what's the rap on rap?

by Andrea

How does rap music affect us in this time today? At one time, rap music was a way to express yourself. It was the social concious of the community. They were words about justice, poverty and civil rights. Has it changed? Does rap still reflect a social concious? Nowadays, rap is very popular in our time today, but many people, especially parents, think it should go away.

One reason for people to think that is because of the words they use in their lyrics. Nowadays its all about cussing, sex, drugs, drinking. No wonder most people don't want it around their children. There are many children though that do like this type of music, especially the older ones like teenagers.There are those big rap singers that everyone listens to. There is a misconception here. People think that the children listen to it because they agree with the lyrics. The reality is that we listen to it despite the lyrics. It's the beats. It's the hooks. It's the feel of dancing and it's the fact that it is forbidden.

Drinking,sex,and drugs are influenced in this type of music. Theres all this talk about just drinking and getting drunk. Now there are some children that will follow but there are most that won't be influenced by it. Perhaps it's because they realize that rappers aren't "promoting" a lifestyle as much as they are describing it. The rappers give the fans what they want to hear and they think drinking is one of them. They know that fans want songs about a wild life.

Is it that the fans want this music because they are into the partying lifestyle? Do they party as a result of the music? Or is it simply an escape? Is it that people are bored with "the good life" and are attraced to the danger described in rap music? Maybe the answer is all of the above.

Not only are there lyrics promoting sex, drugs and drinking but there's also racism. Rappers put thought into their lyrics. Racism is a major issue right now.There is racism against every race of person. You never know if the rappers really want you to go out and be racist or if they are just expressing their frustration about race. Are they promoting an open dialogue or are they promoting hate? Perhaps the answer is found in the use of stereotypes. Does rap music resort to racial stereotypes? It does seem that every time they mention minorities, they portray them as violent and overly sexual and angry.

In my opinion rap music doesnt affect everyone in any aspect. The people who have been influenced by it, it is their own fault. If you are so weak-minded that they fall into the racism, the drugs and the partying lifestyle, they need to grow a backbone. Then again the rappers should put a little less of sex, drugs, drinking, racism and cussimg words. It's not all everyone wants to hear. Give us a song or two about what really matters in the world. We'll listen and maybe make the world a better place.

Photo Credit
Flickr Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dantje/2049027313/

Media Analysis: That Seventies Show

by Antonese

Time Travel. We all with it were possible. While learning about the 1970’s, I wanted a time travel machine to really see how that generation worked. As I was flipping through the channels, I landed on That Seventies Show. I had found my time travel machine! Afeter watching three hours of back-to-back reruns I quickly learned that That Seventies Show is a satirical mirror of the seventies generation.

Everyone loves a good comedy. That Seventies Show definitely makes you laugh. This show is about six friends who live in Wisconsin during the 1970’s. They portray events and lif of that era in a comical and exciting way. I learned a lot about that generation without realizing it. From the music to the presidents to the fashion, That Seventies Show taught me valuable information within the context of a narrative.

The characters in That Seventies Show have different personalities and beliefs. Hyde is the hippie of the gang. He sports is afro and loves to smoke marijuana. He’s into music and maintains a “live and let live” attitude. Jackie and Kelso are the rich airheads who are into their looks and nothing else. Donna is the child of the Baby Boomers, a preview of the Gen-X-ers. She is independent and has learned to take care of herself. Fez is a Mexican immigrant who is always getting picked-on as a foreigner. Eric is the average seventies kid. He skates by on his own mediocrity. His parents definitately portray the seventies prototype as well. His mom, Kitty, is a traditional housewife who is also an alcoholic. She is moterhly and caring, but she turns to alcohol when times get rough. Eric’s dad, Red, is a stern Korean War vet. He shows how men were suppose to act tough and macho in that era, exhuding a strong and emotionless persona. His rude attidude scares off most people, but at least he is comfortable in his own skin. He’s not shy and insecure.

