Shak Your Booty

OK, to bridge the gap a little, I'm going to talk about one subject that my brother Ray and I can agree on:  Hotness.

In case some of you missed it, because you still communicate by CB radio, the Super Bowl was this past weekend.  And the halftime show was a treat for anyone who appreciates female beauty performance.  Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.  Two names that just give me the warm and fuzzies.  (Excuse me... I need to go wash my hands before I continue.

OK I'm back.)  They went on to give some great vocal performances, as well as a lot of sex appeal.  I mean, seriously.  They're Freaking Shakira and Jennifer Freaking Lopez.  My brother and I agree on practically nothing, but we agree on one thing:  He would cut off his left arm for a shot at Shakira, and I would... well, I would also cut off Ray's left arm for a shot at Shakira. 

Now, full disclosure:  I didn't pay all that close of attention to the Super Bowl Halftime Show.  Because, well... it's a halftime show.  I'm actually a football fan.  I know this day is more than just a game; it's a showcase event.  But I actually watch for the game.  I'm against these prolonged halftime shows because it lengthens the break in the action, which affects the players.  And to me, the game that crowns a champion is the last day you should be doing so.  But I digress.  Halftime is when I eat, drink, poop, do dishes, and check my email.  (Trust me -- not necessarily in that order.)  So I was only sort of watching the ladies tear it up.  But here's what I saw:

Pole dancing, and half-naked ladies shaking their ass. 

But this blog is less about that, and more about the predictible reactions from both sides of the spectrum.  (Or both rows of seats on the Bus.)

Let's start with the professionally offended people whining about the over-sexualized show on primetime network TV that's ruining society.  Sheesh.  Number one, as I've already pointed out, it's Freaking Shakira and Jennifer Freaking Lopez.  Did anyone expect these two to put on ponchos and ski masks and sing Gospel tunes?  That's like expecting Billy Joel to go out there and rap.  Or Donald Trump to say something intelligent.  Or Baker Mayfield completing a pass.  They're two of the hottest women on the planet.  Of course any show they put on is going to involve sexiness. 

So, if you tune into the Super Bowl, and you had even the slightest inkling of what the halftime show is, you shouldn't have been surprised at what was coming.  If you're a parent, and think this is an example of objectification of women, or shoving sex in people's faces, you had ample time to get your kids out of the room, or to just change the channel.  Why not try acting like a parent, instead of expecting everyone else to child-proof the planet on your behalf?

And if you just don't enjoy it yourself, because you don't enjoy women acting like strippers on live TV, well -- that's certainly a reasonable opinion.  But no one's holding a gun to your head.  Do something else for twenty minutes.

Now... there's also a lot of opinion out there trying to spin that act as "female empowerment."  Basically, an example of two strong, confident women, taking charge of their own sexuality, and fighting the patriarchy, setting examples for young girls...

Sistah, please.

What "example" are they setting?  That if you're super hot, and you dance around half-naked, you can accomplish anything?  That's somehow "empowering?"  Welcome to ShortBus; feel free to grab a window seat.  I get it that the entertainment world isn't exactly representative of society as a whole, but watching two chicks who used their sex appeal to climb the corporate ladder isn't exactly my idea of feminism. 

Does everything have to be a big picture statement now?  Why can't a show just be a show?  Enjoy it or don't.  And shut the hell up about it.  It's not life-or-death.  You don't need to lose sleep over it.  Or whine about it publicly.  Or act like it's more than it is.  Or... you know, blog about it three days later.  Um, uh, anyway...