by The outrage over the Seven-Year-Old grinders back in May was well-deserved. Their dance performance was inappropriate, silly, and entirely misbegotten. However, there was no serious chatter from authorities about prosecuting the parents or the choreographer for the promotion child pornography — even though the awful Perez Hilton was more recently pilloried for something far less worse or vile — in fact, you can still watch the whole grinding video on CNN.com right now.
The Grinding Seven-Year-Olds video has been removed from YouTube for “Copyright Violations” — I’m hoping keener heads prevailed and someone in the chain of responsibility for those children finally stood up and said, “This is wrong!” and that led to the take-down notice.
CNN still runs the video on their website because, I guess, they think it is newsworthy and not child pornography? I wonder what it would take for CNN to have not aired that video? Even skimpier outfits? The addition of inappropriate props?
What fascinates me is the verifiable chain of custody for the bad decisions that brought those children into our bloodshot public eye for ridicule:
1. Somebody had to have the terrible idea to have those children grind even though they’re only in the second grade.
2. The parents had to agree to let their children grind.
3. The children had to be taught how to grind. I can imagine the feedback from the choreographer: “Honey, can you tilt your butt up just a little bit more as you jiggle your jelly? Right. Good. Buttcrack is moneymaker! Oh, and pop out those breast buds more by arching your back. Yes, that’s it. Like you’re riding bareback on a horse.”
4. Through countless rehearsals, everyone who saw the performance approved of the shaking and grinding and let it continue into live performance.
5. In performance, the horny crowd cheers a childhood grinding that, most assuredly, will mature into adult onset sluttiness.
There is a complete lack or morality and values in that basic five-step chain of custody — and one must ponder how so many children could be so wholly abandoned by the very adults vested in protecting them from harm and ridicule and the grotesque manifestations of a sexuality that they are merely imitating and not fully comprehending.
We didn’t lock away Perez Hilton for his one known indiscretion; but should we take every adult involved with the Seven-Year-Old Grinders and prosecute them for promoting child pornography under the guise of dance entertainment?
Absolutely, David. Lock them up — all of them.
While we’re at it, we need to get at the people making shows like Toddlers in Tiaras. Gross.
Yes! Lock them all up — and sterilize them.
Toddlers and Tiaras is absolutely pandering to the child porn crowd — and the fact that those stage mothers refuse to see the harm they are inflicting on their daughters is incredibly sad and dismaying.
I didn’t see this and I’m glad. Children need to be protected, not exploited. I know that the parents probably thought it was just cute mimicking but that was too much. I’m sorry to admit that I had a similiar issue with my daughter. She and her friends were about ten, and fully clothed of course, but I still have regrets. The girls did their rendition of Destiny’s Child’s hit song ‘Bootylicious’ for the school talent exhibition. With a million things going on and a full time job I guess I hadn’t paid much attention to the choreography. My daughter’s teacher was so embarrassed she couldn’t even say ‘Bootylicious’ and called it ‘Bubblelicious’ on purpose –but most people liked it. It was more singing than dancing but I recall cringing and holding my breath when my daughter did a few too many hip clicks and dips for my liking. So I made it my business to never let it happen again or at least not while I was in the audience. My daughter continued in various dance contests and shows in her teens and I always discouraged what we call ‘booty dancing’ until she finally told me that that is how everyone dances now. I had no idea. Anyway I’m glad I wasn’t nagging for nothing and my daughter has taken up ballet and modern dance as a way to express herself in a more genuine way. I still feel bad for letting her get up there in the first place — she was a kid and it was my job to watch out for her. Sometimes doing what is right is not popular but you’ll sleep better at night. A lot of todays music is not good for the soul and my kids used to moan about my constant monitoring but I know it was for their own good. You live and learn.
That’s an amazing comment, Michelle, thank you!
I’ve never been one to buy into the “but everybody’s doing it” excuse — because it really has nothing to do with the specific morality of the self, family or parent.