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July 30, 1999 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 18871 ‘‘And whoever receives one such child in My THERE IS A VIRUS LOOSE WITHIN ginia, boy suspended for making threats name receives Me; but whoever causes one OUR CULTURE: AN HONEST LOOK against students who mocked his work was of these little ones who believes in Me to AT MUSIC’S IMPACT fascinated with Marilyn Manson. Five Wis- consin teenagers who had planned ‘‘a blood- stumble, it is better for him that a heavy mill- bath at their school in revenge for being stone be hung around his neck, and that he HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO teased’’ consumed Manson’s message. be drowned in the depth of the sea.’’ OF COLORADO Some claim this is all just a coincidence. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Perhaps, but a series of parallels suggests a I applaud my colleagues who reached more concrete connection. The first is the across party lines to protect children from Thursday, July 29, 1999 parallel between the facts of these cases, the those who would exploit them by normalizing Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, it has been motivation of the killers, and the themes in pedophilia. more than three months since the tragic event the music they consumed. According to of Columbine High School occurred a few media reports, these boys all killed out of f blocks from my home. As we here in Con- hatred for, or revenge against, those who had offended, harassed, or persecuted them. Luke gress continue to struggle to find ways to pre- Woodham, for example, had said that ‘‘the OBITUARY OF MRS. ADDIE vent this terror from ever happening again, I world has wronged me.’’ THOMASON (1896–1999) would like to call attention to a report prepared Consider what their idol Marilyn Manson by the Free Congress Foundation which will told them to do about it: hopefully broaden our understanding of how ‘‘The big bully try to stick his finger in HON. SUE WILKINS MYRICK cultural factors shape the lives of our youth. my chest, try to tell me, tell me he’s the I would like to submit into the record the at- OF NORTH CAROLINA best. But I don’t really give a good * * * tached executive summary from the report, cause I got my lunchbox and I’m armed IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES written by Tom Jipping, Director of the Center real well. Next * * * gonna get my for Law and Democracy at the Free Congress Thursday, July 29, 1999 metal. Pow pow pow, pow pow pow, Foundation, which details popular music’s con- pow pow pow, pow pow pow. I Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Addie tribution to youth violence. Mr. Jipping has wanna grow up so no one * * * with me Pressley Thomason was born in York County, worked with at-risk youth for a dozen years, ‘‘But your selective judgments and South Carolina to the late John and Katie Wil- and research and written in this area for over goodguy badges don’t mean a * * * to me. son Pressley on October 9, 1896. She was a decade. The report outlines research, survey I throw a little fit. I slit my teenage wrist. data, and other evidence documenting how called to her reward on Monday, July 12, 1999 . Get your gunn, get your gunn some popular music can lead some young at Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gastonia, North ‘‘I hate the hater, I’d rape the raper people to violence. Many congressional offices ‘‘There’s no time to discriminate, hate Carolina. have received a hard copy of the entire report every * * * that’s in your way. A lifelong resident of the Gastonia metro- already. ‘‘There is no cure for what is killing me, politan area, Addie Thomason was the daugh- The report does not advocate any specific I’m on my way down; I’ve looked ahead ter and wife of farmers. She was a witness to policy proposals but instead provides com- and saw a world that’s dead, I guess I am more than a century of change and progress prehensive information that will make anyone, too; I’m on my way down, I’d like to take in the area; from mule-drawn transportation to no matter what plan of action they pursue, you with me space flight, and from rigid segregation to a better informed. ‘‘I’ll make everyone pay and you will society more representative of the needs and The report has been endorsed by hundreds see . The boy that you loved is the of grassroots organizations and religious lead- aspirations of all its citizens. Through it all, monster you fear. ers from the evangelical, Catholic, Jewish and ‘‘Mother Addie’’ was a source of support, sta- ‘‘When you are suffering know that I Orthodox communities. I urge all Members to bility, courage, and comfort to her family, have betrayed you read the attached executive summary and the ‘‘Shoot here and the world gets smaller; friends, and community at large. She was pas- full report as we continue