My Bad

I read two articles in the New York Times today. First, NBC has apologized for their introductory skit, which involved a plane crash. They acknowledged that it was insensitive to the fact that roughly 50 people died in a Kentucky plane crash recently. This brings up the question of when is the right time? Some people thought it was too soon for movies on the 9/11 attacks ("Flight 93" and "World Trade Center") to be shown in theaters. The same goes for television shows albeit on a different level. Should we move "Grey's Anatomy" to TV's big night, Thursday or keep it in its original timeslot of Sundays? What is the right time?

Second, Britney Spears is stirring up some controversy all the way in Japan. Her photograph on the Japanese Bazaar edition has had an on again, off again relationship with the Tokyo Metro (a subway station). As of today, it's on again after commuters complained about the Tokyo Metro's request that the magazine conceal the picture below the elbows.

I don't think that giant ads like that are appropriate, but there are hundreds, if not more, of them out there and to only condemn Britney's is wrong. You're probably saying, "Well, it's going to be on magazine stands everywhere anyway. What's one more place?" The difference is that those who buy the magazine are actually interested in things other than the cover whereas the commuters see the cover and only the cover. On the flipside, it's good to know that the people's opinions are being heard--even though it's in the east side of the world. Take comfort in the fact that we are not the only country fussing over Britney Spears.

Then again, this whole incident only brings to light how majority perceive the human genitals as taboo. We can most likely put the blame on parents teaching their kids that either their penises are birdies or their vaginas are flowers. It sends the message that they should be ashamed of their sexuality and that it's not okay to call sex for what it really is, let alone talk about it. Thus, the kids look to other sources for information such as the media, which is often worse than having the parents do the actual talking. So, really, the reason that the parental units are trying to protect their children is bogus. If I have kids, I'm telling them that their penises are penises and their vaginas are vaginas just like their heads, shoulders knees, and toes are heads, shoulders, knees, and toes. Will you join me?