Editor,
Apropos S Nongpluh’s letter countering my views on Death Metal, first of all, I don’t need any advice from kids who crave for ‘alu muri’ after emptying their bowels in their cathartic euphoria of Death Metal music. Secondly, it was uncalled for to ask anyone to roll up one’s car window because in any case one had no interest to stay a while longer listening to head banging, gnawing noise and as I said I was just passing by. It is churlish to write in defence of Death Metal while also accepting the fact that “death metal does have dark undertones” and “death metal have a satanic fan base”. Well we cannot be fence sitters! We either accept the truth or deny its reality. A person who defends a view should know where he/she stands. The retort is nothing but a desperate attempt to defend the indefensible. As a matter of fact, I was talking about the music genre in general. We cannot expect to have instant effect. If music takes a person to a higher plane of evoked emotions then it’s that person’s educated taste and not everyone’s. Certainly not mine! If someone feels that listening to love songs makes him/her more prone to violence, then it is obscenely foolish. Let me give just one real report- Death Metalist drummer Bard Eithun of the group Emperor was in prison for brutally murdering a homosexual with a knife for no reason other than the lust of killing. That was in August 1992. He stabbed the man 37 times. A fellow band member said Eithun had been fascinated with serial killers for a long time. The day after the murder, Eithun participated in a church burning. So how many droning love songs can you bring forth that makes one violent and suicidal?
It is literal and too simplistic to cite the examples of child abusers and rapists in the garb of religion etc for one cannot delve deep inside the mental make-up of a person to find out his criminal intentions. My letter was not meant as a personal attack on believers of Satan or Death Metal but rather to create awareness that such music can disrupt and corrupt one’s mind into embracing the dark side. This is a secular country and one is free to embrace any belief system. I wasn’t forcing my Christian tenets on satanists or agnostics but rather stating the bare fact and YES, those who love Death Metal are left well alone!
Yours etc.,
Eva Giri
Via email
Music and their lyrics
Editor,
I am a proud mother with two beautiful daughters and a handsome young son; a proud Christian; a big lover of hard rock metal music, a traveler and a happily divorced woman. The only reason I am writing this letter is that as a mother with life experience I would like to end the dispute between Eva Giri and S Nongpluh who have been engaging through letters to the editor (ST June 13& 14, 2014). While they have the right to differ with each other both have not come to a proper conclusion.
I agree that hardcore metal in the eyes of many appears scary, dark and satanic but not all of them fit that description. While Eva has the right to be scared since the actions and performances by metal artists are very violent, but even the latest pop and hip hop artists are what she should be worried insofar as lyrics are concerned. If one does not know what “The Illuminati” is, let me tell you, it is that many artists today willingly sell their soul to the devil in order to gain popularity. If that is complicated to understand then here in our State you can simply associate that with “U Thlen”. These are practiced by well known artists like Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, Pitbull, Rihanna etc. And if we are unaware of them then we must have heard of the so called “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson who died of a mysterious death and that is exactly what happens if one sells their soul or mess up a physical appearance created by God. Ironically, Jackson’s number “Black & White” did top the Billboard Charts.
I have attended many hard rock concerts not just in India but also abroad and am fortunate to have seen bands like Dio, Pink Floyd, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Rage Against The Machine live and the best being Sepultura in 2012 that too in Wacken Open Air ,Germany. But recently I was shocked when my children and I attended the concert in our very own Polo Grounds when a band of the death metal genre performed a number which goes by the name “Pleasure of Molesting”. I am a woman with two daughters so it is really hard for me to have to listen to such a disgusting track, so we simply left. This is also the reason for my divorce because my former husband, under the influence of alcohol, attempted to molest our domestic help who I always treated as part of my family.
Music of whatever genre is beautiful but the lyrics plays a major part as the youth today get carried away very quickly towards a disturbing behavior and ungodliness. As Eva Giri has suggested, all parents should monitor what their children listen to and if they find anything weird, to recommend for proper counselling. Lastly, my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Plague Throat which will be representing India in the Wacken Open Air Fest, Germany but be careful with your lyrics.
Yours etc.,
Mary Ann Suiting,
Shillong – 3.
From Law U Syiem to Law Kyntang
Editor,
The decision to convert the Law u Syiem ( forests of the Syiem clan) bordering Mawpat, Mawroh and Langkyrding into Law Adong (forest with regulated entry and use) is indeed a welcome move, and must be appreciated and congratulated by all. The present CEM,KHADC, the Syiem of Mylliem and the representatives of the respective Dorbar Shnong of the adjoining areas have shown a lot of leadership, determination and wisdom in their sincere effort to preserve the forest, which would have otherwise been lost to the treacherous attempts of a few individuals, if rumours are to be believed, to share the land with their kith and kin, and eventually convert it into a concrete jungle in the not too distant future. Being a regular trekker to this forest, I can now breathe easy, and look forward to many more treks in the future along with my children to take advantage of the overall health benefits that this patch of greenery has to offer. I also take this opportunity to urge all those concerned with the well being of the forest, to ensure that the un-written code which comes along with ‘adong’ is followed in letter and spirit, and I sincerely hope that no attempt will be made to hijack this noble initiative by any opposing group.
Yours etc.,
P S Nongsiej
Shillong-8 .