Music

[Old_Joe]

Is it immoral to listen, buy, or download music by an artist that supports things like Planned Parenthood?

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
9/10 - Twenty-third Saturday

Old_Joe,

Ah, I LOVE distinctions - let's draw one, shall we?

There's a clear difference between "we support to Planned Parenthood" and "part of your purchase goes towards Planned Parenthood". You have direct control over whether your money supports PP in the second case; you have little or no control in the first case. You have no way of knowing whether your purchase went towards something like PP, so you aren't held morally accountable. In the second case, you are a direct participant in the funding of PP, so you would be held morally accountable.

Though you can feel free to buy from musicians or booksellers that donate to causes like Planned Parenthood / WHO / UNICEF, the more honorable thing might be to refrain from buying from them. For instance, there is no problem with buying Coors products; however, since Coors regularly funds gay parties at bars, I won't let myself buy their products (which hurts, 'cause I really like Killians). There's no moral need for me to keep from purchasing Coors products, but I do it because it is more honorable to keep my money away from something like that. Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono