MTV wrong to ban Madonna's video

Last week, MTV decided not to air Madonna's new video, "What it Feels Like for a Girl." The video,directed by Madonna's husband, Guy Ritchie, depicted the singer and an elderly woman going on a rampage that included stunning a man with a stun gun and taking his money, blowing up a gas station and running into a car full of men who cast suggestive glances at Madonna -- culminating in suicide. \n MTV's music department decided not to air the video, but MTV News broadcast it once because it considered it newsworthy. The network said the video violates its standards because the violence was toward men who had done nothing wrong.\n There seems to be a double standard at MTV.\n Watching the music channel, viewers would be exposed to an array of images, including ones that depict violence toward innocents. The Eminem and Dr. Dre video "Guilty Conscience," for example, depicts rape and domestic violence. The woman in the video is innocent obviously did nothing to provoke the rape or the abuse. \nSo why not show Madonna's video?\nThis is not the first time Madonna has had a run-in with MTV. In 1990, MTV refused to air "Justify My Love" for its graphic content. In 1992, MTV refused to air "Erotica" until late at night because of its strong sexual content. So why would Madonna make a video that she thought might not air on MTV, one of the best outlets to get an artist's music played?\nOne reason might be publicity. Have something no one can see and suddenly the video and the song that goes with it becomes a hot commodity. It is almost guaranteed that Madonna will sell more albums with this controversy. Beyond that, maybe Madonna genuinely did not feel this video would be barred from MTV.\nIf MTV made its decision because of Madonna's depiction of violence toward innocents, the network must look at the other videos it airs.\nIt is MTV's discretion on what videos to air or not to air. But the network should at least stick to a set of guidelines for all videos. The standard for Madonna must be held to Eminem and other artists, too.\nStaff vote: 11 - 0 - 2 (Yes - No - Abstain)