As I watched each episode, I noticed how all the characters, aside from Fez, were white. I pondered on why this is. If That Seventies Show portrays people of the seventies, shouldn’t it show both blacks nad whites? I still haven’t found a strong answer. Perhaps it’s just showing the reality of segregation. Or maybe it’s reminding us about our own reacism. Although there aren’t African-Americans, there is Fez. In the show, they demonstrate how cruel people were to immigrants. They make him look stupid and clueless. Perhaps that shows hhow many people viewd immigrants. Or worse, it tells us how our society currently views immigrants.

The seventies were three decades ago. Yet we can still access our public memory of it through shows like That Seventies Show. It can become a mirror reflecting reality of that generation through the lens of our times.

Music Analysis: Go On Girl

by Denise

Is music causing younger generations to stereotype against women? We've all been exposed to it but have said nothing just to be "cool". If your riding in your car and listening to your radio and happen to come across a song that stereotypes women, all you have to do is change the station. Most people don't however, because the lyrics seem secondary to the beat and the style. But if you really pay attention to the lyrics they are very extreme when it comes to stereotyping women.

A certain song that caught my attention Go On Girl by Ne-Yo. When you're listening to the song you think it's a really sad song but when you read the lyrics you can pin point some stereotyping. In the song women are portrayed as unfaithful. That women can't have a relationship without thinking of other men. He makes it sound as if men are always the faithful ones in a relationship, when it could always be both people not just only women. In the song they state that women don't know exactly how to act in a relationship and that men or more sensitive then women, but in my opinion i think how people feel is how they grew up and see things in their perspective and exactly what goes on between them.

In the song it makes people think that when a women that's in a relationship says that she's going to go out with her friends, it more likely that she'll be at a bar or riding other men's cars. And that when she's in bars she'll be more likely be getting drinks from other guys. The song makes it sound like women always make up stories saying their going with their friends and they end up going to a bar which not true. Not every women makes up excuses like the song makes it sound. Women are more honest then what they're credited for.

In my opinion, I think that when he quotes "Please don't worry bout be fine" it feels sarcastic in a way. As if women won't care what happens to men after the relationship.It sounds as if while she's in bars with other men she thought of him the whole time and how it would affect him. As if she knew that what she was doing was all for him when in a way it makes him feel that women act for themselves. When in reality women can think of others then themselves the same is for men but it just depends on the issue.The way he makes it sound is as all women are like that.

Go On Girl was just one song that is less offensive towards women then others .Their are other songs that portray women as nothing . This isn't the first song the artist has singed where he makes it sound like all women are the same in a relationship. It's not the first where it sounds like all men are very strong that they'll move on and they won't be depressed of a break up

Gender and Madagascaar

by SJ

Kids grow up believing who is important through the messages they see in all social institutions.  When a priest talks to the parish, the people learn that religion belongs in the hands of the men.  When they go to school and all their primary teachers are women, they learn that school is a girly place.  So, it makes sense that they learn messages about men and women from television and movies.  

Take the movie Madagascaar.  It's a funny film about a bunch of animals who go from the zoo to the jungles of Madagascaar.  However, the ratio of male to female is nothing near the fifty percent that exist in the real world.  The following is a breakdown of the characters with speaking parts.  I've color-coded female in pink and male in blue:

1. Alex the Lion 
2. Melman the Giraffe
3. Gloria the Hippo
4. Mothers of the Kids
5. Marty the Zebra
6. Penguin #1
7. Penguin #2
8. Penguin #3
9. Penguin #4
10. Monkey - Phil
11. Monkey
12. Police Officer
13. Police Officer Horse
14. Old Lady with the Purse 
15. Reporter
16. Ship Captain
17. Julian, King of the Lemurs
18. Julian's Assistant
19. The baby lemur
20. The Foosa

Four out of twenty equals twenty percent.  That's less than half of what would make it equal.  So, when kids grow up and twenty percent of the characters are women, there is a subtle message that the men are important.  The same thing goes with how the characters act.  Gloria is known only for her beauty (though she is large, which is a different message than many shows) and when she holds a baby lemur.  All of the important jobs are taken by men.  Marty and Alex are the ones who build things.  The ship captain and the police officers are all men.  Alex is the one who saves the day with his superior strength. So, when kids grow up they end up believing that women are not only unimportant, but that they don't hold positions of power. 

