I promised myself I would not add to the insanity and write about the whole Janet Jackson thing even though it is ludicrous and the media is blowing the whole thing way out of proportion and the American public is loving it..... but I saw this news article today and it drove me nuts. I mean come on people - get a life already. You don't see the Jews and Christians screaming and yelling even though their symbols appeared in the background during another performance on the Grammys. I truly believe that the media has stirred up Americans and it is now open season for the Entertainment Industry - do I hear 20 bucks on another of the big 3 networks deciding to pull something off the air that had been planned during the next week or two for fear of being sued?
Outkast was using their freedom of speech and expression - not attempting to add to the "commercializion of our symbols." It is ridiculous to think that just because you are not actually part of a specific culture or sect that you can not use symbols or props that relate to that culture. I worry that the movement started by the Jackson superbowl controversy is going to become stronger and stronger until we end up losing that ability to express ourselves in public in any form because we need to worry that someone will be offended. For all I know someone could read this and be offended by my position - and there probably will be - but that does not mean that I shouldn't write it.
Oh, and one other thing. I don't know who the kid was, but he was really cute!
Posted by ravomess at February 13, 2004 02:21 AMI'd like to hear your interpretation as to the meaning of the lyrics of Hey Ya. I think it's about divorce, or at least, not getting married.
Posted by: Greg at February 13, 2004 10:03 AMI don't think there is any mystery to the lyrics at all - just read them and they are pretty straightforward. It may not be about divorce and marriage per se, but it is a commentary on relationships and how in todays day and age "Nothing is forever". I don't know their bios, but I think it's cool that they recognize their parents and the efforts that they at least made to "stick together" even if we don't know how.
Posted by: ravomess at February 13, 2004 10:13 AMWhat the heck does "free speech" have to do with it? "Free speech" is about government control, not about a private organization's right to protest, rightly or wrongly, someone's costumes in a music number!
Outkast used his free speech to dress like an indian dude and the Indian ADL used their free speech to protest!
I'm sick and tired of people screaming "free speech" when other private citizens protest stupid speech.
So THERE!
Gut voch.
