To: Janet Jackson From: The US Army Re: A Thumbs up

[lebkuchen]

From the "Stars and Stripes," Feb. 10, 2004

On Super Bowl Sunday, the stadium was alive and the fans were going wild. They were looking forward to the bone-crushing blows and jarring tackles they were about to witness, and maybe even some blood on the uniforms. Beer was flowing. Finally, the much-awaited halftime show commenced. There was music and singing and dancing. The crowd went wild. And then, suddenly, silence surrounded the stadium. Oh my goodness! No, no, no! How could this be? How could this happen?

Readers know the story well by now. One of the entertainers had a part of her anatomy accidentally (or not) exposed on national television. I'm not sure if I can even write what part of her anatomy it was in this letter. After all, it's a six-letter word. Oh, what the heck. It was a breast! That's right, a breast.

Meanwhile in Iraq, soldiers were taking a break from their tedious duties to watch the big game. They were in a state of shock at what they had witnessed during the halftime show. They asked themselves, "How could this happen in America?"

If this seems sarcastic to readers, they should go to the head of the class.

The amount of attention given to this insignificant incident is absolutely ridiculous. Michael Powell, the head of the Federal Communications Commission, said he was "outraged" by the incident. Come on now. Outraged? Maybe he's never seen a breast before. But I find that hard to believe, since many infants younger than 12 months have had intimate relationships with a breast or two. What is the age in the United States when a part of the human anatomy becomes a dirty thing?

We're at war in countries where people's image of women is so low that the more fanatical of them insist that women must be covered from head to toe when in public. How much more advanced are we Americans when we turn something so innocent and natural into a taboo?

As it turned out, most of the male soldiers I've heard speaking about the incident were quite happy with the unexpected bonus to the halftime festivities, and the female soldiers thought it was funny.

I'm certain we'll see many letters from religious right wingers and those in the so-called moral majority condemning my opinion. But they should save their ink. I've heard it all before. It's time for them to climb down off their moral soapboxes and just give me a break.

1st SGT Mark A George
Wiesbaden, Germany

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=20374

[Kanary]

1. "The age" at which that realization is made

is when people recognize the difference between healthy sexuality, and violence towards women.

C'mon, guys, you're smart enough to know that women are vulnerable in ways that men are not. Even Shoshanna Johnson, one of your own, has said that publicly. That recognition is NOT "rocket surgery". :)

Given that you recognize that difference, I'm sure you can also recognize that the symbolized rape of that "entertainment" is a subtle threat to women.

It was NOT an appreciation of the female form... it was an act of violence, to be abruptly exposed by another, against your will.

If society can recognize that "outting" a gay person without their consent is an act of violation, why can they not recognize the same thing in terms of female anatomy?

And, pleeez, don't start with the "it is only entertainment".... there is a message there. It is NOT entertaining to have any show of violation of another.

Let's start thinking some of this through, eh?

Liberation starts at home.

Kanary

[Brian Sweat]

7. The outrage is not over the "symbolic rape."

If the boob had not been on the tube, there would be little outrage and people like you who are concerned about the real problem with the performance (the aforementions symbolic rape) would be ridiculed by the majority of the people who are so outraged.

[Kanary]

9. When you find your mother, sister, etc

in a position of unwanted "groping" or having clothes ripped off, then you can tell me how "people like me" will be ridiculed.

Your lack of awareness is appalling, but your condescension and just plain lack of concern for others is beyond the pale.

Kanary

[Brian Sweat]

10. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt

and assume that you just didn't understand what I was trying to say. So I am going to try to explain myself in a clear and concise manner.

You are concerned because you feel that what you see as a simulated act of rape on stage sends the wrong message. I understand this concern and believe that it is a legitimate concern.

However, the vast majority of the people who have expressed outrage over the incident care nothing about the simulated rape. They are only concerned because a woman's breast was exposed on TV. The don't care how the exposure occurred. The fact that it was done in a violent manner means nothing to them. It was these people that 1st SGT Mark A George was addressing and not you.

I am not the one who will be ridiculing you. It is the very people that 1st SGT Mark A George was excoriating that would be ridiculing you, because they don't care about the violent nature of the performance.

So to sum up.

Glorification of Rape - BAD
Exposure of a woman's breast - NO BIG DEAL

I think the I have explained myself clearly, but I also think that you will continue to misconstrue my words and I don't think it will be accidental.

[Kanary]

11. Thank you for deciding in advance that you know what I will do.

I understand you.

So there.

Kanary

[Brian Sweat]

13. And the great thing is that I was right.

[Kanary]

15. bwahahaha

I understood you, and that proves you right. Ok. ?

Guess whatever my reply is, you're "right", eh?

As long as being "right" is more important to you than discussion, understanding and/or actually forming a peaceful accord, then there's not much hope, is there.

Tell ya what... since all you guys have decided that the only issue here is a breast, and that women who take issue with that public display of violence are all just uptight and inhibited, and what you want is for sexuality to be more accepted and relaxed, then consider that as long as there is this "confusion" between sexuality and violence, you're not too likely to see a more open sexuality anytime soon.

