BRITNEY SPEARS
I don't know much about popular music and I don't really follow the pop stars. But popular favorites don't escape my notice either. I read web pages and magazines and newspapers and watch tv. So I've seen many items about the entertainer Britney Spears. I've been curious about her because I read so much critical material. People criticize her voice, her shows, her alleged hypocrisy, her very way of life. I was particularly struck by a young woman in a newspaper poll who found Ms. Spears degrading to women. So I watched her cable special to see if I could learn something.
I was entertained by the Spears special even though I knew none of the music and couldn't hear very many of the words to her songs. It was a combination of effects, dancing and singing, with Spears an energetic presence throughout. She obviously has worked hard, enjoys her work and is committed to giving her audience its money's worth. I saw nothing to criticize. Her scanty costumes seemed no different from those I see regularly on tv and while, in another time, I could understand someone viewing her costumes as scandalous, they seemed entirely in keeping with our age.
I also saw a biographical special that described her as hard-working from a very early age so I began to see why she's so good at what she does. Then I read how anxious she has been to maintain a relationship with her boyfriend and how shattered she was when he seemed to be straying. I came away admiring her, both for her personal qualities and her talent as an entertainer. Recognizing that I know only her public persona, mostly the persona she wants the public to see, I can still say I would be proud to have Ms. Spears as a daughter.
When I tried to understand all the criticism, I concluded that there are several things at work. First, there is a group of young people who like to make fun of everything and a Britney Spears is an obvious target. Second, there are many people who sincerely decry the way young women dress today and she is a visible symbol of their target. Third, I think there are people who are jealous of her, who need to belittle her skill to make themselves feel better, who take pleasure in bringing others down to compensate for what they perceive as failure on their own part.
It's the latter feeling that worries me. As I've urged before, we don't deal with a static pie. We can all succeed. Another person's success does nothing to impede our own. We don't need to be jealous, we need to work on our own goals. If we do, we'll succeed and we can all enjoy the success of Britney Spears and applaud her for her talent and hard work.
[My shoulder continues to improve. I'm now very confident of enjoying my summer golf trip. In fact, I've already packed so I can send my bags on in advance. As I try to improve strength and stamina, I find therapy more exhausting but even more important. I'm very thankful I've had such good medical and post-op care. I'll keep you posted.]
6-10-02
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