Looks like the Mexican Government has had enough. Like many adults in the US, the Mexican government believes the songs about drugs and drug trafficking are corrupting the minds of today's youth. The Mexican Government, however, are taking things one step further. The Party in power has proposed a bill that would send anyone who sings about drug trafficking to jail for a minimum of three years. These drug ballads, or narcocorridos, have pushed government officials over the limit. Says party lawmaker Oscar Martin, "We cannot accept it as normal..." bill comes after Mexican President Felipe Calderon issued more drug raids in an attempt to bring down drug cartels.
Martin is right. Since when did killing people and selling drugs become objects worthy of praise? I don't just mean in Mexico, but in the whole world. Since we've started the chapter on Civil Liberties, I thought this might go along well with the unit because, if this were in the US, this would immediately be chalked up as a violation of the First Amendment's freedom of speech clause. I guess it's different in Mexico. Still, this style of music (which I've linked to the first paragraph) is very popular, so getting rid of it will only make things worse. That's how it usually works: we want the things we can't, or shouldn't, have.
Friday, January 22, 2010
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5 comments:
While I agree that music with drug references have a very negative influence on society, I find several flaws with this bill. First as you mentioned Jodi, this is an obvious violation of Freedom of Speech, and while Mexico may not have the same kinds of laws we have, I do believe that freedom of speech is a right that should be guaranteed to everyone. Second of all, how are they going to draw the line with these kinds of laws? Although it is highly unlikely, what if someone sings a song talking about how bad drugs are and how bad the drug trade is? Does that person still warrant criminal charges just because he simply mentioned drugs?
Songs that corrupt society about drugs and drug trafficking should be censored, and their artists should receive serious consequences. However, the government cannot violate too many civil liberties.
Well, we now know the Mexican government is finally prioritizing it's laws on moral conduct. Good to hear and good post.
"However, the government cannot violate too many civil liberties."
When people don't abuse them, sure.
That is lame, to say music influences young people's minds to take drugs. If young people are dumb enough to be influenced by music to take drugs, then let them, it's their lives they're ruining. I don't think the government has to blame music for all the drug use that goes on in Mexico.
It's not the taking drugs that the government has had enough of (well, that's not the main issue in this case), it's the fact that drug trafficking and drug cartels' other activities are being glorified, which makes younger people want to get involved in "the life" too.
Although I think that this might be a bit of a good idea (citing the reasons you stated, Jodi), I feel that it will ultimately lead to backlash. It will cause the people to turn away from the government because they will view it as an infringement upon their rights. As a result, the Mexican government problem with being unable to contain the drug trafficking problem will be compounded. And what will the drug cartels gain? Increased ability to move their drugs through Mexico and into the US, exploiting the innocent in their path.
I admit that I'm no expert in the subject of drug trafficking, and that suggesting this entails a lot more than I suspect, but I believe that the Mexican government needs to focus more on ridding itself of its corrupt law enforcement and on finding some way to stop the flow of drugs (perhaps by collaborating with the US in some way? or in some way more than it already is?)
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