Links and Letters to the Editor
Links:
1) to the latest edition of our thought-provoking, information-rich monthly newsletter: Covenant Connection
http://1stcovenant.org/pages/newsletter.htm
2) to the links page on the website - with many new external links.
http://1stcovenant.com/pages/links.htm
3) to our latest voice (radio) and video - the Orthodox Union interviews Rev. Jack Saunders and Michael Dallen, in a show titled “The Jew, the Minister, and B’nei Noah; Zelda Young interviews them too, together with Rabbi Michael Katz, in a special hour-long program on Toronto’s CHIN-FM, with listener call-ins.
Per Michale, we are now going to make this a “Links and Comments” area.
He asked me to kick it off with the following Comment to the Editor on the latest newsletter:
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Hey Michael,
Hope all is well. I just wanted to say good newsletter and to talk about one of the topics.
I think the mentality of many in the rap music industry on the subject of “don’t be a snitch” is a very negative and incorrect one. I also know that it is individuals that are from certain neighborhoods only. These are individuals that would not like for anyone to “snitch” on their illegal and immoral practices, therefore, they feel they should not be this way.
The only problem I see by the media is that not all MC’s are of this metality. That is one of the things that I hope to change in my music or at least get them to reconsider their point of view. I know one person in particular, Common, who I think would see things differently. I also think that there are many other MC’s that would disagree with Cam’ron on this issue since the question dealt with a serial killer. I think they would kill him if they knew or they would get the cops to deal with him anonymously. I hope they would anyways.
Again, it’s all on their level of morals or lack of them. Not all MC’s have that NYC/street metality. However, if all do, then of course, their is a big problem within them.
The current trend is not the original form of Hi-hop/rap music. The current trend focuses on the materialistic attitude towards life and in the idea that we should do what “feels good” to us. Instead, the original form of hip-hop had real “feel good” music as well as dealing with the topics of the neighborhoods that they lived in and how the people were having to settle or how much they suffered. Many an MC has left the idea to make a difference for their people and instead focus on making a difference only in their own personal life; ie- to become as rich as possible and forget the rest. Not all do this, but the majority do.
The media; however, puts all MC’s/rappers into one basket, just like many around the world has put all members of the Children of Israel in the same basket with the ones that are a poor excuse of a representation of their nation.
Here’s the thing though, we have now more Jewish rappers spreading the good news they’ve learned in their Torah teachings. They are part of rap music now and I hope they would not let a serial killer live next door. For example of some of them you can see my Myspace account at www.myspace.com/prcboricua. You’ll know who they are when you see them.
Does that mean, since they are rappers, that they are in the same category of Cam’ron? No, it doesn’t.
Again, those who live an illegal or immoral lifestyle are the ones that don’t believe in “snitching” and you have to take into consideration where they live and how they grew up. That doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do, I’m just saying that they have been socially conditioned based on their enviroment’s ideals and morals or lack of morals.
I’m not a “snitch”; however, I would be qualified as one in the eyes of those who would not agree on me telling the cops that my next door neighbor is a serial killer who could target my family next.
My peace of mind, however, is that I’m doing the right thing. For them, they are doing the right thing in not “snitching”.
Again, spreading the information on what is and what is not right in G-d’s eyes is what will hopefully get people to understand. I hope that my music, as well as that of others, will allow anyone who has a hard time knowing what is right and wrong to consider their personal ideals and see if they measure up to G-d’s. I mean this in the sense of what is right and what is wrong and that we need to stand up for what is right.
Shalom,
Hiram
http://botaeltri.com/caelc4te.html c4trelalda