All rock and roll
not ‘devil’s music’
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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.
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