I'm not naive, you're overly sensitive. They didn't shove politics in our faces, YOU shoved politics in YOUR OWN face, that's not the NFL's problem.
There was nothing wrong with the performance, a popular musician, considered a heartland guy, played some of his more popular songs. He actually played them rather than lipsynching (at one point he chuckled at something going on off camera and you actually heard the chuckle as well as saw it), everybody was wearing a modest and appropriate level of clothing, plenty of flag waving in the audience. There was nothing there worth getting offended at.
It's a good song, the lyrics are right. They don't apply to the war in Iraq, and if Mellencamp thinks they do it's because he's a moron. Getting mad because somebody in the entertainment industry is a moron is a complete waste of time, they're ALL morons, most of them are high school drop outs and the rest dropped out of college on "fine arts" and other wimpy majors. If the NFL limited half time entertainment to non-morons they'd have to do away with half time entertainment. He didn't stand up there and rant, he just played a few songs that can be interpreted how ever you want to interpret them, the smart thing to do is to not interpret them the way HE wants you to, getting angry for no reason is bad for the ticker and a waste of energy on a day that's should be filled with happiness and relaxation.
You obviously are one of those people that doesn't hear lyrics, and when you see them think they "mean anything." You might want to take a course in English and reading comprehension.
For instance, if I wrote a song about how stupid and inbred you and your family were, it would simply fly right over your head as just innocent music. LOL
BTW, it seemed hardly anyone applauded when he was done.
And I do agree that one might interpret lyrics differently in most cases and that Mellencamp disguised his insults enough to make money from Red-State fans who don't have a clue of his politics, but the fact remains that the specific context he wrote the song for was exactly as I stated. And in that context it's not just an innocent feel-good liberal song.
Good comment.
The irony about the lyrics of this song is that it describes the LIBERALS and its Bush that is walking tall.
I think we should co-opt this song. ha. ha. would that be a hoot.