Posted on 01/19/2005 12:36:32 AM PST by JohnHuang2
WASHINGTON Kid Rock was nowhere to be found at the inaugural youth concert tonight, but another foul-mouthed singer dropped the F-bomb on the crowd including hundreds of pre-teen Hilary Duff fans.
The lead singer of the band Fuel proclaimed, "Welcome to the greatest ----ing country in the world." Brett Scallions followed with a quick apology of "excuse my language."
But it was a little late.
The concert was hosted by President Bush's twins Jenna and Barbara, who were in the audience but did not come on stage.
Duff was the headliner at the D.C. Armory concert, a paid tribute to youth volunteerism and community service. Duff, who performed in a black sequin top, rolled-up jeans and sneakers, warmed up the crowd for the president and first lady Laura Bush.
"My call to you all is that as you enjoy the great freedoms of America and as you enjoy yourself at this inauguration, I hope you take away the lesson of helping somebody in need," said Bush, who arrived toward the end of the concert after Scallions' remark. "And when you do, it will not only make our country a better place, it will lift up your own spirit."
Not present, of course, was the notorious Kid Rock. The rock-rapper known for his vulgar and obscene lyrics and on-stage banter was scheduled to appear until about a week ago, when an uproar from family groups had the Inauguration Committee in a tailspin.
Committee staff claimed Kid Rock was never officially booked to appear, though his name was on the bill since last May. As WorldNetDaily reported, the Detroit-based rapper, who dedicated his first album to songs about oral sex and who was voted the Sluttiest Male Celebrity at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, has a history of vulgar lyrics.
Even so, Kid Rock, aka Robert James Ritchie, has been known to attend Republican events and was a supporter of Bush in last year's presidential race. The New York Times reported that during a party he attended at the Republican National Convention last year, Kid Rock noted that if he were president he would never get caught having sex in the Oval Office, but would instead install cameras in the Lincoln Bedroom.
Kid Rock's first album, "Grit Sandwiches for Breakfast," fixates on oral sex, including one song, "Yo Da Lin In The Valley," that describes the lyricist's exploits with multiple women in detail. Another similar tune is "Wax the Booty."
Also featured on his 1990 debut album is "Pimp of the Nation," which ironically takes a swipe at Bush's mother. The lyrics include:
Pimp of the Nation, I could be it As a matter of a fact, I foresee it But only pimpin' hoes with the big tush While you be left pimpin' Barbara Bush
Some of Kid Rock's songs include the F-word in their title, such as "F- U Blind" and "F- Off."
The performer's lyrics often center on the recreational nature of sex and speak of women as mere playthings.
According to an online bio, "Kid Rock is noted for his use of adult film stars when he performs (nude when he can get away with it), as Kobe Tai and Jenna Jameson have danced on stage while Kid does his thing."
After reading some of Kid Rock's lyrics, Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families, was outraged the rapper would be a part of the president's festivities.
"I just read Kid Rock's sexually explicit lyrics and feel ashamed and dirty for even looking at his songs," he told WND. "If this sex-crazed animal, whose favorite word is the F-word, is allowed to sing at Bush's inauguration this will send a clear message to pro-family Americans that the Republican Party has taken them for a ride and ditched them in the gutter."
Besides Thomasson's group, other pro-family organizations, including Concerned Women for America and the American Family Association, decried the planned appearance of Kid Rock and asked supporters to express their outrage to the inauguration committee. AFA sent an e-mail to 2.5 million supporters asking them to take action.
In the confines of my home I probably say the F word at least once per day -- BUT I don't say it when at work, at church, at school, or out in social settings.
Given a chance I would not sing the F word, write a song with it in the title, or use it in an interview. Most importantly I would not market the word or my personal sex life to a group of youngsters.
Does that make my use of the word morally right? Of course not but at the very least, I can exercise self control and discretion where so many of these "entertainers" will do anything and market anything to a child to make an easy dollar.
Here we go again...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1314967/posts
"Welcome to the greatest ----ing country in the world." Brett Scallions followed with a quick apology of "excuse my language."
If people buy that this utterance was a "mistake", then we are really a nation of idiots.
"The headline suggests this article is about an incident at an event where Kid Rock was not even present, so why is 90% of the text devoted to Kid Rock?"
The writer is obsessed with Kid Rock and can't get him out of his mind. Pathetic really.....
