Area Tune "Arbeit Macht Frei"

[lotus]

Today, 27th of January 2005 is the 60th aniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, in which 1.500.000 people were murdered by the Nazi regime.

Bye chance (SAM) or by request (hopefully then accidentially) the Area tune "Arbeit macht frei" was played on the moon. As you may know, these words (meaning "work makes you free") stood over the entrance of that concentration camp and is, at least here in Europe, a synonym for the nazi genozide during the 3rd Reich.

Allthough I do not believe that Area is a Fascism supporter at all, I think this tune should be removed from the playlist, or at least renamed, in order not to be connected to this undescribable crime happend during WW2, because when it is played, associations to it are always made (at leasrt by us here)

lotus

[lotus]

I forgot a link to some fotos (sorry description only in German)

http://www.laehnemann.de/auschwitz/etc-2.htm

[mossy]

I was surprised when I saw this title at first, but understand its irony. Sorry if it was played today, lotus. Bad taste maybe but not a case for removing/renaming song, imho.

Thanks for drawing our attention to this day, lotus. Such dark times they were.

love, m

Lotus, Wojtek, Mailo,

I came home late to read the shouts in the Black Box about this track and I really feel for you at this time.

I understand your reasons for wanting this track renamed or even dropped from the playlist but I think that if the Band meant it as a protest then it should stay. However if there is any evidence of a pro Nazi slant by the band then it should be got rid of.

We're leaning towards the prickly subject of censorship here I feel. If we take off a track because of it's title then a whole can of worms is opened. What about "Baby's on Fire" by 801. Some might look at that title and assume something dreadful. A very difficult topic and one that I don't really feel qualified to answer properly.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by Keith Waye
A very difficult topic and one that I don't really feel qualified to answer properly.

That is my view also. Suggest you email Jim directly on this one.

Good luck, Lotus, and thanks for letting us know there's still a long way to go.

[progdirjim(Admin)]

Jim responded in the black box that I believe 3 things:
1. The band in question, Area, is opposed to fascism, not in support of it. I did some web research in an attempt to confirm this, and while I wouldn't bet my life on it, I do believe it is so.
2. The music is too good to be removed without a strong reason.
3. Artistic and logistic integrity is compromised by changing the title.

I asked for further opinions, and Poda was basically in support of my beliefs.

One further thought, I believe that not removing the song/album (which has the same title) is a tiny, small step towards erasing the stain of Nazism by not allowing their sociopathic actions to force us to remove a combination of words from our vocabulary.

(Oh, and if I thought the band was pro-nazi, I'd have removed them in their entirety without asking for opinions. If that would have been censorship, so be it.)

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

I'm with Jim on this one. There are other tracks on the station that others would, and have, found offensive. There's a GY!BE track that I'd like to see removed, but I'm certainly not going to make a stink about it. My objection to it is strictly that the name contains a rather strong profanity.

I'd like to see it removed, but I can truly understand why it isn't.

In fact, when I brought this to the attention to the Management, Jim's reply was exactly what he sent out.

Just my $.02US, adjusted for inflation.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by Roger Lee
There's a GY!BE track that I'd like to see removed

Yeah me too. Like all of them!

[podakayne]

Who have suffered directly or indirectly from this heinous stain in human history I can honestly say (and as Jim so deftly stated) Aural Moon would never condone or propagate any ideal that would support the views held by Nazism. (I admire your stand on that Jim, an excellent thing to be totally intolerant of.)

It is with sorrow that just the uttering of that particular phase brings such pain to you. You must all know, such distress was never intended. I am in total agreement with Jim. Happy that he reseached it out. And agree that to rename this cd would open a door that should remain sealed.

I too find GYBE!'s redeemer title offensive...however, i like the music and they aren't uttering the song title every 5 sec(as in some rap stuff).

Area remains an honorable group in my eyes—and their protest well noted.

I understand your distress...understand we all care.
poda

[lotus]

Dear All,

I thank you all for your posts, which I read very carefully helping me to make up my mind.

I made some research in the Net about the group and found out, as well as Jim, that in the 70's they belonged rather to the left and had absolutelly nothing to to with Nazism. According to what I found out, they wanted to provoke with this title (which is the title of the album as well) regarding the situation in Italy with Nazism comming up again.

Learning that, I remembered a question a philosopher (don't ask me who) answered to the question: "What is art allowed to do?" He answered: "Everything".

As Music is art and the title of the piece belongs to it (I agree with Jim), everything is allowed (now a little exclusion from my side: if it doesn't harm anybody!!). So it can be offending!

The second issue I remembered was a word from Rosa Luxemburg, a german comunist, killed 1919 by soldier of the post-war regime of WW1, which said:"Your individual freedom ends where the individual freedom of the next of you begins!".

