With both barrels fully loaded...I'm about to shoot up the critics - figuratively speaking, not literally - and blast all of you who feel that Miley Cyrus was misguided, mishandled, out-of-line and at fault with her somewhat sensual performance at the MTV Video Music Awards show on Sunday, August 25th, 2013.
The Parents Television Council called the act "inappropriate for children" and lambasted the cable network for allowing it to be shown...saying "heads should roll at MTV." I, on the other hand, am flabbergasted that Miley's musical schtick has provoked such criticism and has raised the eyebrows of so many people on cable television, conservative radio and across the Internet. One right-wing comment insisted that MTV is helping to destroy western civilization. Such a remark crosses the line of decency.
And then we have Rush Limbaugh. For the nationally syndicated radio talk show host to accuse Miley Cyrus of "this side of onstage pornography" is vicious and wicked. 
And for radio broadcaster, Laura Ingraham to attack MTV for contributing to "a moral downward spiral" is unwarranted and unfair.
But it was liberal commentator, Mika Brzezinski who surprised me the most with her reaction...as she vented her opinions saying Miley Cyrus is "deeply disturbed." I will often agree with Mika on a variety of issues, but not this time. The co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe ranted on Monday morning, August 26th by angrily protesting, "I don't think anybody should have put her up on stage. That was disgusting and embarrassing. (She made) a complete fool of herself."
Justin Timberlake, however, defended Miley Cyrus on the Jim Douglas radio show...and Justin doesn't understand why everyone is in such an uproar. "What did you guys expect? I like her a lot. She's letting everybody know that she's growing up." And Lady Gaga is also supporting Miley's controversial performance...and told The Sun newspaper that "People need to lighten up about pop music. It's about entertainment." Miley Cyrus accomplished what she, her agent, her manager, her publicist, her record label and MTV set out to do. And to be perfectly blunt about it - I applaud her for moving her career in the direction that she and her representatives want it to go. There is obviously no doubt...that the former star of Hannah Montana has - without question - severed herself from...and has now shed...the squeaky clean image of her wholesome, teeny bopper character from The Disney Channel.
While singing a medley of Miley's number one hit song, We Can't Stop and Robin's number one chart topper, Blurred Lines...Miley Cyrus stuck out her tongue, licked her lips and energetically "twerked" with Robin Thicke. The 20-year old entertainer also rubbed a foam finger up Robin's crotch before massaging her own genital area. So what?
Why has there been such tremendous outrage by parents and others about the sexual overtones in Miley and Robin's performance? Certain physical gestures by Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke may have been over the top, explicit and animated, but why was anybody so stunned? The VMAs are known for their jaw-dropping performances. Why were certain media commentators - along with Americans who have expressed their views on news Web sites and blogs - so shocked? Have you all been living in caves? This is 2013...not 1913. Sex... and the appearance of sex...is everywhere. Hot and steamy love scenes are portrayed on prime-time cable shows that are geared toward not only teens, but tweens. There's the likeness of sex on the major network's top rated sitcoms and dramas. And let us remember that there are erectile dysfunction commercials aired all over the place...promoting pills to help men "get hard" so they can have sex. And what about advertisements for condoms? If you think that children don't understand what all that advertising is about...you are sadly mistaken.
Are the pundits and parents who oppose MTV for allowing Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke to do their act...blind? Are they so ignorant to think that what Miley and Robin performed on stage was something so unique that it was the first time any teen - or even pre-teen - would have seen such body language? I grew up in the 1960s and 70s when girls wore the skimpiest of mini-skirts, the tightest of hotpants, and hiphugger jeans that looked as if they were painted on the most curvaceous of bodies. It was an era when hippies and flower children did more than just talk of "peace, love" - and let's face it - "sex."
It took a tragic health crisis during the 1980s - it took AIDS - to make it that sex was not promoted on television - at least not for awhile. I'm astounded that so many people are appalled by Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke's erotic act that some have chided them for being "obscene and raunchy." Are we living in a country of prudes who have no clue as to what is going on in America today? The 60s and 70s were tame compared to what many kids are doing in their bedrooms now. Most households today have only one parent - and the homes with a mom and a dad...well, generally both are working...so if you think your child is innocent of no sexual activity whatsoever - think again.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not condoning the behavior of youngsters - as young as 12, 13 or 14 years old - who are "fooling around" in the woods... and I'm not giving my approval for every kid - who is 15, 16 and 17-years old - to "hook-up." But I'm not going to totally disapprove of it either...and neither should most of you...just because you're now a parent. You'd be a hypocrite - at least most of you would be - as the majority of you were doing the same thing when you were that age.
