The heading for my comments this week is designed to shock you, grab your attention, make you take a look, wonder what it’s all about, force you to read. It is designed to get a reaction out of you that you might not have if I had used a heading that was quieter in tone, something like ‘Permitted to Play Loud Music!.’ But I wanted to produce a heading that sort of reflects in print some aspects of what the playing of loud music does.
Like loud music, the provocative heading in big, bold letters assaults the senses and almost forces you to read on whether you want to or not. But fortunately, the similarity doesn’t extend very far, for you can stop reading this piece right now if it bothers you, turn the pages to something more to your liking or just toss the paper into the rubbish bin – the choice is yours. When somebody plays loud music that intrudes on your premises and sensibilities though, the choice is theirs and at the present time, there is very little you can do if you don’t like it.
People can obtain licenses to drive cars which are outfitted with mind boggling sound equipment which they drive all over the place, literally shaking other people’s residences with shock waves from the sound. Other people can obtain permits to use ‘noisy instruments’ at various events and venues and at various times, which bombard you with amplified sound if you live in the area, or have to pass or do business nearby.
It doesn’t seem to have occurred to those who issue the various licenses and permits, that some residents who have serious medical problems may be subjected to unwanted noise and resultant stress which could ultimately develop complications and hasten their deaths. From the general attitude of those who obtain permits and licenses, it seems they couldn’t care less about what effect the noise has on others – they are literally licensed to kill!
Some people may express outrage at my comments, but the outrage really ought to be directed elsewhere. I don’t shatter anybody’s peace and quiet in their own home with unnecessary sound. All I do is complain about the practice by those who do and wonder why anyone should be given permission to do so. It seems perfectly logical to me that whenever certain actions are known to produce harmful results, those actions should lawfully be terminated. Furthermore, I believe that those who persist with actions that cause discomfort, pain, or harm to others should be charged with criminal assault. In a civilized society there simply is no justification for repeatedly doing something which knowingly harms others.
It is well known that the same experiences that are thrilling or pleasurable for some people, can produce serious discomfort, and even life-threatening effects in others. For example, some people die every year on ‘thrill rides’ at amusement parks like Disneyland, even though every precaution is taken to screen out people with medical conditions. But at least those people are not forced to undergo that experience and take that risk; they choose to do so and thereby must bear some responsibility for their own actions. But those who are negatively affected by loud music do not choose it. Why should others be allowed to force it on them; why on earth should they be given permission to do so?
Should anyone be given a permit to do physical harm to others? Yet this is what can happen when the shock waves produced by some equipment can trigger heart problems, headache, disorientation, or other complaints which can be quite serious. How in the name of heaven can this be tolerated in our so called Christian society. Why aren’t our church leaders, our schoolteachers, our health officials, our government representatives, our police authorities, doing or saying anything about this scourge. Is it because they are ignorant of the facts, or are they just apathetic and can’t be bothered. Is it because some of their own relatives and friends like to use noisy instruments and drive around neighbourhoods with boom-boxes blasting and they are afraid to deal with that. Why is it that so many of those who ought to be leading the way on this matter have clammed up completely as though it is not a matter for open discussion, and certainly not in front of the children. Good grief, what kind of a society is this!
On Friday, January11, The Nevis Historical and Conservation Society Held the official launching of the new Exhibit “Alexander Hamilton: The Man who Made Modern America.” Hamilton was born in Nevis on January 11, 1757 and the launching of the exhibit was in conjunction with a birthday tea party raising scholarship funds in his name to benefit Nevis schoolchildren. The American Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean Mary Ourisman and the St.Kitts-Nevis Ambassador to the US and OAS Dr. Izben Williams addressed the large gathering, along with Nevis’ Premier, Joseph Parry and Deputy Premier, Hensley Daniel. But the modest sound equipment at the museum grounds was no match for the massive array of boom-box paraphernalia that had been set up at an outdoor eatery half a block away, and the speeches at the museum could scarcely be heard.
I quickly dashed up the road and implored the DJ to lower the volume until the event at the museum was over. He grudgingly agreed, but even so the booming bass sounds still managed to intrude and undercut the attention of the gathering at the museum. Luckily, I spotted a policeman, explained the situation to him, and he went over and arranged for the noise to cease until all the formalities were done. But by then the damage had been done for me. My full enjoyment of this important historical event had been killed by the booming sounds when they started, and then the need to have to go over and attempt to negotiate a cease-fire which was only grudgingly and partially given, and then finally having to get a third party to intercede.
It is this ability and propensity of those with boom-boxes to kill the peace and quiet of our surroundings and even savage the sanctity of our homes with needlessly over-amplified sound, that has prompted my ranting in the press and decision to start an anti-noise campaign. I hope the reader can understand why I feel justified in stating that those who are granted licenses or permits to use ‘noisy instruments’ are “Licensed To Kill!”
Call Amba Trott at 469-1424 or 765 3559 if you want to join the anti-noise campaign and help to end this destructive practice.
