Government Sponsored Nursery Rhymes Backfiring

Hilariously, the "War" on drugs has managed to embarass it's only combatants (the Govt.) yet again. Check out this catchy little tune that I've been singing all day now - I can't help it either:

Fast forward to 2005 and the image is of small schoolboy singing a nursery rhyme. Bah bah black sheep, have you any E? Yes sir, yes sir, first hit's free. They push it on the children, they push it every day. They push it on the little boy that lives down the way. Bah bah black sheep, have you any E? Yes sir, yes sir, first hit's free.

Very clever. One problem. This pleasant little ditty is now being sung by school children who heard it on the television, and think it's cute. Do they understand what they are saying? No. Would they be singing these words with this message without the help of this public service announcement ( PSA )? No.

This an example of an advertising concept gone seriously awry. Children are wonderful little mimics. Ask any parent who has let slip a few choice words. Their four-year-old is very quick to fling that colorful expletive right back at them. Nursery rhymes are designed to be simple and catchy so children can remember and understand them. What will a child understand from this song? Beats me.

I don't understand it either, but then that's probably because I've never understood what Ol' Uncle Sam is trying to achieve in this "war" where only one side is fighting, but is still managing to lose.

Kid H

Hat Tip: Drug War Rant