Song Review

by Benny

I was listening to a song about a teenager named William that wants to be a thug. His is a deal drug but he was silver. He had a corrupted young mind in the age of 13. It was his goal to make money as a drug dealer and a gangster.

He had no father and his mother was sick. She would put the pipe down but the next day she was back again, all addicted to drugs. He began to hang around with the thugs and the dealers. He felt a reputation because he could hustle and steal. But like every kid in his hood he dropped out of school to sell weed and that's what the main character did in return. He was the product of his environment.

So then he started steal and mugging people in his projects, just to get in the gang so he started to try to step up but no one showed him any love. He thought he was ready and went up to cocaine and he got addicted and he was tried of the thug treating him the same. They told him that any one could sell drugs any one can shoot some on and that any one can wear a red shirt and conform as a blood and a real thug can stab someone until they die looking at them straight in the eye.

Willy knew that they weren't going to stop until he does something. So they weren't going to let him doing anything. So they were waiting for someone to make a hit and run. One night they were choking and waiting for entertainment. Until they saw a woman and stole her and took her to a hotel and raped her. Willy was first and they all got turns and after they raped her willy was soppose to kill her they had a rag over her face and they gave him a 9mm he was about to shoot when he pulled the rag it was his mother.

I have mixed feelings about the song. On one hand, it's real. It's a tale about how easy people get caught up in the "thug life." It reminds people of how dangerous that can be. At the same time, I'm not sure this is the type of music that kids need to hear. Even if it's trying to explain the dangers, it might be leading kids in the wrong direction.

movie review: Patrulla 81

by Jackie

Patrullo 81 is about a family and a famous group of singers. The family of three, which was the mom, dad and newborn baby, cross through the desert to get to the United States. They suffer some difficult situations along the way.

When the family was walking through the desert, some immigration officials caught them. So they started running and the officials began to shoot. The people that were in the back go taken away back to where they were coming from while the rest ran away. The family escaped and got to the place where you pass from Mexico to the United States. The only reason is because "Patrullo 81" helped them. The baby needed to go to the hospital, becuase it hurt him from being in the sun so much and having nothing to eat.

So the singers took them there. First the singers didn't want to take the guy to the U.S. because he didn't want to get into trouble. Fame and power can make it hard to take risks to do something right. Eventually the singers took the immigrants in.

The family was scared taht the baby would die or somethinig, but they didn't know that they coyote was looking for them. One night, the dad left the hospital to go look for a place for his wife and baby to live while he went to find a job. However, the coyote found him and tried to commit extortion to get money. The dad said he owed the coyote nothing, because he didn't pass them all the way. This led to an argument and the dad was shot.

The coyote wanted to get the money from them because supposdely he at least got them halfway. The dad was right that he didn't have to pay, becuase he didn't even pass them to the U.S. Still, the dad was shot and injured. It was not fair, becuase the family was put in danger just for some money.

The story connects to social studies, because it's about immigration. It deals with the reality of how hard it is for a family to start a new life. Many of them have to suffer just to make it. It was very hard, but in the end, the family makes it. All the immigrants want is a better life and this movie does a great job showing that.

flight 93

by Jonathan

Flight 93 is a very symbolic movie reflecting every aspect and point of view that was involved in the awful 9-11 attacks. The director understood the brutal, yet cunning creativity of the terrorists, the pain of families and the heart-stopping suspense and the confusion of air command officials as they tried to deal with a surreal experience; something too horrific for most sheltered Americans to understand.

The movie is comepletely detailed from the hi-def picture to the actual footage used, Flight 93 is a movie made to make us brave and proud to be Americans. Call it a great theme or call it propaganda. Either way, it was powerful and impacting, but also oh so delicate and making sure no one was offended. Rather than resorting to stereotypes and hate, it forced us to realize that the ultimate battle is not between nations, but the internal struggle within our own souls.

