Fortress Of Freedom Board

[IAIJ]

When Music Becomes a Weapon: A Journalist's Reflection on Ethical Boundaries in Art




By Xiaojun Yin (United Kingdom)




In the wake of recent armed confrontations between Israel and Iran, a disturbing phenomenon has re-emerged online: the use of newly written music and music videos as tools to mock, incite, or denigrate one side of a conflict—sometimes even going as far as to target specific religious beliefs.



As a songwriter and journalist, I find this trend not only deeply irresponsible but also dangerous. Satirical or propagandistic songs that glorify one side while ridiculing the other—especially during active warfare—do not serve peace or justice. They distort the very purpose of music.



Music, though often described as “borderless,” must not be without ethical boundaries. It is a human creation with the power to heal, to unite, and to elevate the spirit. To use it instead as a weapon—through nationalistic aggression, religious mockery, or thinly veiled hate speech—is a betrayal of its essence.



We, as artists and journalists, must remember: music is not a tool for killing. It is a voice for remembering, for resisting violence, and for calling humanity back from the brink.



As global tensions rise and digital platforms transform music into another front of cultural warfare, I urge fellow artists, journalists, and listeners: do not betray the moral power of music. Raise your voice not in hatred, but in harmony. Let our songs stop wars, not start them.