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6

There we learned that by the fourth grade children have already decided whether or not to take drugs. We asked the question, does the media behave responsibly in portraying values to our children.

In the second hearing, on the issue of alcohol advertising in the broadcast media, we weighed heavily the first amendment considerations involved when the media portrayed behavior which many Americans find objectionable. Today we are raising the question how far should society go to keep young children from being exposed to images and words which may run counter to parents' values and beliefs and values.

It is the parent we blame if the child gets on drugs. It is the parent we blame if the child commits suicide. It is the parent we blame if the child burns down a building. Just how much guilt can we place on these parents without giving them some assistance?

As Senator Gore has so eloquently stated, it has been 30 years since Elvis first shook his hips on the Ed Sullivan Show, and here we are talking about the content of rock music and its presentation in records, on album covers, and advertising concerts, and in rock video.

Much has changed since Elvis' seemingly innocent times. Subtleties, suggestions, and innuendo have given way to overt expressions and descriptions of often violent sexual acts, drug taking, and flirtations with the occult. The record album covers to me are self-explanatory.

I would like to show a sampling of record covers.

[The record covers follow:]

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