Order in the Court Room!

You are on trial as a performing artist for violating government imposed censorship. Write a paragraph TO THE JURY defending your actions.

Ladies and gentleman of the jury: today I am on trial for "violating government imposed censorship" while performing. I am on trial for expressing my beliefs, my feelings, and my soul. Performing is something that I love to do and many people love to watch me and support me. I am here because I have done or said something to upset the government, who is in fear of my music making an impact on people. They may say that the message is bad, they may say that my music is bad and like Plato said before them, "...bad music should be controlled or banned so as not to divert people from the good life..." With all due respect Plato, what good life? We are living in a tough time, surrounded by violence, greed, poverty, all of which branched off from human error. With that in mind, who decides what music is good or bad? Who decides who's lives are dictated by a group of socialist power-mongers? We are the United States of America, the most greatest and most powerful country in the world, and like every other American, I am proud to be an American...but I am not proud of my government. When a government, in there $10,000 suits, dictate and stamp forms to control a country, a people from expressing themselves, that is not a government I can be proud of. There was a government who did something very similar to what it happening to me now: Stalin's control over Russia. He was a great music lover, but when music he didn't like was created, he made sure it was snuffed out just as quickly. Anything to cover up the true indecencies in his country so that he could run his country believing it was superior. He was ignorant to the trials and tribulations of his country and that it why people rebelled and fought to be creative, stared death in the face for a composition, and even took a bullet to the heart for a play. Are we the same as Stalin? Is our government going to shut me up and condemn me for performing when rapists, murders and thieves escape jail on technicalities? Is our government going to be just as ignorant and naive to the true state of our country? Does the government really think locking me up will end the performing to showcase the real America? They are wrong. To lock me up will make me a political activist. I am fighting for our country by performing for people to enlighten them about our current struggles. In closing, ladies and gentleman of the jury, you have the power to decide what type of people you are, what kind of American you are. Are you the type who is willing to stand up and fight for truth, justice and the American way? Or will you conform to the demands of a government who is too arrogant and blind to realize that I am trying to help? The choice is yours. I don't know what your decision will be but I do know what Stalin would do...I hope you don't agree with him. Thank you.