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About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1983)
All rock and roll not ‘devil’s music’ < THE ENVIRONMENTALX ' PROTECTION AGENCY \ HAS NOT THROUM OUT FXN^ IMPORTANT D ocuments or file S j congressman . uhy that ¿ jould be ILLEGAL., UNETHICAL I AND BAD FOR THE \ENVIRONMENT.. .J Doug Vaughan For everyone who believes that rock and roll is evil and inspired by the devil, I wish they would come down to earth and not ridicule it because you do not approve of it. To me, rock and roll is a form of entertainment and I feel that in no way I am being influenced by what some peo ple refer to as “Satan’s music.” From what I have heard from other non-rock listeners is that rock and roll is a disgrace to the word music, but I do not care. I like to listen to rock and I couldn’t care less about the rumors that people set forth about it. In the Feb. 8-14 issue of Willamette Week the cover story was on Mike Fischer, a man who is leading a drive to have rock and roll banned from North Marion School District during school hours. A bit ridiculous, I feel. I am sure that no one is forcing rock into the ears of the students. If that was the case—which I hardly can believe is—then he has a point. Fischer handed out mimiographed sheets at North Marion’s board meeting that claimed rock kills corn-stalks, drives the “puberty gland” (sic) beserk, and impairs or nearly destroys the listener’s moral judgment. Another claim’of his was that it promoted lust, homosex uality and worship of other religions than Christianity. Is there any factual evidence that rock does this to all of its listeners? Personally, I have listened to rock for around five years and I do not find these pro blems haunting me. Never have I lusted for any male while chanting secret vows to my unknown religious leader. Nor have I participated in any of those three regularly. And even if I did would it mean it is via rock and roll? To his other assumptions, the corn at my aunt and uncle’s house seems just fine and I played rock and roll while I was there this surhmer. Sony, I have not recorded my “puberty gland” activity lately so I would not know about that, but it would seem fine to me. Maybe everyone might not agree with my moral judgment, but there has not been any noticeable change since I started listening to rock music. I am a true believer that all of this propaganda is trash. The problem is that half the students’ parents seem to be in favor of Fischer’s plan for bann ing rock and roll from the school. Wednesday February 23, 19 Last year I did interviews with several disc-jockeys from KGON, a rock station in Portland. The question of this so-called problem arose in our conversation. One DJ said that he felt this whole playup was just a gimmick. He stated that one Pink Floyd song, when played backwards, had a different kind of message. The song played backwards said that you have now learned the secret message, send your name and address to . . . and slowly the words faded out before the listener could receive the whole message. The KGON disc-jockey said that is was just a way to en courage the consumers to go out and buy records. He felt the same towards the accusa tion about other messages. He felt the same towards the accusation that certain rock records played backwards had Satanic chants. He feels the people mak ing these assumptions just do not like rock and roll. This par ticular DJ said he once was a “Jesus freak,” but never once stopped listening to rock, and felt there was no conflict involv ed. The other night I turned on the television just in time to see some more preachers of rock’s satanic presence. The cable station was in terviewing a seventeen-year- old that was claimed to be a “problem child,” and of course she listened to rock and roll music. She recollected one evening when she was listening to rock and saw Satan coming out of her stereo and speakers—“everywhere.” In tears, she busted into the living room screaming for the stereo to be destroyed. From that night on she allegedly turned her life around by destroying all her records and the stereo on which they had been played. The show consisted of interviews with two other people who had similar experiences. As a rock listener I find these stories ridiculous. I want to know why haven’t all these strange happenings that people say rock music causes happen ed to me. A person will believe whatever they want to believe and it seems that there are a sufficient number of people that find this garbage in teresting. Yes, garbage it is. Until there is a time when somebody comes up with some believable information about rock’s satanic existance it will not af fect my love for rock and roll. . . SO cJE HAD> THEM RECYCLED into THESE TASTEFUL DO\L\C5 instead ! Guest Editorial Demo’s offer alternative Secretary of State Norma Paulus’ bill to deny political tax credits to individuals who choose to contribute to a Political Action' Committee (PAC) does nothing to solve the problem: The explosive growth of big-spending PACs. Citizens are rightfully con cerned. That money has been called “the mother’s milk of politics” is no joke. Examples abound in Congress and our State Legislatures of special in terests who get their way, in large part due to large political contributions their PAC arms make. Unfortunately, the Paulus bill, SB 117, in no way con tains or limits campaign spen ding. The special interests with PACs bursting with money will still be able to contribute generously. Those who will be hurt by SB 117 are the small PACs of the citizen-action organizatons. This bill would severely curtail the political Contributions given from grassroots women, conserva tionist, labor, and progressive organizations. A more positive response to counter the influence of large PACs is a proposal to have voluntary campaign spen ding limits that do not run afoul of the 1975 Deras Vs. Myers Oregon Supreme Court deci sion. At the same time political contributions from parties and individuals should be en couraged. While mandatory cam paign spending limits were found unconstitutional, can didates could be asked to ac cept voluntary limits, or lose their access to political tax credit contributions and other public subsidies. This approach has been supported by Sen. Frank Roberts and Speaker of the House Grattan Kerans. It is likely that Oregonians will be asked to vote on this concept next year. Currently an individual receives a 50% credit up to $100. A modest expansion of the credit in Oregon to equal the Federal would provide more incentive for individuals to make small scale political contributions. The Dollar Check-Off for the parties, which sunsetted in 1981, provided significant fun ding for both the Republican and Democratic Parties in Oregon. Gov. Atiyeh has vow ed to veto any reenactment of the Check-Off, even though Republican State Chairman r" Robert Voy sent’ a campaign fundraising letter to Republican donors in the last campaign be moaning the loss of Check-Off revenues. However, the concept of a Dollar Check-On for the par ties, similar to the Wildlife and Arts funds oh the Oregon tax form may be acceptable to the Governor. This would allow taxpayers to voluntarily donate part of their tax refund to the party of their choice. All these proposals were endorsed by the Democratic Party of Oregon at their recent State Central Committee meeting. There is a general public consensus for limiting excessive PAC influence and campaign spending. Voluntary campaign spending limits with increased funding from parties and individuals may be the best antidote available at the pre sent time. Dave McTeague Democratic National Commit teeperson 1 77ie Print gladly accepts letters on all subjects, from the sublime to the ridiculous. All letters should be typed, and should include name, address and telephone number (withheld, if requested). The Print reserves the right to edit or withhold any letter. Page 3