Just my thoughts...
02/04/2004 03:55 p.m.
about the Super Bowl, half-time debaucle, nudity, etc.,etc....

*Note this is socio-political, and I have been accused of being very conservative, so ....judge for yourself.

The Super Bowl was held here, in Houston. I didn't attend the game (I'm a single mom, I can't afford tickets!), I didn't go to any of the big celebrations or anything either. I might have if I'd had a babysitter and someone to go with. I love to "people watch", not necessarily celebs, just people, being themselves, acting crazy, dressing ridiculously (I used to love just hanging around the airport and observing in the pre 9/11 days) and those venues would have been a great place to be around... sit in a corner out of the way, get a good view, and just watch the craziness!

I did watch the Super Bowl on TV, as did how many other Americans?

I don't recall any really obnoxious commercials... well maybe the Bud Light "Fergus" commercial... you know where the dog bit the guys' crotch. That was fairly typical "boys locker room" type stuff though. I loved the "Chevrolet Revolution" commericial with the bars of soap in the mouth.

The half-time show... once the TSU and UH marching bands were done, I didn't care any more. I thought their entrance was fantastic. It brought back great memories from my HS marching band days. They rocked! The Drum Corps! OMG... even in the middle of the show, that spotlight... I wanted to jump up and get with the groove! But overall, the half-time show wasn't what I a) personally care for or b) anything I would want or encourage my children to watch.

We do not watch MTV at my house, although my boys have watched it with their father, as well as seeing "Jackass", "Beavis and Butthead", "South Park", and several "adult swim" cartoons that I don't particularly appreciate their viewing, but I don't have control over what they see when they aren't with me.

Anyway, other than the marching bands, I can't think of any other segment of the half-time show that I didn't feel was vulgar. From the crotch holding rappers, to the strip-tease cheerleaders, to the cross-dressing dancers in lingerie, the bump and grind dancing .. dancing and outfits like that are what I expect to find in clubs for "21 and up", not on prime time television, and especially without some kind of a warning or disclaimer... I mean for Pete's sake!

Yes, I think that some kind of a "reveal" was planned to end the show. Whether or not it was a complete reveal or not is debatable, but it wouldn't surprise me. It seems that MTV, Hollywood, etc. is always pushing the line, testing the waters, and trying to see how much shock factor they can induce.

My brother and his family (3 children under the age of 5) were at a churchwide, family-oriented Super Bowl party/viewing. I can completey relate to and understand where that group would be upset. He has written a letter to the FCC, as well as several other people from his church.

A local radio commentator/sports broadcaster is starting a campaign to have JT , JJ and MTV banned from televised broadcasts in the area... ok, I think that is going just a little bit overboard.

What adults choose to view is their own business, what children are exposed to is another matter, regardless of whether their parents are aware, or not. Not all parents can monitor their children's viewing every day, every hour, not because they don't care or want to, but because circumstances prevent them from doing so... Most parents I think erronously presume that major broadcast media will be monitored and be pretty "safe" viewing for pre-teens/adolescents, during prime time.

The government established the FCC to regulate media. The regulations should be enforced, or the FCC should be done away with. If there were no regulations on the media I myself, and I think many parents, would be much more careful about having the TV on, or even in their homes at all.

There is an investigation into the occurrence. If it is found that regulations were indeed violated (and I'm pretty sure they were) then there needs to be a punitive action taken, not just a little slap on the hand and "no-no". Please! as a parent I know that tactic doesn't work with children, does anyone think it's gonna work with adults? Gimme a BREAK!

I don't have a problem with nudity as such... I don't have a problem with artistic nudity. I'm a massage therapist, I have seen bodies with little and no clothes on in my line of work. My children have been to massage clinic with me, they have been in massage classes, etc., etc. I think/feel, that they have a healthy/age appropriate understanding of the human body, male and female. I'm not a complete prude... but the half-time show?

It pushed the line, it stepped on it, jumped up and down, begging for a response of some kind... and it is getting that, and the debate has begun. I'm sure that there will be some redefining of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable, morality will be questioned and brought to a heated debate and boil... the next few weeks/months should be interesting...

Odd that there is so much controversy with upcoming national elections huh?
I am currently Sarcastic