(warning! M rated lyrics repeated below)
after play group, I brought petra home for lunch and watched as we ate.
the musical number came on, and this cute girl in a teeny yellow dress starts singing this song with this interesting voice.
I bop along, but then I start listening to the lyrics...
"I kissed a girl and I liked it..." "I kissed a girl just to try it...." "it's no big deal"...
WHAT THE.....
I don't often get offended at what's on television. I choose what I watch and you usually get what you pay for.
but so you think you can dance? pretty much a family show right? am I wrong? I felt blind-sided by this one. It was so blatant and obvious. I dare say, this time I was offended.
Once again, it got me worrying about my little girl. What kind of road is she going to have to navigate, forge for herself? I can't believe how watered down the moral black and white has become in the world. This wasn't cunning and suggestive. It was right there, literally spelled out, passed off as "human nature." I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at the task of teaching her at home to see black and white clearly in the world. Teach her clearly enough, strongly enough, persuade her so thoroughly, let her learn for herself so deeply that when she is on her own she will remember.
a few years ago, I would have heard this and laughed, brushed it off. now, having a child, it is harder to brush off. I am getting old.
last night Jeff and I were climbing into bed around 11 or so....
(sounds of base thumping in the background)
c - "that is so loud... its almost ELEVEN o'clock? who is listening to music that loud, this late?"
j - "I know, who can hear themselves think, let alone talk"
c - "they are going to wake petra up... there's a ten o'clock quiet rule yah know..."
j - " maybe we should call the police..."
c - "you should go over there... ask em to turn it down."
j - "alright... I guess."
c - "be careful!" (thoughts of mean, drunk, drugged up MUSIC listeners filled her head...)
they turned it down, apologetically, and thanked jeff for not calling the police before coming to them first.
we really are getting old...
9 comments:
ohman. the same thing happened to me last night. "i kissed a girl"...are you freakin' kidding me? w.o.w.
it's scary huh? i am constantly overwhelmed by the task i have of raising children in this increasingly vulgar and dirty world.
the only thing that comforts me is the knowledge that i am armed with a way and a means to explain to my children the importance and the peace the comes from choosing the right.
I don't even have kids yet and I'm slightly terrified of raising them in this world - where television has half naked women at any given moment & innocent google searches bring up nasty results & drugs can be found just about everywhere.
Clint and I have had a lot of conversations about what we can do to raise our children well. One of the important things we've decided is to teach them right & wrong independent of (and in addition to) LDS gospel standards. You know, so they get that drugs are bad because they ruin your life - not just because the Church teaches us they are bad. I guess I've just had one too many siblings that kinda decided Mormonism wasn't their thing and made some horrible life choices to spite it.
It's true though, there is a ton of comfort in knowing we have the gospel to rely on for guidance. We'll all be alright.
i'm with you. i'm pretty hard to offend but that song on such a family-friendly show was 100% inappropriate. i'm sure they were doing it for ratings, stupid ratings, since its number one right now on some lame-o chart, but i don't appreciate it. there is a hearty debate going on over at sytycd's website that is pretty ridiculous. pretty much everyone who was offended by that song is being labeled gay haters. um, not even close. kids should have the opportunity to be kids and be innocent as long as they can. and during that time we need to do all we can to educate.
i agree with angela whole-heartedly about teaching right from wrong independent of any church principles. church principles have very rational explanations to them and so often bitterness and defiance occurs when people are taught or feel expected to follow things blindly. i think an open dialogue is incredibly important to maintain, to be there when questions are raised and comfort when confusion arises.
this parenting.... so hard.
We have had that same problem arise in our home. We had the radio playing on the 4th of July outside at the pool and that song came on and lily asked me , "why is she singing about kissing a girl?" and I was taken back on how to answer. One thing I have had to learn to do is really listen to what my girls are listening to and try to give them suggetions of music that is cool and okay for them, of course my girls are still at the age where my taste in music is semi cool but britt will be 12 this year so I'm walking on new ground and can only pray for help to not mess it up!!! When were in the car and a song comes on the radio and the lryics are not so good but my girls don't no what they mean and are singing along, I've turned off the song and told them why that song is not good for them to listen to and their response is usually," oooh, yuck or what"??? can they just stay our little babies forever?
wow. you guys are a bunch of prudes. lighten up.
jay kay. that was me. sorry.
but seriously though...that song is rough, the girl singing it was rough, and watching jessica stick around for another week? rough.
but that's why i have tivo. you can fast forward through all the dirty trash to get to the slightly cleaner trash. it's like having your very own censor at the touch of a button.
oh man- everytime i even begin to think of raising childern my stomach tightens- i get so anxious about it. i am going to be a nervous wreck. anyways- it seems like your doing great, petra is a doll. we loved our trip- thanks for the fabulous tips, i actaully kinda knew where i was going because of you.
thanks.
isn't that the worst song? not just the lyrics, but the song in general sucks. i always get caught in an old moment, but honestly, my immature self always wins over. i'm only pretending to be mature, ssshhh don't tell my kids.
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