I certainly wouldn't want my children to be participating in any form of sexual activity in their tween or early teen years. And would it be better for mid-range teens to wait until they're older? I suppose so. But parents need to communicate with their kids and educate them on everything there is to know about sex...and if necessary....provide them with the proper precautions so that a teen who is engaging in any kind of sexual act is fully prepared so that pregnancy or disease is not the result.
And let's remember that today...the generally accepted definition of "having sex"...or "sexual relations" is "having intercourse." Former President Bill Clinton has been named - in many surveys - "The most trusted man in America." Other polls have tagged our 42nd President as "The most beloved person in the U.S.A." And to quote an NBC News documentary...Bill Clinton is "President of the World" as "there isn't a single political figure today with the global reach and influence of Bill Clinton - a former U.S. President turned humanitarian and diplomat extraordinaire." And yet...during a "witch-hunt" by certain "Clinton haters"...Mr. Clinton was chastised for making the following statement. "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."
Based on those eleven words, President Clinton told the truth and did not lie...as there was never any evidence that he had intercourse with Monica Lewinsky.
It seems ridiculous to me that Miley Cyrus is being castigated and that she and Robin Thicke are being verbally thrashed because of a seductive dance move that some may find too arousing.
Parents - by all means - should sit down with their kids and discuss how boys should treat girls - and let's be honest - how girls should treat boys. And in this, the 21st century...when homosexuality is becoming more widely accepted - and rightfully so - mothers and fathers of gay and lesbian children should talk with those teenagers about how they should treat their boyfriends and girlfriends. But whether a kid is straight, gay or bisexual - despite what some parents may want to believe - their sons and daughters have easy access to pictures, videos and everything else visual that is all about "sex."
Women - teens and older - walk around with their boobs practically hanging out and over the top of their blouses to attract others. Men - again...teenagers and older - wear tight-fitting pants to show off their "package." Kids have many opportunities to look at something that is - in many ways - inches away from being...what some may perceive as being... pornographic. But despite what Rush Limbaugh may think...Miley Cyrus' performance at the VMAs was in no way...anywhere near...pornography.
Rock and pop stars from Michael Jackson to Justin Bieber have danced provocatively as they touched, grabbed and held their crotches. 
Britney Spears has slithered across stages in the sexiest of garb while Madonna has exhibited her femininity by wearing pointy bosom apparel. And numerous other celebrities have appeared in a variety of revealing attire that would make certain individuals blush. So Miley Cyrus' close-fitting leotard and nude-colored bikini was nothing to gripe about.In recent months...every television news program - not to mention Internet Web sites - have reported about male political figures who have had sex with prostitutes or who have revealed their "junk" in photos. Teens talk about this stuff on the playgrounds and in the classrooms of their schools. There are those of you who may say that MTV shouldn't blatantly throw sex in to our faces. It doesn't matter. Sex is everywhere. On TV...in the movies. We can have all the rating systems in the world...but if a kid really wants to see a film or television show - he or she is going to see it. Just as my friends and I were able to get copies of Playboy and Penthouse magazines... youngsters today can get access to nudity in other media forms. Therefore, watching Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke on MTV is harmless...compared to what else is around for kids to view.
Ratings for this year's Video Music Awards presentation soared through the roof...and MTV made a ton of money for producing the telecast. More than 10 million people watched the program. That's 66 percent higher than last year's show.
Miley Cyrus is not a Disney star anymore...and I can assure you that she, MTV and all of Miley's representatives are smiling today. After all...millions of people...all across the United States and around the world...are talking about Miley's performance on the VMAs...and her songs are skyrocketing to the top. She has two of the top five hits on iTunes.
I read a comment posted on a news Web site by an individual who stated, "I hope she (Miley Cyrus) has enough money saved up from her Disney days to live on...because she just killed what was left of her career." That is far from the truth. After all...people have made similar remarks about Hollywood drug addicts and wife beaters...along with show-business superstars who have made racist and antisemitic slurs or who have been involved in fist-fights or have trashed hotel rooms...and their careers were not damaged. I would in no way compare Miley Cyrus' performance on the VMAs to anything as bad as the examples I described above.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy will make an effort to publish a new commentary every Sunday. Unscheduled essays may appear, from time to time, on other days as well.
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