Dear Editor,

Does music actually influence societal behaviour — especially in what may be called underprivileged communities — or vice versa? Or is the question even relevant here?

The familiar moot as to whether reggae in particular influences criminal behaviour and loose morals has had a recent resurgence following the Broadcasting Commission’s ban on questionable lyrics from the airwaves.

There is, apparently, a polarity of views on this subject, yet one is not sure if music is detachable from the society it claims to mirror or society from music. I suppose the monstrosities appearing in the nation and in the music are emerging from one body with two separate heads, each surviving by virtue of the other’s existence.

Therefore, it is obvious that the proliferation in violent and indecent lyrics is only a function of supply and demand. Economics could force a decent person to immolate his or her principles in order to attain financial ease or independence. Life has become an immoral game in which both the seller and the buyer are equally corrupt.

The warped nature of the society is such that banning and restraining a product could serve to shoot up its value in the eyes of the consumer, as happened in the US decades ago when alcoholic beverages were banned. The appetite for alcohol escalated among consumers, who risked their freedom to buy it.

So if there is a revolt against disgusting sounds assaulting the ears of innocent citizens, both sellers and buyers are equally culpable. The problem lies, therefore, not in the products on the market but the reasons for the market boom.

Homer Sylvester

Mount Vernon, New York

h2sylvester@gmail.com