With the the title "Arbeit macht frei" I personally feel very shocked (specially on that day, although for sure it was a coincidence) because I have fear, that this title (without having anything to do with it) would encourage more stupid people to follow Nazi ideology (these people here in DE do not speak a word of English, or Italian or whatsoever..). Unfortunatelly here DE there is a little tendancy of Neonazis becomming a little stronger, nothing serious, nothing what a healthy democracy cannot handle, but their number is increasing.

Comming back to the first two issues, Art and personal freedom I have to state, that I was shocked, provacated and hurt, but not harmed, regarding the second, my personal freedom was not touched.

Although I still think, that, as well as the GY!BE title, are due to mislead, they should stay, but with everybody of us having the eyes wide open to what is happening and reacting when necessary (not like mostly all of the Germans did during the Nazi regime: closing the eyes and trying not to be aware of anything happening in their souroundings)

Lotus

[Yesspaz]

In the same vein, I play a lot of Christian bands on my show (ala Sixpence). There are a lot of atheist bands in the world and I'm sure on the Moon (ala Mogwai). There are literally thousands who probably don't care one way or the other (ala Insert Band Here). There are songs with pretty vile lyrics and albums with nudity on the cover and pretty tastelessly name tracks too, besides the MF=R GYBE! song (a particular In Cahoots track comes to mind). But unless something "crosses the line" Isay play it (of course "the line" is subjective for different people).

The main criterion for AMship is prog or near-prog music. The nice thing is that Christian bands of superb musicianship that wouldn't get heard elsewhere can play here (ala Keaggy, King, & Dente). Songs that other places wouldn't touch for controversy's sake can play here. No one is forced to buy any album or song here. Also, any person listening to AM is doing so by choice. If there's too much this-or-that, they can turn it off and go elsewhere.

So, unless a song comes to Jim's attention called "Let's All Rape Little Boys," I think AM's doing okay. I'm a devout evangelical religious right Christian, and I DONATED GYBE! So let's just play the prog!

(although it is curious that the song played that day. I wonder if it was requested that day, and it's be interesting to know WHY that person requested it that day.)

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by Yesspaz

So, unless a song comes to Jim's attention called "Let's All Rape Little Boys,"

"The Nursery Year" by Discipline deals with child molestation...from the offender's point of view. So I'm not sure if anything is off limits anymore.

[progdirjim(Admin)]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
"The Nursery Year" by Discipline deals with child molestation...from the offender's point of view. So I'm not sure if anything is off limits anymore.

I don't think Matthew Parmenter is ADVOCATING child molestation. I think he's illustrating that particular horror from a different perspective.

Similarly, "Family Snapshot" by Peter Gabriel is sung from Lee Harvey Oswald's point of view. I don't think Mr. Gabriel is saying that assassinating Kennedy was a good thing.


Both of these songs attempt to provide some insight (albeit fictional) into a twisted mind - one can argue whether or not that's a good thing, but I think anything that futhers understanding of the human condition is good.

[Wojtek]

Indirectly called to discussion by Keithie I'd like to explain my point of view.

I don't think Arbeit Macht Frei is a pro-nazi song. Like lotus I have made small Internet reserach and have found out that it's just provocative.

HOWEVER...

... requesting (as I have no doubts it was requested) song with such title on such day is a stupid joke, something that should not happen and no matter it isn't pro-nazi. You would be indignant with the TV station if it streamed on 11th September anniversary the typical Hollywood action movie about terrorist attack in the skyscraper. Tragical anniversaries are commemorated in stately, serious, non-entertaining way and that was against this rule.

If I hold a grudge against anybody in this case it is the song requester.

PS. And now something completely different. Poda, what a wonderful avatar taste you have. Every new is a pure masterpiece . Brilliant!

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by Wojtek
Indirectly called to discussion by Keithie I'd like to explain my point of view.

I don't think Arbeit Macht Frei is a pro-nazi song. Like lotus I have made small Internet reserach and have found out that it's just provocative.

HOWEVER...

... requesting (as I have no doubts it was requested)

And I have it on the best of authority (the SAM database, to be exact) that this song has not been requested by anybody since early November, 2004.
It was NOT requested on the date in question. It was not part of anybody's show, and it was not queued up by any living person. It was a random SAM pick and nothing more.

If I hold a grudge against anybody in this case it is the song requester.

Maybe the station upgrade we're planning will fix this lack of good taste? I doubt it, personally, since random IS random...

Roger -Dot- Lee, returning mountains into their natural mole-hill state since 1992.

[podakayne]

being a believer that nothing happens completely random. i'd say the "random" powers that be gave us all pause to contemplate the issue and the anniversary. being that we were all made more aware of our fellow human beings and the sensitivities of each, a little more light just entered the world.

mission accomplished.

from the song Sam Was a Man
"SAM was a man grinned his grin, done his chores, laid him down sleep well"

peace
poda


p.s. thanks Woj i think your avatar is hypnotically alive!