Music had always been an integral part of my life. My father is a retired conductor of our local church's choir and I still have the music sheets containing his original compositions. My mother is an excellent pianist and a singer for a jazz band and she had the voice of a sweet angel, caressing my spirit and nurturing my childhood with love songs and sweet melodies. And when they sing and make glorious, heart-warming music together, we can see the genuine love and passion etched on their faces and embedded into every note of their songs. Seeing them happy and contented with each other as my siblings and I worked on our projects, custom papers, assignments and other schoolwork was the best and fondest memory of my life. We really felt safe in the cradle of our parents' love and I always believed that those songs have reinforced the ties that bind us all.

Sadly, these days, we hear bad music and worse lyrics saturating the airwaves of the mass media. Rap artists and rock bands, although not all of them, sing songs that are loaded with sexually suggestive themes and glorifying sex, drugs and violence, even suicide and murder. These are talented artists and musicians but they have to assume some responsibility and take accountability for the messages that they spew out which inevitably influences young fans especially innocent children. Rappers like the Bone Thugs and Harmony, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and rock bands like Slipknot, Lamb of God and Slayer are without a doubt talented and and very skilled artists who are on top of their realms and masterful with their crafts. But they should realize that the songs they produce are unhealthy for young minds. Sure their songs are hip, "cool", and really infectious as we find ourselves nodding and tapping our shoes to the phat beats and tight bass lines. But the message that they convey have detrimental effects on the psyche of the youth. Gang-related violence and pre-marital pregnancies involving teenagers are bad enough as it is and it doen't help that their favorite artists are glorifying unsafe sex and violent tendencies with their songs.

And so I implore to all concerned citizens out there, especially parents who want the best for their children's future, to stand up for what is right and demand some sort of censorship to safeguard the children from harmful songs that influence our youth. I respect these artists but not what they do for they are using the God-given talents bestowed upon them for deviant and destructive purposes. And so when I am not studying for exams, contribute to essay writing services or taking care of my younger brothers, I help our church ministry in reaching out to kids on the streets and persuading them to shun their lives crime and turn to God and good music for solace and comfort. I still believe that music can heal the world and I hope that musicians all over the world do their part and tone down a bit on the cursing and violent actions. People look up to them and I hope they use the power and influence they have over their fans for constructive and fruitful purposes.