Super Bowl stage: What's truly appalling is that their actions reflect our inaction.

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | February 11, 2004 | Claude Lewis

[angkor]

Another from the "we're all guilty" school.

No, we're not all guilty. MTV is guilty.

[EggsAckley]

Welcome to FreeRepublic.

This is a very good article about the lack of class that has overtaken our pop culture.

What ever happened to the days when little Johnny Ray came out on the stage in front of the camera, opened up his mouth and brought down the house with "Cry?" His voice barely need amplification. The audience didn't need glitz, didn't need dancing, didn't need special effects. All they needed was that VOICE, a voice of a truly gifted young nobody. (AND, the technique called lip-synching DID NOT exist back then!)

[ellen_rometsch]

I must admit I feel a little guilty. I curse MTV when I don't ignore it; but I don't really do anything about it.

I think he has a point. I now vow to do something.

[ellen_rometsch]

Johnny Ray: simply divine.

[LisaMalia]

I did something about it, and many other FReepers did as well.
I emailed CBS, Viacom, the NFL, McDonalds, MTV, as well as several members on the board of the FCC, voicing my displeasure. I also signed a petition at www.boycottmtv.com

[EggsAckley]

You remember him? Skinny little white guy with greasy hair. Like little farm boy.

"When your sweetheart
Sends a letter....
of goodbye..............."

[ellen_rometsch]

Wonderful. You've done more than I have. Shame on me; but I will catch up.

I promise.

[ellen_rometsch]

Sang with such emotion and passion. Not a dirty boy.

[mikemc282002]

I did something about it...a while ago. I called up the cable company and told them to shut the entire thing down. It's nice to have an extra 50 bucks in my pocket instead of indirectly paying for this garbage.

[EggsAckley]

I finally figured out why your screen name is memorable.

Ellen Rometsch, "friend" of JFK

[Izzy Dunne]

Where in this country is there a child that hasn't seen a woman's breasts - or who hasn't seen much more than that on television or on the computer?

My son (age 5) has seen no one's breasts except his mom's, and possibly a couple of other breastfeeding moms.
On his computer, he watches Space movies (from NASA, etc.).
We don't have a TV.
Do you wonder why?

[Izzy Dunne]

They routinely refer to women as whores, bitches, and worse, but we sanction such salty language in the name of realism when our children are not present.

Who is this "we" you're talking about?
*-I-* have never sanctioned it.

[ellen_rometsch]

No you know why I can remember Johnny Ray -- but I've given up my "Bee-Hive." Looked too much like a snowman.

[Izzy Dunne]

Don't come on as if we're unaware that sex is being peddled in nearly every corner of this frightening country.

I don't know of anyone who has claimed that.
But there ought to be a few corners left for those who think it's wrong, distasteful, or just plain BORING.

[anniegetyourgun]

Your two posts are at the root of my developing theory. I think this society, which claims to be all about "the children," has actually decided that there's no such thing as innocence.

Adults are projecting their own sensibilities onto 3, 5, 9 year olds these days. It can be the only explanation of why they take their first grader to R rated movies, and think nothing of placing those images in the minds of their child.

It seems todays adults think "what the heck, they're gonna see this stuff eventually." While that may be true, there is no move (or even desire) to spare children those eventualities during their impressionable years. They are instead allowed to be assaulted and/or left to be assaulted.

Once childhood innocence is stripped away, it can not be regained. Looks to me like many adults are more than willing to rush that process.

[ellen_rometsch]

Who is this "we" you're talking about? *-I-* have never sanctioned it.

If you can truly say that you haven't sanctioned the decline then that is great. I can't really say that for myself. I find myself failing to fight the good fight at every term. Sometimes I'm timid; sometimes I'm tired.

Something to which I can strive I suppose.

[speedy]

Claude Lewis seems to have changed his views from the days I lived in the Delaware Valley. He used to be reliably leftist. BTW, wasn't Johnny Ray's nickname "The Prince Of Wails"? How about Johnny Ace? "My Pledge Of Love."

[El Gran Salseron]

"Sang with such emotion and passion. Not a dirty boy."

If I remember correctly Johnny Ray led a tortured life after that hit record and died a pauper.

[EggsAckley]

I think you remember correctly. Something like leukemia or some such thing. But boy, could he sing!