We all knew what was going to happen. Marilyn Manson comes to rural Canada and all the weirdos crawl out of the wretched holes where they lurk. Yeah, you know the ones I mean, the sick, demented prayer-spewing fundamentalist freaks whose minds are so twisted with scripture their ability to reason is eclipsed by their fear of a vengeful god. It's sad isn't it?
I think Marilyn Manson is a genius. He found the greatest get-rich-quick scheme: tell everyone you think you're the anti-christ. Hey, it worked for Aleister Crowley... But honestly, I'm getting tired of all this crap about Manson killing animals onstage, and how he's telling kids to kill Christians, and that anyone who listens to his music is going to hell, and he shouldn't be allowed out in public because he's evil, etc.
Really, how stupid can these people be? If you've ever been to a Manson concert, you know that no animal sacrifices or any of the other horror stories going around the net actually happen (I'm nearly convinced that Mason made them up himself to sell more tickets). Killing Christians? I don't think so. Try reading the lyrics and you'll find that although they are often vulgar and possibly offensive, not once is the killing of Christians actually condoned. The lyrics certainly challenge Christianity (that's an understatement), but then, so does logic, reason, and science. Evil? Not likely, though disturbed is a little closer to it. For that matter, anyone with a brain can figure out that Manson's music is not reality but art (in a sense) and should be left at that. The lyrics are full of self-loathing, hatred, and lots of Satanic imagery, exactly the kind of stuff that's perfect for rebelling against your parents and showing people you're dark, disturbed, and dangerous. Yeah, right. Most of the Manson fans I know put on a good show of gothic wickedness, but are really half-normal people at heart (of course, my definition of normal may be different from yours...).
In any case, the successful pressure of Xian groups to censor Marilyn Manson is a crime against our freedom of speech. It shows exactly what side of the fence our government is standing on, and how little our freedom is really worth. And to paraphrase Voltaire, though we may not agree with what Manson says, we should fight to the death to defend his right to say it. Not only that, but this whole controversy only helps to emphasize Manson's anti-christ message by revealing the ugly side of Christianity; the fascist, superstitious, repressed, and altogether hateful and frightening worship of the bloody cross, the One True Way (tm).
But let me clear one thing up. I'm not a fan of Manson. Much of the imagery he uses leaves a bad taste in my mouth (yes, that's a reference to the infamous picture on the back of the "AntiChrist Superstar" CD cover), and I think that many of the insinuations and double meanings he suggests are tasteless and cowardly. I don't even really like his music (though "Beautiful People" does have a really great rhythym, and you've got to love "Prelude (The Family Trip)"). But the fact that his music encourages people to question themselves and their learning, that he challenges the American Way, and that he's doing something quite different and creative (though somehow it feels cliche) and shocking the Western world in the process, makes me admire him, even in his lack of musical ability (sorry to all you fans out there).
All you fundamentalist Christians out there have my pity. I'm so sorry you can't open your minds, and instead choose to live in fear and hate. As for the Manson fans, it's just music, people, not life. Xians have misinterpreted the bible, don't make the same mistake with Manson's lyrics. I remain,
apocrypha
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