Adults, not the government, must screen music available to children.

2 Live Crew was justified when they were acquitted of obscenity charges in Florida last week. The rap group performed cuts from its highly controversial album, “As Nasty As They Wanna Be,” at a night club. The album is packed with sexually explicit lyrics and women-degrading overtones.

No matter how disgusting the lyrics are to some people, 2 Live Crew’s night-club peformance is and should be protected.

Adults must take an active role in raising the nation’s youth. Adults must decide whether or not children they care about are ready to hear, see or read objectional material.

Opponents claim the lyrics provoke crime. Although down-right raunchy, the lyrics are not the only thing accessible to children that promote sex, greed and women-bashing.

If the group’s music is enough to make a child go out and commit a crime, then the child—and society—has more problems than simply what is out on the commercial market.

Clearly 2 Live Crew’s music isn’t the only to suggest sex. Right or wrong, the group simply is being more blunt than others.

Adults must guide the nation’s youth. Children must be taught that some members of society actually live in a world as described in lyrics, television, books and movies. Children also must learn these lifestyles are wrong.

Nobody said a democracy was perfect. But the bad in 2 Live Crew’s lyrics definitely outweighs any good in censorship.