John Van Nostrand: Maybe in some towns Jason, at some times

Jul. 25—I can't find the places on the map Jason Aldean is singing.

Aldean's "Try That in a Small Town" was pulled from Country Music Television last week because of the implication of violence. He refers to carjackings and robberies, which he sings are more prone to big-city life and not accepted in small towns.

I think Jason wanted to capture the romanticized feel we get with small towns by either those places not having, or preventing, such crime. Some of that is true in some towns at some times. But to give the impression it's like that all the time in every small town is naive, even for country music. That's what disappointed me most about reading about his song.

Creston is probably the biggest populated town I have lived and worked at the time as an adult. Burlington is the biggest town I have worked. Mount Pleasant edges out Creston for places lived.

Unfortunately for Aldean, what I have seen in the towns I've lived or worked goes against his vision. I covered a murder of both parents by one of their own children in a town smaller than Creston. I knew the family. We were not at best-friend level, but they always stopped to at least say hello in the store aisles. The CNA covered a murder in late 2021 that involving Creston and Adair County.

"Around here, we take care of our own. You cross that line, it won't take long," he sings. People within the small towns cross that same line. There are still troubled people and families in small, and all, sized towns.

We know our page three is a popular read with the law enforcement activities. "Cuss out a cop, spit in his face....Yeah, ya think you're tough," Aldean sings.

We have seen the explanations of what happens during arrests which have included the suspect physically lashing out at the officer. I've seen that in other towns, too, Jason. Those moments happen in small towns by its own residents.

"Got a gun that my granddad gave me. They say one day they're gonna round up. Well, that might fly in the city, good luck," he comments about gun ownership. We all know how much of a sensitive and emotional subject guns have become.

I respect responsible gun ownership. I have very good, long time friends who own guns themselves. I've also covered protests in towns where school students and their parents and grandparents demand some kind of fair and realistic efforts made to prevent the unnecessary deaths by gun violence. Others in the same town wondered if the protest was an attempt to "round up" guns as their protest was not respected well by all. There can be opposing views in small towns.

Jason was right on some things. There have been many, wonderful fundraisers in small towns for people who are in a time of genuine need. I've been to many of those over the years. We can take care of our own. There are multi-generation families in small towns that do provide for the wants or needs of the town. I've seen that too.

But to think America's small towns are somehow immune from the stereotypical bad things that happen in big cities, or fueled by liberal politics, is not right. No place is immune. Jason took a risk with that song considering what has happened across the country just in recent years. We are still seeing mass shootings. Size of town where it occurred is irrelevant.

In 1982, Bruce Springsteen released his record "Nebraska," a brilliant piece of work. Many of the songs are great stories including "Johnny 99." The song is about a man who is struggling to make ends meet. After losing his job he turns to drinking and crime and tries to rob a store and threatens to shoot the employee. He got caught. Even the record's title song is a reminder of the true story of Charles Starkweather who killed 11 people in the late 1950s between Nebraska and Wyoming. There was no corporate or social uproar over Springsteen's songs' stories probably because America was not in the same setting in 1982 as it is now.

One of my term papers in college was about the social reception and reaction to 2 Live Crew, a Florida-based hip-hop band most popular in the late 1980s. Their songs were heavy into describing things the #MeToo movement is fighting against. I'd play the odds their work would be treated today, if it was new, very much like how some are negatively reacting to Jason Aldean.

I'm not suggesting censorship of Aldean's work. I am wondering more if he ever considered more subtle ways to get the same message across. Make it more thought-provoking than spoon-fed.

I hear Aldean claim every small town is some form of utopia. But I don't want to listen.