FREE ESSAY ON PUNK MUSIC

PUNK MUSIC

Introduction: Often when people think of punk music they still think of the eighties "down
with government beat the hell out of your neighbor get wasted" stereotype. It oges
without saying that punk music has earned it's reputation for being high impact, loud,
energetic and intense. However people often associate the message of all punk music as
containing nothing more then violent anti-government statements and messages of
alienation. Many people share the view that it has nothing to say and has offered nothing
but a continued sentiment of hostility towards it's fans. This is an unfair judgement of
a genre of music whose fans are as variable as the messages of the music itself. Punk
music has indeed offered a messages of abstinence rather then promiscuity, faith rather
then hopelessness, understanding rather then hate, and love rather then hate. My argument
isn't that punk music is the savior of humanity and that if we all listen to punk music
we will be suddenly endowed with knowledge and understanding far exceding our
predecessors. My argument is simply that punk music is not always destructive and that it
has indeed done something to improve the world we live in rather then destroy it.
Body:
1).Punk music is often cheifly known for it's political statements. The messages are
often perceived by the public in general negative , angry and mostly childish. Often
overlooked are the positive attempts has made to better the world in which we live rather
then beat the hell out of it for not being the way we want. 
2).Many bands have strong political feelings on nearly every subject that the politicians
of our country speak of. Using their music as a way to raise awareness of theirr fans on
topics such as racism, tolerance of same sex couples, and sexually transmitted diseases
3).One of the most outirght examples of this found in a monologue at the beginning of the
less then jake song "All my best freinds are metal heads" in which the voice over
politician states "I promise I will not juge any person only as a teenager if you will
constantly remind yourself that members of my genereation judges people by their race or
belief or the color of their skin and that this is no more right then saying all
teenagers are drunken dope addicts and glue sniffers". 
4). The efforts to benefit society that are made by punk music extend beyond lyrics . If
you go to your local cd store and visit the punk section odds are you will be able to
find a numberof compilation albums of which the profits of are used to benefit causes
that range from anti-racist groups and saving the rain forest to research for the HIV
virus. 
5). another myth that is associated with punk music is that all punk music denounces
organized government and religion. This si crap. Punk bands that promote religion. On for
every religion and many badns have patriotic songs praising there country.
6).probably the most prominent and exemplary example of the positive impact of punk music
is that of a term whose meaning has become a way of life for many.
7).In the nineteen eighties the lead singer of the punk band Minor threat Ian Mckaye
coined the term straight edge. Denouncing the nihilistic tendencies of punk rock and
instead promoting the simple philosophy of don't drink, don't smoke, don't *censored*."
8).In the years since the origination of the term millions of teens around the world have
adopted the straight edge philosophy as a doctrine for living. They find strength in it's
message and use it as a way to better themselves.
9).While the original definition only included the rejection of mind altering substances
and promiscuous sex, modern interpretation have included a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle
as the result of increasing awareness of environmental and political issues. 
10).While some straight edgers may choose to push there beliefs on others often believing
that their way of life is the only way of most will follow the principle of understanding
and choose not to push their beleifs on feeling that everyone has a right to choose how
they wish to live.
Closing: IN closing I'd like to leave you this thought. How can a genere of music whose
bands have raised money for charities and developed strong political beleifs as well
passionate feelings on the way we live in their fabs really be the evil maliscous demonic
bastards we've grown to believe they are. The answer it's not. That doesn't mean that
punk musics perfect or that it always carrys a message of peacful tolerance. Sometimes I
can't even find a message myself. It simply means that there are as many varying degrees
to punk muasic as there are varying views on punk music. It proably won't be the savior
of humanity and it doesn't pretend to be. It's music. And most importantly it's music
that some people gather strenght from. It conveys messages of strength, faith and
differing view points and to some people it's made a wolrd of difference. Perhaps Howard
Benson summed it up best when he said "whether or not it will ever be recognized for it's
positive impact on society it's had one. That's the best thing about it".