Given that anytime a woman is raped, the first question asked of her is "What were you wearing?", don't think that you're going to see a whole lot of healthy exposure of breast until/unless you start taking a stand about violence towards women.

Dismissing the whole issue as you're "right" isn't going to accomplish that outcome that you desire.

I don't give a rip what the right wing says or thinks or does. They ceased to affect me many years ago. I don't give a rip that they "may" be hung up and uptight. I know what is upsetting to me, and violence towards women as entertainment is high on that list.
Lumping me in with the right wing is beyond silly.... it's very divisive not only between genders, but in the political movement as well. This is where we were over 30 years ago, and the fact that not much has changed is quite upsetting.

I met your rather huffy challenge with humor, OK?

If you were actually serious that you can understand the difference, you wouldn't have come at me in such a hostile and dismissive way.

But, of course, you're "right". :eyes:

Buh-bye...

Kanary

[Brian Sweat]

16. I said you would misconstrue my words and you did.

And I believe you are doing it on purpose.

"since all you guys have decided that the only issue here is a breast, and that women who take issue with that public display of violence are all just uptight and inhibited, and what you want is for sexuality to be more accepted and relaxed, then consider that as long as there is this "confusion" between sexuality and violence, you're not too likely to see a more open sexuality anytime soon."


I never said that this was the only issue. What I said was that to some people this is the only issue. These people are the ones that 1st SGT Mark A George was addressing. In dismissing them, he was not dismissing your concerns. Nor do I dismiss your concerns. Rape is a serious issue and should not be made light of.


Given that anytime a woman is raped, the first question asked of her is "What were you wearing?",

Really? Do you any proof of this? I have no doubt that it has happened and I have not doubt that there are some people that think that a woman who dresses loosely is asking to be raped, but I seriously doubt that "anytime" a woman is raped that that is the first question she is asked.




I know what is upsetting to me, and violence toward women as entertainment is high on that list.

And well is should be, but 1st SGT Mark A George was not talking about violence against women in entertainment and no one here dismissed your concerns.

Lumping me in with the right wing is beyond silly
I never lumped you in with the right wing and you know it. In fact my comment was that it would be those on the right who would ridicule you for expressing what I consider to be legitimate concerns.

[cally]

8. The outrage seems to be centered

on a woman's breast exposed. Seems bizarre when my outrage is that a man ripped the clothes off a woman and exposed her breast. Then to compound it, most seem to blame her and leave him blameless.

I am upset about it whether it was planned, a mistake, or agression. The ho hum attitude to ripping off a woman's bodice in a planned or simulated act of aggression offends me. It reminds of too many folks response to Arnie grabbing women's breasts without their consent. Is our society now saying this is OK? :scared:

[Mushroom]

2. creepy

"We’re at war in countries where people’s image of women is so low that the more fanatical of them insist that women must be covered from head to toe when in public. How much more advanced are we Americans when we turn something so innocent and natural into a taboo?"

Oh yeah, I can see how bodice ripping at the superbowl could be considered advancement for women. The right wants to advance us too.

What's all this obsession about.

[librarycard]

3. Commercials included flatulent horses and viagra.

Entertainers spent a lot of time holding their crotches.

At least we didn't have to be subjected to the "moveon" ad.

[Gung_Fu]

4. BMD

I have to agree with Kanary on this one, after all it didn't seem like J.J wished it to go that far. To be exposed as such against one's will is a violation of personal space.

The reaction that the right (not just the right a lot of people) had regarding the "boob" actually surprised me. Call me naive if you want but I never thought that an accident involving a mammary gland would cause such a stir. I guess it makes since though, it really goes back to the subject of female oppression. Not long ago showing leg was some what taboo and that women that did so had to be ashamed of themselves. Now women can vote and show leg but where a man can walk around without a shirt on, women cannot. But why not? I'll tell you why, because women are still held back by this conservative idea that women should be ashamed of themselves and there bodies. Hell nobody would say that's the reason but it is. Don't get me wrong I don't care whether women bear their chests or not, but maybe people should just lighten up. After all if it isn't your body why should you care?

[Kanary]

5. Hi Gung_Fu!

Welcome to DU!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

:toast:

I appreciate your vote for my statement.

However, from the rest of your post, I guess I'm not sure you understood completely what I'm saying.

It's NOT *shame* that holds women back, it's the constant threat of violence, whether subtle or blatant.

Women are *VULNERABLE*, as evidenced by the number of rapes in the military academies, as well as in Iraq itself.

To pretend that Janet Jackson's escapade was merely entertainment, is whitewashing the constant erosions of women's strength.

Kanary

Kucinich 2004!

[beanball]

6. Mookie Powell outraged

yo Mookie most Americans are outraged with yo pa for lying at the UN.

[Terwilliger]

12. LOL! Even the grunts don't give a shite!

Why are we expending so much time on it?

They were having a decency hearing on C-SPAN this morning when they COULDA been covering McClellan's diving and weaving!

[lebkuchen]

14. Michael Powell and the fundies getting bad press in a military paper

my favorite part...