People are calling for a ban of a classic song based on their own personal interpretation of the lyrics.
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" is basically a conversation between a man and a woman, one in which she thinks she should go home and he wants her to stay. While some of the lines can be problematic ("what's in this drink") it really does boil down to our own interpretation.
Can it be seen as him sexually harassing her and possibly setting her up for date rape? Yes. Can it be seen as both of them wanting more time together and her being concerned about gossip? Yes. It's all a matter of interpretation, and if we see something problematic in it, why not use it as a teaching moment?
My sister loathes "Santa Baby" because of the singer's obvious greed. Others say it sexualizes Santa because the singer is using her feminine wiles on him. (Santa's not allowed to be sexual? Poor Mrs. Claus) These people have, for decades, simply turned the station.
I hate "Blue Christmas" because, to me, it's a guilt trip. You go on and have fun - I'll sit in the corner and eat wet cigarette butts. If you hear nothing more than "I miss you", that's fine. That's probably the actual intent of the song. But what I hear is what I hear. So I just turn the station.
Does "Rudolph The Red-Nose Reindeer" imply bullying is okay? Does "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" support the Patriot Act? "12 Days of Christmas" has human beings as gifts - slavery, anyone? Should anything be banned because of what you or I read into it?
It's not like any of these songs are coming right out and saying these things. We're reading into them, as human beings do, and even if they did... this is called a teaching moment.
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