to hate the younger generation's music - Elvis and the Beatles come to mind. Remember how everyone thought that the Beatles and KISS were satanic and that Elvis was too sexual? Tim McGraw's song "Things Change" does a pretty good job on this topic.
Secondly, conservatives really don't have a good relationship with blacks at the present time. We need to better that relationship first before we start talking about their music.
This also sounds a lot like "morality police" to a lot of people and it turns them off. This alienates blacks and younger voters that see conservatives as busy bodies worrying about trivial lyrics rather than focusing on big issues. I doubt that most think that rap music lyrics is a driving force in behavior among blacks.
There just doesn't seem to be a lot of bang for the buck when it comes to trying to address the black urban social environment. Blacks just don't trust us enough to do it and the conservatives that do want to do it come across as a bull in a china shop.
If we could just reform the welfare system without even mentioning race, fatherless households or black on black crime, everything would pretty much take care of itself.