It was to me a very special memorial to those who were impacted in any way because this event had nothing but hurt and negetivity. I know it's entertainment, but it's the way we tell stories. And this one reminds us that we are strong we need to be strong and let those terrorists know that we are prepared and not afraid. At the same time, we must also stop living in the past and get out of Iraq.

Amazingly it captures all of this and it all goes through your mind it is a movie that makes you think and reflect on the events that were fuzzy like a movie when they first happened. It makes you use your mind unlike other movies that pacify you with explosions. The movie will dig in your memory. So from the hi-def to emotionsand excitement you will find yourself captured and be dazzledby this theatric masterpiece that we have to pleasure our senses and yet still reach that sobering moment where you realize that all of this actually happened and that heroes are not men in tights on a screen, but normal people in suits and sportscoats and polos from Ross and that sacrifice isn't failing to get the girl in the end, but knowing you'll have to leave to girl and leave your life to save a nation.

anlysis of bias in Fresh Prince

by AR

Today I was watching The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air when I decided to observe how they portray different races, different ages, and men and women. When I was watching this I noticed that there wasn't a large variety of races on the show. The main ethnicity on this show was African-American. Then followed was Caucasian. Other races like Hispanic and Asian weren't appeared as much. Actually not at all, at least for this episode. The way they portrayed the races were similar to my school. They made it seem like Caucasian isn't the thing to be. Caucasians or others who "acted" like them were made fun of. The African-Americans were shined in a brighter light and shown a lot better than most show portray them. I love the way they show African-Americans, but I think they should have a bigger variety of different races and make each race equal and show the good sides of all.

On The Fresh Prince, there is a rage of ages from kids to Adults. These consist of kids(3-12), Teens(13-17), Young Adults(17-28), and Adults(30-50). The kid in the show is Nicky. He is the cute, smart, fun kid, that makes everyone smile. Most shows portray little kids as cute and smart. Like a bundle of joy. (Except, of course, Family Guy) The teen in this show is Ashely, the youngest daughter. She is smart, but is always fussing. She has became defencive and is getting into more and more trouble. This show, among many others, show that teens are the fussy, don't want to be around age. This is because teens are going through they're puberty stage. Will, the star of the show, Carlton, and Hilary are the young adults on Fresh Prince. They are really carefree and just want to have fun. They aren't the most responsible one on this show either. The only thing that is usually on their mind is fun, parties, and most of all MONEY. I believe they make ages like this this way because they are now free from rules and parents and that's when you make the biggest mistakes. Last the adult stages include Phil, Vivian, and Jeffery. They are more responsible and hard working.But they often make mistakes themselves and have trust issues.



As you know men and women in most shows are usually portrayed the same way. The women love to shop and are not as strong and don't have much of a voice or opinion, while the men must be strong and have to be the men of the house. In this show it is a little diverse. The only character I would say fits that bias is Hilary, the oldest child. She is not very Bright and is very valley girl. She loves shopping and money. Other than that they are unlike the usual bias. When it comes to who has more power out of the wife and husband, Vivian and Phil, it is definitely Vivian. Phil doesn't ever want to get on her bad side and when he does he truly regrets it. Carlton is more of a banker kind of guy who loves money. He isn't very strong or athletic. Plus he has a lot of female qualities to him. Will, at first, seems like the bias, but has a deeper side to him. He is goofy and again is not in power when it comes to female vs. male. Ashely is both girly and tom boyish. She is athletic but still loves hair and make-up and clothes.



This show has flaws, but overall I like it and it has a good over all message in every episode. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has good potential and is very funny!

movie review of under the same moon

by SG

I'll do anything to be right beside my family even if it includes dangerous consequences." Have you ever mentioned this hard question to anyone or yourself, at one point in our lives we all say something similar to this quote. Under The Same Moon deals with many different characters who have gone through the same situations as many undocumented workers. This movie connects to social studies by showing the process of immigration. This film has shown the immigrant's point of view and what they had to go through to make their wishes and desires true. When watching this high- quality film many immigrants who have gone through the same situation will relate with the characters and not only that but others who were against undocumented immigrants will definitely change their perspective about this controversial subject.

