Ranting Parents of Hillsboro Blast Celebration's Strippers

I came across this piece yesterday on OregonLive.com but it was drawn from Hillsboro's own stellar font of journalism, "The Argus": Civic Center celebration both a success and learning experience (link should be available until about the 11th of Aug).

The Civic Center grand opening celebration last weekend was a success, but it was also a learning experience for Hillsboro in a number of ways.

It then goes on to explain that time capsules should not run 30 minutes late but that the bulk of what needed to be learned was that if the city is going to be in the business of providing 'family-friendly' entertainment, then they need to do a better job of screening it for 'appropriateness' beforehand.

See, it seems that some parents, including a ______ (I'm holding back the adjective) city councilor, compared Salsa band Caballo Negro's (Black Horse) dancers to "Las Vegas strippers." Said some rocket scientist, "the girls wore revealing outfits and performed suggestive 'grinding' dance moves." Oh, maybe that's the journalist's own opinion.

But here's the part I really like:

"As a city official, I've been bombarded by people who were insulted, who thought it was approved of by the Latino community," O'Donnell said Tuesday at a Hillsboro City Council meeting. "There are Latinos in my family, and none of them approved of it. I want the city to have a policy to make sure this never happens again."

Great, so how about the City of Hillsboro establishing the Office of Child Appropriate Entertainment and give them the mission of insuring that nothing that could offend the sensibilities of a few, narrow-minded people ever be performed publicly in the city in the future. And since we are against new taxes to fund government solutions now, let's just gut something like the police, fire or roads budget to make sure that Councilor O'Donnell and friends aren't challenged.

Gee, I guess they never watch any TV, movies, etc since this seems par for the course for a culture obsessed with the sexual objectification of women. It's not like the clothing for sale to young women is at all revealing. But I diverge.

What I don't understand is why must the city do away with things others like because a minority group doesn't like it? Was the performance abusive? degrading? or did it just not suit the taste of some?

Why didn't those like O'Donnell who felt the show was not to their liking simply walk away, go somewhere else, and do something different? I guess as an important figure like city councilor, she was tied to her seat with her eyeballs held open (a la Clockwork Orange) and made to suffer through the show. I'm so glad I didn't vote for her in the last election!

For me, I thought the entire day was going to be nothing more than a giant free daycare center so I didn't even bother to go. Let's see, here is the piece from OregonLive heralding the event (CIVIC CENTER COMMUNITY CELEBRATION)

Jugglers, mimes, face painters and a comedian will crack up, thrill and mystify children and parents with hands-on activities. Kids can compete in toss beanbag games, make arts and crafts, learn about nature and renewable energy or fish and golf by lining up for a handful of carnival games.

I also seem to remember the city newsletter going on and on about kid this and children that. Gee, reading the article from The Argus, I feel like I might have actually missed out on some cross-cultural stimulation. Well, it's not like I haven't seen Salsa bands before let alone young chicks in tight clothing shaking it for the boys. (Yeah, I saw MTV and VH1 back when I had cable. Oh, and there were all those rap videos - I bet O'Donnell really enjoys them!)

Yes, I'm sure there were a couple of things I would have found interesting, maybe even enjoyable, but I had no interest in tripping over someone else's uncontrolled monsters as they run around, loaded up on sugar, from face panting to mime, to fire engine, screaming all the time. I really wonder what percentage of people with children were at this event compared with the percentage of single and childless adults, seniors, the disabled, etc. I'm still convinced it was a giant daycare center....

If the city is going to get into the entertainment business, it should provide things that appeal to all residents. Now that doesn't mean that every single thing has to meet with the approval of each and every resident. No, they should have something for everyone and if a resident doesn't like a given item, they can walk away! Clearly, the last thing it needs is thought police.