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You Gotta Be Wise

Album: Gold Audio 13: It All Started When

Episode: 179

Lesson/Theme: Wisdom; discernment.

Bible Verse: Proverbs 22:6

Characters: Bart, Whit, Rodney

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Dave Arnold

Original Air Date: January 4, 1992

Last Air Date: August 27, 2008

Description:
It all started one evening at the Jacobs' household. Dale Jacobs tries to get Robyn to come downstairs for dinner. Dale is shocked to learn that Robyn and several other kids around Odyssey have become big fans of a new rock-and-roll band, led by Rodney and the Bones of Rath! As Robyn's father and the editor of the Odyssey Times, Dale investigates. He discovers that the band is yet another scheme by Bart Rathbone, this time designed to swindle money from Odyssey's young. Aside from the ear-piercing noise, Dale is alarmed by Rodney's lyrics. Many of the songs have titles like, "I Wish You Would Hurry Up and Die", "Beasts of Hades", "Razor Blade Rag", and "Who Needs Parents"? Dale confronts Bart, but Bart shrugs things off. He says that Dale just doesn't understand modern teenagers. But other parents are angry as well. Several of them become so irate and concerned, they decide to use Rodney's tapes to fuel a gigantic bonfire. Suddenly, Dale finds himself torn in the middle of an argument about parental rights, censorship, and free speech, an argument that plays out between himself and his own daughter. Things come to a head when the parents organize a march on the Electric Palace that nearly turns into a riot. Dale arrives in time to calm everyone. He suggests that an alternate course is to teach kids why the lyrics are offensive. In other words: Learn to discern.

Questions:
Why were Dale and the other parents so concerned about Rodney's lyrics? Is it wrong to listen to rock-and-roll music? Why or why not? What does it mean to be discerning?