Under The Same Moon is basically about a young boy named Carlitos who lives in a small town in Mexico and has only his ill grandmother to protect him from any harm. Carlitos' mother has immigrated to the United States to give her son a better life. The only way both Carlitos and his mother can communicate is on the public telephone where they speak to each other every Sunday. As I mentioned Carlitos' grandma is very ill and dies but Carlitos is brave enough to leave his small town and reunite with his mothering only one week. Along the way he encounters with severe problems, but with the help of many he is saved from those tough situations. In the end he remembers everything his mother described about the location where she called and by knowing those small details he looks all around East LA, at exactly 10:00pm(at the time where she always calls him) he finds her across the street full of tears.

This top notch movie involves many characters whose lives gradually change throughout the entire film. Adrian Alonso plays the main character (Carlitos) of Under The Same Moon; Carlitos life changes completely when he travels to LA and finally meets his mother. Kate Del Castillo acts the role of (Rosario) Carlitos' mother, who immigrates to Los Angeles and finds it hard to live without the support of her family but in the end she gets a huge surprise. The famous Hispanic comedian Eugenio Derbez plays (Enrique) who in the beginning of the movie has some problems with Carlitos, but in the end he becomes a kind friend for Carlitos and sacrifices himself for his safety. Maya Zapata plays the character of (Alicia) one of Rosario's best friends, at first she is really outgoing and sarcastic, but when Rosario finds out that Carlitos is missing Alicia was there to offer as much help as she could. These actors are only some of the many who participated in this film, to make a successful film you need great actors which is what Under The Same Moon has.

The theme of Under The Same Moon is something many of us don't believe in and choose not to agree with which is, equality and a close family is the most important. I strongly agree with both of these subjects because there's nothing better than to be treated equally and I always thought that without a family I would be lost. I think that it doesn't't matter what race or what culture we follow we should all be treated equally because we are all humans. A family is the biggest support someone can have no matter what the situation is. A part of Under The Same Moon's success is the great theme it has, so when watching this movie that theme touched many of the audiences' hearts. The movie's theme changed many people's point of view by watching how it affected an innocent child, which is what made this movie so realistic.

Under The Same Moon achieved many things that other movies haven't, it impacted people's lives. This movie shows what an immigrant has to go through every single day after arriving from their native country. This isn't just a movie everything included is real not made up to capture the audiences' attention but to show the other side of things. Not only that but it's one of the biggest hits that include only Hispanic actors which the Latino society feels very proud of. This motion picture has made a huge difference in many of the actors' carriers; the theme of this movie is very close to their hearts. In my opinion this is the my film I've seen not only because of the great theme but how the emotional factors, how realistic it was made, and the humor the added at the right time to make it magnificent.

give the press more access

Have you ever turned on the news and seen a baby being murdered? Ever found out that a bomb had been set off and you hadn't found out on the news last night? Which angers you more? Believing what the press says nowadays is a matter of trust, and that has slowly been taken away from. Even the media doesn't have the rights they had, they don't have the rights they're entitled to have. Some say that it's because war is too gory... I think otherwise. Sure war is horrible but, they had no trouble with it back then. I say the government doesn't want some things found out.

In the first amendment it is written that the press has the freedom to go wherever they want, even if it endangers their lives! They used to say it was their problem whether or not they risk their lives, as long as they knew what was going on. Today, the government is taking away people's rights... even those of the media. I don't know why they try to keep the truth from us. Some say it's for our own safety, others like myself think that the truth is the truth, and no one can take that away from us. We as citizens, we have the right to know what the people we put in office are doing for or against us.

