The ThinkTank

Today, my brother of 11 and I made complete fools of ourselves. I was working and was desperate to listen to something. Seeing nothing else that sparked my interest I popped in a disc of oldies. I don't know when I bought this disc, but after listening for a while, I certainly knew why I kept it.
Music has a way of uniting all people. There is a universal quality about music that has long held the fascination of human beings. It is a vital quality of life and a testament to human genius. Whether it is my brother and I trying to imitate John Travolta as we listen to the BeeGees or trying to do the twist to Chubby Checker, music can find ways to bring together people who seemingly have nothing in common.
People have blamed music for several things. While it has been a critical link in the chain of society, it has often been the first scapegoat for societies looking to explain tragedies such as school shootings and delinquent behavior in general. Music changes dramatically from generation to generation. It has always been "wrong" to those in positions of power. I have heard several people comment that today's music is just "screaming."
I am a fan of all genres and often am forced to assume a role of mediator, explain to others why certain types of music are not all bad. I like all music, ranging from oldies to Manson. Just the mention of the name Manson conjures up images of a young punk rebelling against everything he sees, filled with rage. While this is true in some cases, it does not hold to all, I will even venture to say the majority of his fans and other artists like him are in fact normal people that we talk to and interact with everyday. Music that seems violent is often calming, relaxing. I admit that I listen to groups such as Linkin Park and Rage Against the Machine when I am angry. Their lyrics are often lyrics I can relate to. I find comfort in knowing that there are people out there that can sympathize with me and have felt the same way I have. My roommate this year absolutely hated all of the music I listened to. When I returned from a conference in Boston, however, I was shocked to find he had downloaded all the songs I enjoy and he hated. I will be the first to admit he had not fallen in love with the genre, but he had found a kind of music he could listen to if he was depressed, or things were not going his way. I have found, just by talking to people who share my tastes, the reason they like the music is because it is something they can relate to.
That is the bottom line. Music was first created to comfort people. When one listens to music, they listen to it because it comforts them, regardless of what they may think. It is shameful that society has created stereotypes based on music. Music is a personal choice and does not and should not speak for the character of the person. I have seen friends, and have myself been persecuted for my tastes in music. Music can bring people together. It provides a tremendous opportunity to bond. By the time I finished this column, my father and brother both joined me and danced to the Love Shack by the B52s and I believe that we are closer because of the experience. We are using this wonderful medium to drive us further away from one another. Music is a tool that can and should be used for integration, not segregation. Regrettably, segregation is the road we have chosen.
I suppose this article is a call. It is a call to all fathers, sons, mothers and daughters to work out their differences. It saddens me to see so many families that make music a contentious topic. What one listens to must be celebrated, not detested. I believe that we can use music as a medium to come together.