DO YOU HAVE ANY SYMPATHY FOR BILL PETERS OR NOT?

DO YOU HAVE ANY SYMPATHY FOR BILL PETERS OR NOT?

Recently, the head hockey coach of the Calgary Flames, Bill Peters, resigned his post after allegations by a former player of racist comments. I don’t support racism, but I think that Peters’ situation needs to be looked at a little more closely.

The player, Akim Aliu, who raised the issue said,“ He (Peters) walked in before a morning pre-game skate and said “Hey Akim, I’m sick of you playing that n——- s—-“ Aliu told TSN, with Peters referring to Aliu’s selection of hip hop music. “He said ‘I’m sick of hearing this
n——s f——ing other n——-s in the ass stuff.’

“He then walked out like nothing ever happened. You could hear a pin drop in the room, everything went dead silent.”

Of course, the language used was objectionable by most standards but it was directed at the choice of music, not the player’s race. It was said in the heat of the moment and occurred over ten years ago in a minor league hockey setting. It had nothing to do with Peters’ job coaching in Calgary. Whether the resignation of Peters was justified or not, there is a different issue within this scenario that drew no attention whatsoever. The appropriateness of the lyrics of much of the rap or hip hop music that is played openly on radio and music outlets is grossly offensive.

A quick Google search uncovered some very inappropriate and vulgar language included in a number of rap “songs”. For example:

At this point, after searching for some examples to make my case, I was so disgusted with the profanity, sexual innuendos and totally offensive lyrics that I could not even allow myself to copy them and insult my readers with them. If you wish to read actual rap lyrics that are both sexually explicit and focused on violence and physical abuse have a look at any of the following sites. You have been warned!

www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/07/rap-lyrics-violent/       and
www.complex.com/music/2013/03/the-50-grossest-rap-lyrics/   or
https://genius.com/Luniz-dirty-raps-lyrics


How can we as a society allow these blatantly inappropriate words and sentences, under the guise of “music”, to be broadcast on our airwaves and available in musical downloads everywhere? As we continue to fight to discourage racist and sexually demeaning comments on all fronts, we allow hip hop and rap lyrics to demonstrate the lowest level of disgusting taste imaginable? Free speech is one thing; gross indecency and gratuitous violence are not acceptable in any form of speech - free or in the world of “music”!

Obviously, the music that was referenced in Peters’ alleged comment was disturbing and unacceptable to him. Although his choice of words was not exactly Puritan, he was clearly offended by the disturbing language when it came to locker room “music”. If a player wants to listen to rap or opera, get a headset and just listen to it. That way no one else has to be exposed to the music preferences of others. Consequently, I am on Peters’ side regarding the music.

Our world continues to spiral into a void. Our actions for our entire lifetime can now be scrutinized and we can be called to task years after the facts. With all due respect to my readers, I am almost 100% sure that at some time in everyone’s life they have used profanity or been guilty of offending some race, creed or colour in an outburst of language that they are now ashamed of. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone. I guess that person is Akim Aliu and the latest victim is Bill Peters!