to address the prob- Shoot shoot shoot * * * sionately committed to education and, despite lem of youth violence and delinquency. ‘‘Live like a teenage christ; I’m a saint, being denied access to a formal education ‘‘THERE ISAVIRUS LOOSE WITHIN OUR CUL- got a date with suicide during her formative years, she persevered in TURE:’’ AN HONEST LOOK AT MUSIC’S IMPACT ‘‘I’m dying, I hope you’re dying too pursuing her own goal of learning to read and (By Thomas L. Jipping) ‘‘I’m gonna hate you tomorrow because write by attending school at the age of 85—an After two teenagers killed twelve of their you make me hate you today’’ achievement recognized by the then Governor peers, a teacher, and themselves at Col- The second parallel is the message Manson of the State of North Carolina. umbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, himself says he tries to promote. Ordained in the During her life, ‘‘Mother Addie’’ was an avid Governor Bill Owens said that ‘‘there is a Church of Satan, Manson has said that virus loose within our culture.’’ The effort to ‘‘[Church of Satan founder Anton] LaVey along gardener and active member of several area identify that virus is properly focusing on with Nietzsche and [British Satanist Aleistair] church congregations; including New Home visually powerful elements of youth culture Crowley have all been great influences on the AME Zion in York, South Carolina, Ebeneezer such as television, movies, and video games. way that I think.’’ In a foreword to the book Baptist Church in Kings Mountain, North Caro- This report addresses whether non-visual Satan Speaks, Manson wrote that ‘‘Anton lina, and St. John Missionary Baptist Church media such as popular music are also part of LaVey was the most righteous man I’ve ever this cultural virus that can help lead some known.’’ of Gastonia, North Carolina. She often cred- young people to violence. On CNN’s The American Edge program, Man- ited her faith in God as the source of her Five days after the massacre, on NBC’s son explained his message: ‘‘God is dead, you strength, determination, and longevity. Meet the Press, host Tim Russert reported are your own god. It’s a lot about self preserva- tion. It’s the part of you that no longer has Addie Thomason was preceded in death by that the Littleton killers idolized shock- rocker Marilyn Manson, described by even hope in mankind. And you realize that you are her husband, Fred Thomason and son Fred, the music press as an ‘‘ultra-violent satanic the only thing you believe in.’’ Manson has Jr. She leaves six loving children: Rev. John rock monstrosity.’’ They were not alone. Kip compared Christians to Nazis and insists that Thomason of Bloomfield, New Jersey; Leroy Kinkel, who murdered his parents and two ‘‘hate is just as healthy and worthwhile as Thomason of Stanley, North Carolina; and students in Springfield, Oregon, consumed love.’’ This message contributes to the situation Rev. Mason Thomason, Alice Ross, Lillian Manson’s message. Andrew Wurst, who killed Vice President Al Gore described at a Littleton a teacher at an eighth-grade dance in memorial service on April 25, 1999: ‘‘Too many Thomason, and Cora Lee Hart, all of Gas- Edinboro, Pennsylvania, was nicknamed young people place too little value on human tonia, North Carolina. ‘‘Satan’’ because he ‘‘was a fan of rocker life.’’ She is also survived by two loving daugh- Marilyn Manson and his dark music.’’ Luke The third parallel is Manson’s own life, which ters-in-law, sixteen grandchildren, twenty-three Woodham, who murdered his parents and a looks similar to those who consume and act on classmate in Pearl, Mississippi, was a fan of his message. In one interview, he described it great-grandchildren, and sixteen great-great Manson’s ‘‘nihilistic’’ lyrics. this way: ‘‘Then I had to go to public school grandchildren, as well as a host of family and This pattern includes other violent youths and they would always kick my ass. So I friends. whose plans were foiled. A Leesburg, Vir- didn’t end up having a lot of friends and music VerDate jul 14 2003 13:24 Apr 29, 2004 Jkt 069102 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 6333 E:\BR99\E30JY9.000 E30JY9 18872 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS July 30, 1999 was the only thing I had to enjoy. So I got into photographer, she has received critical ac- [From Washington Times, May 30, 1999] [heavy metal rock bands] Kiss, Black Sabbath claim for her works of art. EMBRACING PEACE AND PROGRESS and things like that.’’ Toni Parks will take the podium to share her The statement of Ehud Barak, newly elect- While Marilyn Manson alone is not the prob- experiences with the students and enthusiasts ed Israeli prime minister, that he is deter- lem, his brand of music promotes violence more mined to revive the Middle East peace proc- aggressively than ever.

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