While people in other countries fight for free political speech and the right to worship, 2 Live Crew incites the MTV generation for the right to have a potty mouth and make a profit in the process.

It’s hard to decide how to feel about the 2 Live Crew controversy. 2 Live Crew’s music is clearly filth. But grudgingly, it’s protected filth and shouldn’t be banned.

But what’s increasingly scary is how the group members have become the loud-mouthed, misogynistic spokesmen for freedom of speech.

Ever since June, when a Florida federal judge banned the group from performing in the state, as well as the sale of 2 Live Crew’s latest album, “As Nasty as They Wanna Be,” the rappers have escalated from nasty-mouthed nobodies to misunderstood American artists.

Countless teenagers now view them as glorified rebels who thumbed their noses at busy-bodied Puritanical bad guys bent on spoiling rock n‘ roll.

At the MTV Music Awards two weeks ago, the crowd went nuts with patriotic fervor at 2 Live Crew’s performance of “Banned in the U.S.A.” It looked like a regular Fourth of July celebration with three strip-tease dancers thrown in for a little visual stimulus.

Censorship is deplorable, but don’t be fooled into believing that 2 Live Crew is a great bastion of patriotism. Their music was disgusting and demeaning before it was banned, and it still is.

2 Live Crew has played this censorship bit to the hilt and come out a lot richer than they would’ve been otherwise. “As Nasty as They Wanna Be” has sold well over 2 million copies so far.

And the rappers aren’t the only ones cashing in on the recent anti-censorship limelight. MTV has its hand out too.

The station is pushing “Censorship is Unconstitutional” t-shirts: “Be cool. Make a statement,” the narrator coaxes. Translation: Send us your money.

MTV also is running a series of anti-censorship spots featuring Iggy Pop and other musicians urging viewers to vote before their favorite performers are shushed.

If you haven’t heard 2 Live Crew’s music, sorry, but the Star has censorship of its own. The lyrics are too explicit to print in this newspaper.

Anyway, the words aren’t enlightening—you can read the same stuff on any public bathroom wall.

I first heard 2 Live Crew’s music about three years ago at an under-21 dance club and couldn’t believe my ears. There was something nauseating about the way all these 13 to 20-year-olds danced to and sang the lyrics almost mindlessly.

They didn’t seem to listen to what they were really saying, but loved hearing a steady stream of profanity. Luckily, most people grow out of that phase.

If it weren’t for this whole frivolous censorship issue, 2 Live Crew would have remained just another rap group with a talent for spewing dirty words.

If curiosity about 2 Live Crew is getting the better of you, borrow an album from someone who already wasted ten bucks on it. Listen to a few songs, laugh at the music’s stupidity, but don’t buy the album—you’ll only be putting undeserved money in 2 Live Crew’s pocket.