Get My Television Fix

Last night, The American Music Awards aired on ABC.  The show closed with what was expected to be an interesting performance by American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert.  Lambert, in his usual shocking fashion, really went all out for his performance.

Lambert, who is openly gay, played a sort of circus dominatrix and his performance included some suggestive dancing as well as a kiss with a male band member.  Of course all of this was intended to shock, and shock it did.

Many people are up in arms this morning about the nature of his performance.  Some feel the FCC should consider fining ABC for not censoring the performance.  I feel we all just need to lighten up sometimes.  We sometimes expect our government to get involved and fix every little thing we might not approve of.  There really was no violation of the laws of the FCC, so we all just need to relax a little.
Music has always been shocking.  Performers have pushed the envelope as far back as I can think.  When it comes to Adam Lambert, he managed to be shocking on a show like American Idol.  One should expect him to be really shocking when not tied down by the family programming anymore.  Remember Madonna kissing Britney?  People were shocked, but the FCC didn't step in then.

I've read multiple comments from people about how had their children watching and that is their problem.  It is not the government's responsibility to know if you have put your child to bed or not.  Lambert's performance aired at nearly 11 pm, far past what the FCC would consider children's viewing times.  There has to come a point in time when parents are responsible for their children and what they see.  The government censors try to help parents out, but they can't control everything.

I just think we are such a hypocritical country.  The government is constantly too involved in our lives; we hate that "the man" is always telling us what to do.  Then it comes to a simple music performance and we wonder why the government isn't there to protect our kids.  Children have parents for a reason.  They need someone to look out for their well-being.  Government can only help so much until it's up to good parenting.  Just as a television, iPod, or cell phone is not a parent, nor is "the man."