Thinking on Songs Is Less Than Clear

I find it hard to believe that the American public is likely to be offended by Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” or Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” or several other songs banned by Clear Channel (Sept. 18). Are we to go wholly overboard in our attempts to return to normality by banning any artistic work that may offend someone? This is America, after all. We have a Constitution that is the model and even envy of the world. Censorship will not be tolerated. Americans should let Clear Channel know that we will not tolerate this nonsense.

Skip Houston

Laguna Beach

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First, lunatic religious leader Jerry Falwell blames the terrorist attacks on feminists (a.k.a. women) and gays. Now, in response to the event, the Texas-based (and no doubt conservative) Clear Channel sets off alarm bells to the nation’s radio programmers, in effect urging them to ban all songs in “bad taste” or with “questionable” lyrics.

I gazed, aghast, when I saw the Hollies’ classic “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” on its blacklist. This great song, with its utopian dream of universal love and brotherhood, far from being banned, should be played on every radio station in the world, now more than ever. Love is a radical idea, I guess.

Fredric Cooper

Los Angeles

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Among those lyrics considered “questionable,” according to Clear Channel’s Jack Evans, are Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” and Ricky Nelson’s “Travelin’ Man.” These songs are questionable, yet the homophobic, kill-a-cop tunes from the likes of Eminem and Snoop Dog are okay. Let’s get our priorities straight here.

Toby Keeler

Topanga