In the middle of World War II the newspapers and the radio were filled with talk of and American bombs ripping apart the human structure. Nothing was hidden from us. It might have been a horrible thing for children to hear about but hey, the adults taking care of them should've implications of war and massacre. I doubt they know the words I've just written. Still, for the sake of the children, we do have to keep them ignorant to the struggles of life. It's not their fault the world in which they were born into is so messed up.

These days, almost nothing can be kept hidden. Sure they say that it's top secret and we'll never find out... Wrong! Someone always has a loose tongue and spills everything a good feeling, to know the truth. It turns bad when you learned it by force, knowing that they tried to keep you from information that was vitally important to you as a person and citizen. Right now, it seems like the government is trying to play hide-and-seek with us. Hiding the truth and waiting for us to find out. It's a cruel game in which it's crucial for us, the people, to win. No one likes being kept back from things they want... normal citizens are no exception. We feel and rage just like any other person. One that doesn't just isn't human. We need to know! We can't be held back of things that are sorely needed to help our families and friends. The media is a safe way of finding out what's happening in the world. But now, we can't trust even them. We think that all that sprouts forth from their mouths are lies, edited by the gov. to keep something secret. And oftentimes... it is.

All I'm trying to say that the press should have more freedom. If they're willing to risk their lives to keep us informed, so be it. It's only fair to them and us. We wanted to be a free country, and to tell the truth, I don't see much freedom anymore. It's sad to see so many wrong things happening in the war, than being ignorant to them. I don't know about you but I don't want to end up like the dummies that don't believe that the holocaust happened. I want the truth, and now!

tv analysis: that seventies show

How are immigrants treated on television? How do we view them? What is the result of the constant barrage of stereotypes? The following is a quick, short example of how television chooses to portray immigrants:

There was one person who had recently immigrated on "That Seventies Show." This t.v show potrays Fez, the immigrant as a stupid and uneducated teenager. Fez has foster parents but, they abonden him at the age of 18. Fez often gets humilated by his friends but he doesn't reall get angry as he should. They sort of make him the butt of all the jokes and occasionally include him. But he's always an outsider. I guess that's how it can be when you're an immigrant. That's sometimes how I feel. So maybe it's not so innacurate after all. I just guess that I wish they could show how painful that part can be.

Fez also has a funny accent but what people should realise that he learned the language well in a short time. The show does a great job showing him assimilating. Over all I think the Producers should really take time to show that immigrants are people that need to be appreciated. They do a few things right, but they need to remind us in Fez that immigrants are people and when we are the butt of jokes, it starts to hurt.

walkout

By ND

Walkout" a new film tells the story of the 1968 walkout by high school Chicano students in East L.A to protest academic prejudice and dire school conditions. Many Chicano students like as Paula Crisostomo and Sal Castro, walkout with proud inside them. Students were forbidden from speaking Spanish in class or from using the restrooms during lunchtime.

In March 1968, the Chicano students decided to take a stand against the injustice and staged walkouts in schools across L.A.In March 1968, the students decided to take a stand against the injustice and staged walkouts in schools across L.A and all the Chicano students walked out. Many date the modern Chicano movement to the walkouts when some 20,000 teenagers took to the streets and started to fight with pride ,Many of the students who participated in the walkouts went on to successful careers in politics,etc. The students were arrested and jailed for disturbing the peace.This movie WALKOUT connects to society because it happen before and that people did fight for there rights like; Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom X and Rosa Parks. It shows that it is a movement of people rather than something don by one person.

As a student, Chicana I would do the same thing like this movie had did like all the Chicano students walkout at 9:00am and fought for there rights. I would protest and keep fighting until all that would stop. I think that if we keep doing walkouts then we would get what we want. We should all be equal and be friends with who ever we want. If I was an adult and had kids I would want them to watch this movie and ask them what did they learn from the movie. This is a really good movie.

I picked this movie because it connects to social studies and it tells a lesson. I thought about what’s going on right now about walking out and protesting and this movie really just got my mind and started thinking to myself. I told myself I would do the same if I had the chance.

