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Ugh.
One of the main tenets of Pollitics Today that I pride myself on is when I notice all of my friends on Facebook discussing something, I try to give an explanation on here. I find that a blog gives you much more room to analyze things.
For example, I looked over the “red equal sign”, the comparison between Trayvon Martin and Marley Lion, as well as what the government shutdown actually meant. Sometimes I notice this actually helps people learn things and gets a few people to like my post which is really all I’m about.
However the newest meme that’s going around is irritating me completely. But I feel compelled to do it and if you are a regular viewer who is only here for election coverage; I apologize.
But let’s take a look at this and how its not exactly right. First off, in what news do you follow where Miley Cyrus got a pass from what she did? If anything, her dancing for about thirty seconds on TV induced more pearl-clutching outrage that hasn’t been seen since Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl.
Here’s what some prominent people (on both sides of the aisle) said about Miley Cyrus back when she twerked on Robin Thicke for four seconds:
- “We’re on a moral downward spiral”~Laura Ingraham.
- “She did a stage routine that was just this side of onstage pornography”~Rush Limbaugh
- “We should denounce Miley Cyrus”~Mika Brzezinski
- “The scene was as degrading as it was unnecessary” ~ Bill O’Reilly who later talked about the epidemic of bad parenting.
- Richard Cohen tried to compare the Steubenville rape case to Miley
Then we got into some bigger problems, some which I do agree with, such as the racial implications of Miley’s performance(s). As well as inspired some hilarious FCC complaints.
By now you know what’s going on with Phil Robertson so its pointless to continue to explain it.
However, I see why there’s some outrage and I am trying to look at this objectively. If you are religious and someone espouses an opinion citing religion (I’m not saying its right or wrong, but Phil Robertson’s interpretation is important); you might see yourself being attacked for an opinion. A&E knew his opinions, hell anyone with Google Search, has heard him preach about homosexuality before. It is not a “SHOCK” that Phil Robertson said that.
You might also see that well freedom of speech should imply that you are allowed to say an opinion and not be fired/suspended (Robertson has yet to be banned). I am an atheist so maybe I can’t relate to the average person of faith in this country so I would never tell you how you are “supposed to act”. But you see other “shocking” things air and you think that they should face the same repercussions.
Martin Bashir was forced into resignation for basically swearing on TV about Sarah Palin’s comments on slavery. Adam Lambert was essentially banned from ABC for kissing another man for a few seconds at the AMAs. Or the Dixie Chicks for criticizing the Bush administration? But where were you then?
Free speech shouldn’t be politicized yet you are doing that by sharing that meme. I know you might like the show or you might be against marriage equality but Miley is in no way similar to Phil Robertson.
Miley Cyrus is a pop singer. One who is obviously kind of a major poser, but nonetheless she’s a pop star. When you are a pop star, outrage sells. No pop star craves to be Pat Boone, they want to be Madonna or Lady Gaga or David Bowie or Jim Morrison. Some of them use sexuality to do so but “twerking” is not a political issue.
Marriage Equality, on the other hand, is a big issue in America. As is welfare. If Miley twerked on Robin Thicke while wearing a unitard that said “Bomb-Bomb-Bomb Bomb Iran”; then we would have a realistic comparison. The VMAs solely exist to generate attention since they are “celebrating” attention-getting videos.
Duck Dynasty is just some reality show about multi-millionaires. Phil Robertson’s comments, if they were on Fox News or theBlaze, wouldn’t generate much besides some outrage on this blog (I would definitely jump on that and I would be a hypocrite if I said otherwise) and other like-minded ones but it wouldn’t become a big deal in the end.
If I may be honest though, I think this is all a ploy by A&E. I think they will reinstate Phil Robertson and there will be an episode where they cry and hug, which will generate HUGE ratings.
So we are all kind of sheep here.
Just don’t compare the two, ok?
