E1692 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 30, 1999 The report has been endorsed by hundreds ‘‘Shoot here and the world gets smaller; TONI PARKS, GUEST LECTURER of grassroots organizations and religious lead- Shoot shoot shoot * * * FOR THE RC HICKMAN YOUNG ers from the evangelical, Catholic, Jewish and ‘‘Live like a teenage christ; I’m a saint, PHOTOGRAPHERS WORKSHOP Orthodox communities. I urge all Members to got a date with suicide read the attached executive summary and the ‘‘I’m dying, I hope you’re dying too HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON full report as we continue to address the prob- ‘‘I’m gonna hate you tomorrow because OF TEXAS lem of youth violence and delinquency. you make me hate you today’’ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘‘THERE ISA VIRUS LOOSE WITHIN OUR CUL- The second parallel is the message Manson Thursday, July 29, 1999 TURE:’’ AN HONEST LOOK AT MUSIC’S IMPACT himself says he tries to promote. Ordained in the (By Thomas L. Jipping) Church of Satan, Manson has said that Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. After two teenagers killed twelve of their ‘‘[Church of Satan founder Anton] LaVey along Mr. Speaker, I rise to join the constituents of peers, a teacher, and themselves at Col- with Nietzsche and [British Satanist Aleistair] the 30th Congressional District of Texas, the umbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, Crowley have all been great influences on the residents of Dallas and my colleagues in the Governor Bill Owens said that ‘‘there is a way that I think.’’ In a foreword to the book House of Representatives in taking great virus loose within our culture.’’ The effort to Satan Speaks, Manson wrote that ‘‘Anton pleasure to proclaim July 31st, 1999 as ``Toni identify that virus is properly focusing on LaVey was the most righteous man I’ve ever Parks Day.'' visually powerful elements of youth culture known.’’ On CNN’s The American Edge program, Man- Mr. Speaker, Ms. Toni Parks is an inter- such as television, movies, and video games. nationally acclaimed photographer whose This report addresses whether non-visual son explained his message: ‘‘God is dead, you media such as popular music are also part of are your own god. It’s a lot about self preserva- works have appeared in prominent magazines this cultural virus that can help lead some tion. . . . It’s the part of you that no longer has and newspapers throughout the U.S. and Eu- young people to violence. hope in mankind. And you realize that you are rope. Her pictures have appeared in Stagebill, Five days after the massacre, on NBC’s the only thing you believe in.’’ Manson has American Visions, USIA, Life and Arts, to Meet the Press, host Tim Russert reported compared Christians to Nazis and insists that name a few. Toni Parks has been featured in that the Littleton killers idolized shock- ‘‘hate is just as healthy and worthwhile as numerous exhibitions including the Look Gal- love.’’ This message contributes to the situation rocker Marilyn Manson, described by even lery, Tony Green Gallery in England, Columbia the music press as an ‘‘ultra-violent satanic Vice President Al Gore described at a Littleton rock monstrosity.’’ They were not alone. Kip memorial service on April 25, 1999: ‘‘Too many University, and the Martin Luther King Gallery. Kinkel, who murdered his parents and two young people place too little value on human Her photos consist of fashion and beauty as students in Springfield, Oregon, consumed life.’’ only Toni Parks can vision. In her years as a Manson’s message. Andrew Wurst, who killed The third parallel is Manson’s own life, which photographer, she has received critical ac- a teacher at an eighth-grade dance in looks similar to those who consume and act on claim for her works of art. Edinboro, Pennsylvania, was nicknamed his message. In one interview, he described it Toni Parks will take the podium to share her ‘‘Satan’’ because he ‘‘was a fan of rocker this way: ‘‘Then I had to go to public school experiences with the students and enthusiasts Marilyn Manson and his dark music.’’ Luke and they would always kick my ass. . . . So I of the RC Hickman Young Photographers Woodham, who murdered his parents and a didn’t end up having a lot of friends and music classmate in Pearl, Mississippi, was a fan of was the only thing I had to enjoy. So I got into Workshop at the South Dallas Cultural Center, Manson’s ‘‘nihilistic’’ lyrics. [heavy metal rock bands] Kiss, Black Sabbath located on the corner of Robert B. Cullum and This pattern includes other violent youths and things like that.’’ Fitzhugh. The program is presented each year whose plans were foiled. A Leesburg, Vir- While Marilyn Manson alone is not the prob- by the Artist and Elaine Thornton Foundation ginia, boy suspended for making threats lem, his brand of music promotes violence more For the Arts, Inc., a non-profit organization es- against students who mocked his work was aggressively than ever. Indeed, Manson’s own tablished to educate, promote and embrace fascinated with Marilyn Manson. Five Wis- response to the Littleton massacre raises the consin teenagers who had planned ‘‘a blood- the arts of all disciplines including drama, issue to be addressed here. Television or even re- dance, visual, and music. Its mission is to bath at their school in revenge for being ligion may cause youth violence, he says, but teased’’ consumed Manson’s message. music plays no role whatsoever. In fact, he bring about positive social awareness to the Some claim this is all just a coincidence. claims that he is actually a victim when he as- inner city community, using art as a tool for Perhaps, but a series of parallels suggests a serts that the media ‘‘has unfairly scapegoated positive social change. more concrete connection. The first is the the music industry. . . . and has speculated— We salute you Toni Parks. parallel between the facts of these cases, the with no basis in truth—that artists like myself Therefore, I ask that all citizens of Dallas motivation of the killers, and the themes in are in some way [sic] to blame.’’ join in celebrating July 31st, 1999 as ``Toni the music they consumed. According to Unfortunately, it appears that the music in- media reports, these boys all killed out of Parks Day.'' dustry’s only response to this cultural crisis is hatred for, or revenge against, those who had f simply to deny that its products have any effect offended, harassed, or persecuted them. Luke on anyone. One the June 29, 1999, edition on Woodham, for example, had said that ‘‘the RECOGNIZING JACQUE CORTEZ CNN’s Showbiz Today program, for example, world has wronged me.’’ Consider what their idol Marilyn Manson musician Billy Joel dismissed as ‘‘absurd’’ the HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH told them to do about it: idea that music influences violent behavior. Elton John put it more bluntly: ‘‘It has nothing OF CALIFORNIA ‘‘The big bully try to stick his finger in to do with the musical content or the lyrics IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES my chest, try to tell me, tell me he’s the whatsoever. [The idea is] absolute rubbish.’’ Thursday, July 29, 1999 best. But I don’t really give a good * * * No one, or course, argues that popular music cause I got my lunchbox and I’m armed is the sole cause of youth violence. Something as Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise real well. . . . Next * * * gonna get my complex as human behavior does not have a sole today to recognize Jacque Cortez upon her metal. . . . Pow pow pow, pow pow pow, cause. The question is not whether popular selection by Visalia-area schools as a ``Good pow pow pow, pow pow pow. . . . I music is the exclusive cause of youth (something Kid.'' Jacque was chosen based on her aca- wanna grow up so no one * * * with me no one seriously argues), but whether there is demic achievements, classroom leadership, ‘‘But your selective judgments and any ‘‘basis in truth’’ for the proposition that and efforts in literature and music. some popular music makes a real contribution to The ``Good Kid'' program was formed in an goodguy badges don’t mean a * * * to me. youth (something only the music industry de- I throw a little fit. I slit my teenage wrist. effort to provide students with positive rein- nies). forcement. The program allows Visalia teach- .. . Get your gunn, get your gunn The affirmative answer to this question rests ‘‘I hate the hater, I’d rape the raper on three pillars. First, media such as television ers to nominate students, who have excelled ‘‘There’s no time to discriminate, hate and music are very powerful influences on atti- in academics and demonstrated a good work every * * * that’s in your way. tudes and behavior. Second, popular music in ethic, for recognition in the Visalia Times Delta ‘‘There is no cure for what is killing me, an even more powerful influence on young peo- newspaper. Those individuals selected are I’m on my way down; I’ve looked ahead ple. Third, some of the most popular music mentioned in a piece featured daily in the and saw a world that’s dead, I guess I am today promotes destructive behavior such as vio- Times Delta. too; I’m on my way down, I’d like to take lence and drug use. Jacque Cortez, who was nominated by her Effective prescriptions require accurate diag- fifth grade teacher, currently attends sixth you with me noses. Whether the solution involves parental ‘‘I’ll make everyone pay and you will involvement, public policy, pressure on record- grade at Willow Glen Elementary in Visalia, see . . . The boy that you loved is the ing companies or retailers to change their prac- California. Throughout Jacque's years at Wil- monster you fear. tices, or all of these and more, the effort must be low Glen, faculty and classmates alike have ‘‘When you are suffering know that I informed by a comprehensive understanding of considered her a leader who is eager to learn have betrayed you the problem. and always willing to assist others.