6
There we learned that by the fourth grade children have already
decided whether or not to take drugs. We asked the question, does
the media behave responsibly in portraying values to our children.
In the second hearing, on the issue of alcohol advertising in the
broadcast media, we weighed heavily the first amendment considerations
involved when the media portrayed behavior which many
Americans find objectionable. Today we are raising the question
how far should society go to keep young children from being
exposed to images and words which may run counter to parents'
values and beliefs and values.
It is the parent we blame if the child gets on drugs. It is the
parent we blame if the child commits suicide. It is the parent we
blame if the child burns down a building. Just how much guilt can
we place on these parents without giving them some assistance?
As Senator Gore has so eloquently stated, it has been 30 years
since Elvis first shook his hips on the Ed Sullivan Show, and here
we are talking about the content of rock music and its presentation
in records, on album covers, and advertising concerts, and in rock
video.
Much has changed since Elvis' seemingly innocent times. Subtleties,
suggestions, and innuendo have given way to overt expressions
and descriptions of often violent sexual acts, drug taking, and flirtations
with the occult. The record album covers to me are self-explanatory.
I would like to show a sampling of record covers.
[The record covers follow:]
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