Go back to Article page on Social Voice Website

Vietnam Picture #4

What does this soldier look like? What do you think he is feeling in the moment? What stands out in your mind as you look at the picture?

Vietnam Picture #3

What goes through your mind as you view this picture? What emotions do you feel? How would you respond if you were in that situation?

Vietnam Picture #2

What does this image say about the Vietnam War? What does it make you think? How does it make you feel?

Vietnam Picture #1

This image is a painting about the Vietnam Memorial. What is the main theme of this picture? What does it say about soldiers remembering the war?

The Mixed Reality of Rap Music

J. Vargas

Rap music is a controversial style of music. Some people love it. They enjoy the loud beats and the heavy bass. Others say it is a bad influence on America’s youth. Either way, rap music has some very controversial themes.

People that are protesting and angry are usually upset about the language used in the songs. In the past, in the early days of rap, no one was worried about it. It was just a way that people expressed their ideas. Then, sometimes in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, a rapper made a song that talked about killing cops. Soon, people started to listen to gangster rap. The songs were about killing and making money from drugs and pimping.

People who heard that music got mad about that they didn't let their kids listen to rap songs. They tried to pass laws saying you couldn’t listen to certain songs if you were underage. The one that made the rap song said that he didn't mean to tell people to kill cops and that he was sorry. Instead, he was mad that a police officer had killed his innocent friend. He made that song to show how he feels about one particular cop.

The truth is that not all rap songs have bad language. Some rap talk about what happens in our world. Like other rappers that tell about past events. Others share their beliefs about the White House. So, sometimes they are more about politics than just killing and pimping.

The problem is that much of rap can be both good and bad. For example, Tupac had a rap that told a story about teen pregnancy. His song Brenda Has A Baby was based on a true story. He all so made another song about cops that are racist. One of his songs even encouraged people to change their behaviors and live right. Other songs were not so positive. There were people who got angry about the words H-s, B$&%@, and S&@%. Then came the songs that talk about smoking weed and doing coke. That’s what got people angry.

"So there is no good rap song out there. Every rap there someone that will get anger. People that do get rap song have a bad back round.” That what people think. They think that people who listen to hip hop are all thugs. Yet, some of Tupac’s fans are white people that have a good back round. Some of the rap music can be really positive.

How Children Learn Violence Is Okay

By V. Sanchez

Hatred and violence are a new trend in the youth of the today's vocabulary. Parents, do you want your children growing up cussing at each other, calling each other sluts, and n-words ? If I had kids I would say no, but that's not the point. The point is, children as young as 2-3 years old are calling each other the cuss word equivalent of turds, female dogs, and donkey holes. Why? It is all due to the fact that children learn this from their environment.

What causes people to hate? I would say, it's the violence in the people's hearts. There are rapists, burglars, gangsters, kidnappers, murders, and drug dealers. The kids of today have to live in this state of violence and so they start to think it’s normal. Every single step I take, people are either talking, listening, watching, playing, making, or even joining this violent havoc that is streaking across America. Thousands of thousands of people simply support the preachers of violence and the others by joining them. How does this happen? By going and snapping in their minds and then getting people into a frenzied state. That's often how people turn into rapists and such.

It's because their minds couldn't handle something that finally made their mind snap. Then they start shooting up drugs, shooting people and raping. Or they could become psychotic individuals, who will shoot at the slightest touch. Another version of the pyschotic individual is one who will kill, either for the pure joy of it, or at the first little voice in their heads. Such people are often increasingly scary due to the murders going on from other people. Psychotics can be found in the game Condemned: Criminal Origins but that goes with the making violence since they try to kill you. So, it’s the environment that causes people to act like this.

The current situation is the fact that young children ( 3- 21 ) are playing games like Condemned , Grand Theft Auto , Saint's Row , or Dead Rising. I don't know why, but children are just going to have to learn how to deal with this violence without ever joining it, and aggravating the current situation. Don't go out with a boom, like Ted Bundy. Go out with beauty. Choose a life of non-violence.