Give it up..its a ROCK CONCERT...who cares if f-ck is said?
Age has nothing to do with being respectful and aware of the message one delivers. There is a difference between private conversation and public display of profanity.
You can say I am embarrassing myself all you want. I will continue to stand by my conscience, my morals, and by my previous statement.
YOu're right, but save your breath.
Click the link on #42, to see what I mean. What astounded me was the number of people at FR with no sense of propriety, and then use sophomoric arguments to justify their positions.
Seems to be a lot of that going around here but I wouldn't be here if Free Republic wasn't moderated as well as it is. There are other sites out there that are absolutely deplorable and this one seems to rise above them. Still, I refuse to excuse those around here who cannot be civil and decent.
I would like for you to examine your logic. Are you saying that there has never been any such thing as enjoying oneself at a musical performance before the "F word" and profanity was included into a show? Profanity and having a good time have nothing in common, and I challenge anyone to prove any relationship between the two.
I don't know about you, but I can have a perfectly enjoyable time without including vulgarity into the mix. Same can be said for me under age 30, and under age 20. I have been to plenty of rock concerts at which people were having a great time, and not one profanity was uttered, and not one sexually explicit sight was included.
Your argument does not hold water.
You should probably teach your children at home and at school, and make sure they learn good manners and decency BEFORE they are old enough to go to rock concerts.
Agreed, but this particular show featured Hillary Duff, a performer especially popular with the "tween" crowd. Her programs on the Disney Channel are aimed at children. This event was specifically held for the YOUTH. I have never heard such a thing as an "adult youth".
As much as I disagree with the "It Takes A Village" message of Hillary Clinton, I believe it is necessary for a society to set good examples for its youth, and all people should act responsible around children. Having Duff on a show that included bands using vulgar language does nothing but send mixed messages to children, and to parents.
I'm sorry you chose to discontinue our debate by being childish. If you can't be serious about the continued decay of respect for others, common decency and morality in our society, then it's pretty much a waste of my time. I've said all I am going to say.
speaking your mind in public, vs. crapping in public are the same?
Only if public pottying is an enumerated right, as is public speech.
and don't waste time with the 'fire' in a theatre argument.
The same folks who are whining bout their desire to restrict the saxon words for sex, are in some cases the very same ones that are whining to have THEIR free speech in the public classroom regarding 'intelligent design'. Which is a curse word, very offensive to our 'science is god' crowd of freepers.
Freedom of speech in the public square cuts both ways.
And it's really not arguable though we see it here all the time on free republic.
You want to be free to post the big ten? Get ready for the hadith and the fword bombs, because freedom of speech is just one of those things people fight about.
In new jersey, apparently some christians died for their free speech because it 'offended' an islamic religious nut.
I don't want the public square boiled down to a format that is 'safe' for five year olds, OR a format that is guaranteed "not to offend" folks of different morals than mine. For my particular example... muslims. To them, Jesus is God's Son, is the highest of blasphemies...
Tough luck for the slammies. And tough luck to all who want to make the public square a 'controlled speech zone', be it for 'values' that are religious or cultural in nature.
Defecating in public may be the same to YOU as offensive speech. But in practical and legal terms, it's not even close. The problem with that false analogy is, the first is a health issue (if everyone did it, we would spread infectious disease), whereas the latter is a individual vs. public majority's morals one.
Equating them, is a straw man to me.
And to a great many americans.
Boiling the public square down to the communication level of a five year old? To please the majority?
I really couldn't go along with that.
Funny what passes for conservatism with some folks.
Do you also support 'sensible' restrictions on handguns, semi automatic rifles and assault weapons?
So they go to a 'rock and roll' concert (rock and roll HISTORICALLY KNOWN to be an established euphemism for orgiastic indulgence in sexual fornication), and then get p!$$ed because someone uses a saxonism for 'rock and roll' at that very same 'rock and roll' concert. I actually see the humor in this.
I am looking for them to introduce that new "I have a right to not be offended, so shut everyone ELSE up' amendment any day now... after all, THEY elected W!
right?
Exercise your free speech here. Go ahead and use the F-Bomb, right here on Free Republic, and see how long your post lasts.
is Jim Robinson a repressive "fuddy duddy" or does he prefer to keep the board within minimum filth standards, in the interest of decency?
Besides, the issue is not "free speech" it's about "class." Go look that word up.
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