Give Me a Break
2004-02-03, 9:09 a.m.

There are so many things worthy of our attention these days:

· the fact that a man that we did not elect started a war that was in violation of UN treaties and the American public did not support,

· that we “got” a man who was *not* the “reason” the war began in the first place.

· the man who we supposedly started the war in response to hasn’t even been on the *news* lately, much less a topic of interest to our government,

· unemployment is still high,

· far too many of us don’t have access to health care,

· drug costs are so high that people with serious illnesses have to choose between paying for their medications and eating,

· the environment is going to hell in a governmental handbasket,

· children are still terrorized in their own homes,

· women who are raped are suspect,

· the government is considering the one and only constitutional amendment specifically designed not to protect from discrimination but to enforce discrmination,

· and so on.

Yet, what is causing an uproar right now? A woman’s breast. Why is it so scandalous to see an exposed breast on a woman? We see bare chested men all over the place. Breasts are meant to feed children. That’s pretty much it but we have made them into such a sexualized part of our bodies that the inadvertent – or even purposeful – display of them is cause for “deep regret.” Christ. We’re going to have an investigation? About Janet Jackson’s breast? Give me a break.

I watched the half time show and was apparently not paying close enough attention. This breast exposure was so horrific that I didn’t even notice it. I thought their suggestive dance was pretty wild for mid-evening and would likely rile up all the good ol’ boys since it was an inter-racial suggestive dance. I thought Janet needed to get a different choreographer and try something new. But I didn’t even notice a partially exposed breast. I should have taped it so I could see what all the fuss is about.

PS: No, I did not watch the game. I only tuned in for the half-time show. Don’t even get me started on football in this country.