Even as I begin writing this, I am aware that people from all sides are likely to be brainstorming what to fire back upon completion of reading this blog entry.

Typicially, I shy away from writing about matters that scream "look at me" for a star/starlet we have driven in to the ground, but not today.  I finally listened to Britney Spears as she took infamous PG-rated wordplay (i.e. Jason Mraz clever stylings) up quite a few *ahem*...notches.  It seems as if some feathers got ruffled, and I am not going to spell out for you what this is all about, because you have either heard about it by now, or have realized it is just entertainment.  I personally don't know her at all, nor have I conversed with her, but I am admittedly guilty of having many of her songs stuck in my head over the years, and this one takes the cake. 

This track of hers is getting some serious heat from parents, faith-based organizations, and rightly so.  The same people complaining about what Spears is not-so-discreetly spelling out are the same right-wingers who have total faith in our rights as Americans.  Is it really that hard to change the channel on the radio dial if you don't like what she, or any other artist is playing?  What about movies, books, magazines, television?  It is easy to take aim at a target who wears one, but the joke is on everyone except her this time...and I am getting a kick out of that.

Not too long ago, it was our nation who put Marilyn Manson (and DiCaprio via Basketball Diaries) on the chopping block, because somehow "shock" style of entertainment got linked to the Columbine shootings.  Did Manson pull the trigger and ruin those lives, changing history and school safety to this very day?  To answer my own question, from remembering some kids I knew fairly well in school around that time...yes, and no.  Of course music is going to stimulate people in to a certain mood.  That is why Universities have fight songs, why ethnic groups have celebration/drinking songs, and why religions have hymns.  All of those things are fuel in our lives to a degree, but I am reminded of some lyrics from Eminem (where Manson actually had a cameo in the video):

"...and they blame it on Marilyn and the heroin.
Where were their parents at?
And look where it's at:
Middle America.  Now it's a tragedy, now it's so sad to see
an upper class city havin' this happenin
then attack Eminem cuz I rap this way..."

So, parents, where were you, where are you, and where will you be?  Your teenagers will rebel by nature on some level, but killing people because music got stuck in their heads is far-fetched, unless you exist as the parents you are supposed to be.  I say this because if parents were more involved in the lives of the children they created, and spent less time rallying around other people to blame besides their own selves, atrocities like this might be limited.

Back to Britney's new single:

If I had children, would I want them singing this song?  Probably not.  In fact, without backspacing, I would definitely not want them singing it as they got off their bus from school.  However, I wouldn't change a thing about the song.  Why?  I don't have kids, I enjoy clubs, music, and free speech.  Long story short:  Stop complaining and change the channel, be aware of what your kids are listening to, and you might find that you are a successful parent.  We could slice & dice the boundaries that are pushed forever, but spending time with family & establishing morals you choose to impart on your kin is more important than winning these neverending battles.  Unless you've been out of the galaxy on an extended vacation for the past few years, there were some rough spots surrounding her existence as overkilled by the media.  People complained then, and they are back to complaining now.  Haters gonna' hate.  Realize that just because she was a schoolgirl in a cute poppy-like song as her first hit single...time has gone by, things have happened, she is an adult, and no matter your opinion of her, she is back to making hits.  Isn't that what being an icon in the industry is all about?  I didn't hear anybody complain when Natalie Portman (who I find is brilliant) took to the SNL rap as crazy as can be.  Why?  Because, that is entertainment.

Enough about that.

On to President Obama:

We have our first African American leader in power for our United States in one of the worst economic times in quite a while, and all of a sudden a reference to being retarded via the Special Olympics is a major headline?  I don't mean to point out political slight of hand, but an easy apology issued from the White House, if even for a fraction of a brownie point in the middle of this AIG stank seems well-timed.  I won't go so far as to say it was choreographed, because there are too many people who are not in sync with one another to pull something like that off (in my opinion), while this transition of power is clearly still in motion.  It was just something interesting to pay attention to, considering that when world leaders hit up talk shows for a chat, most of the back & forth banter is as planned out as any visit, anywhere, with a checklist of things to talk & not talk about.  This was not an open forum, town hall meeting.

Nonetheless, I see that there are people who are now quick to defend the (insert whatever politically correct term you like to use) mentally impaired (and forgive me if that one didn't suit your list of "ok, that'll suffice").

To bring this full circle, entertainment is what it is.  Politics is what it is.  The Special Olympics are what they are.

Before you tar and feather me, please check out this person on you-tube.  He is not being exploited, as he is quite aware of what he is doing.  If you feel that he is being exploited, it is very possible that you are the handicapped person who puts yourself on high above others...because this guy is hilarious, obviously aware that he is mentally challenged, and is capitalizing on it with a sense of business & direction.  When someone who is legally impaired of the mind is making ends meet with his own very successful youtube channel, merchandise, and networking...I'd say that maybe it is time to make like the Black Eyed Peas and let's get retarded.

This guy gets millions of viewers who love laughing along with him, not at him.

Subscribe to his channel.  He really is hilarious.