The Scream Read Online Free PDF Page A

concluded, gesturing again for silence. "I'd like to read you some statistics now, see what you think." He pulled an index card from his pocket, made a subtle issue of scrutinizing it. "It says here that fifty-one percent of our teenagers will have experimented with drugs by the time they're thirteen. Fifty-one percent will be consuming alcohol. Thirty-five percent will be involved in teenage pregnancies, ninety percent of which will wind up as abortion. And thirty-one percent will have attempted suicide by the time they're
fifteen years old
."
    Pause for dramatic effect.
    "These frightening statistics come to us from Pastor Daniel Furniss, nationally known evangelist and director of Liberty Christian Village, a religious community for teenagers with just the kind of troubles we've mentioned. Pastor Furniss contends that rock music is the
key factor
in the corruption of America's youth.
    "Concurring with Pastor Furniss are Joel Wenker, author of
The Knock Rock Handbook
; and Esther Shrake, wife of the esteemed congressman from Vermont and founding member of Morality Over Music. They all feel that rock music must be stopped, before it's too late. And they're prepared to do some-thing about it.
    "Pastor Furniss has been making headlines with his Teens for Christ Task Force, which selectively pickets targeted groups, and something he calls the Big Blaze for Jesus, wherein teenagers are invited to bring their rock and roll records, posters, and magazines to Liberty Christian Village every Sunday night, throw them on the big blaze, and hopefully"-Moynihan added just a touch of soft-spoken sarcasm-"see the light." He turned to the audience with a flourish, voice rising.
    "And M.O.M. has lobbied to get sweeping restraints in place on record sales, on video broadcasts, and on the airwaves. Congressman Shrake has recently introduced a bill into Congress that would require the rating of albums, much like the rating of films; forbid the sale to minors of albums and concert tickets of acts featuring objectionable references; empower the FCC to ban airplay of any 'adult' material which violates prescribed 'community' standards; and establish a screening board to check music videos for references to sex, violence, drug use, occult practices, or anything that promotes, and I quote"-and Dick raised his eyebrows just a little as he read this-"'disrespect for traditional family-oriented values.'"
    He turned toward Esther Shrake, his shoulders shrugging, his face an open question mark. The floor was obviously hers. Mrs. Shrake, a trim, chinless woman with wide blue eyes and neatly tailored hair and suit, cleared her throat. "First of all, Dick," she said, "let me say that this is not a censorship issue."
    A titter rose from the heathen element of the audience. Moynihan didn't say anything, though whether this was in agreement or just the playing out of more rope was impossible to say. Esther composed herself and pressed on, enunciating every word as though she were a grade-school teacher driving the point home to a group of particularly slow children.
    "We are simply trying to give parents the information they need to make an informed choice! Parents have a right to control the kind of stuff their children are being exposed to. The legislation proposed simply gives them the means to recognize that right."
    It was an impassioned appeal, and it drew a mixture of catcalls and applause from the audience. Jake rolled his eyes dramatically and shook his head in disbelief.
    Moynihan turned to address the man three seats to Jake's left. "Pastor, perhaps you'd like to elaborate on that a bit."
    "Yes, I would, Dick." Pastor Furniss's rich baritone voice had a hint of hickory-smoked good ol' boy in it, friendly and forceful all at once. He was plump and serge-suited, with a silver-sprayed pompadour and expensive black leather shoes.
    "I've got a number of things I'd like to say on the subject, but let me start with this:
    "Your kids are in trouble, people.