Soooooo….by now The Shaun is sure you have either seen or heard about M.I.A. flipping the bird during her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. As it is proper custom, NBC and the NFL immediately blamed each other. NFL pointing the finger at NBC’s technical crew stating they were slow on the censor trigger while NBC responded by noting that the NFL hired the talent for the show!
Now, of course, by now the mass media news outlets have completely and hypocritically overreacted to this and demanded action which will set off the red alert at the FCC. The Shaun continues to be confused and frustrated by the U.S. media’s outrage over such minor flashes but openly allow foul language, graphic violence and various sexual innuendos nightly on broadcast TV.
Case in point, M.I.A. barely two second flash of the middle finger is being criticized while this one minute sexually charged Fiat commercial is found acceptable?
SERIOUSLY?!
The Shaun personally is not offended by either case but is greatly offended by the continuous double-standard as it relates to what qualifies obscenity on network TV. This goes especially for matter like this when it is more than likely quite a number of those watching the Super Bowl missed the flash and knew nothing of it until the series of replays that are no doubt taking place on every media network. Frankly, it’s pathetic considering the actual obviously more pressing issues in the world that should be given such coverage.
What the media should be focusing on in regards to M.I.A.’s middle finger is not the act but the potential motivation behind the act. M.I.A. has long been am artist very open by her political views and activist charged lyrics. For those who have not actually listened to her song, Paper Planes, and just associate it with the movie which made it popular in the states; please know that the song is not about smoking weed in anyway shaped or form. The song is a musical protest immigration and stereotypes. What is hilarious at this point, almost a full day after the bird seen around the world, is it seem no one has yet to even ask M.I.A. why she did it. It is not like she did it on accident.
Maybe it’s because many are more comfortable pointing the finger than having it flashed back at them.
