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Happy Tuesday! This week you'll have the chance to win a copy of Priceless before it hits the streets. This will start with tomorrow post so make sure you're signed up for my blog through the RSS feed or by entering you're email on the right.
Here's a follow up to yesterday's post. Thanks to my Facebook friend, Jennifer Harris, for the heads up on this. ABC news did an interview with some of the parents of the 7-9 year old girls dancing provocatively to Beyonce's song, single ladies. If this is what parenting in America has come down to, we are in trouble. What do you think of their views regarding their children?
posted May 18, 2010 at 8:37 am
What you teach your children is okay for dance class or competition, they will assume it is okay in any environment. This is ridiculous. The outfits, song choice, and the suggestive dance make me sad. The parents said it is completely normal….exactly!!! I don’t want to be normal. I don’t want my children to be normal. I want us to honor God. I just think it’s parents wanting their children to fit in or being okay with that instead of wanting them to stand out as people who do the right thing, even when everyone around us isn’t.
posted May 18, 2010 at 8:49 am
As father to a young daughter I am saddened and sickened at the lengths of justification for this event, the choice of attire and the overtly sexual nature of the performance these girls were instructed to perform. I love how one of the quotes indicated essentially “who are we to impose our adult views of what is right on children?”. Really? Who are we, the adults, to impose what is right and wrong on children? We need to repent as a nation and it doesn’t start with the parents of these girls or the people who justify this behavior. It starts with “If my people who are called by my name…”
posted May 18, 2010 at 10:02 am
I am co-owner of a children’s performing arts academy. Unfortunately, this style of dancing and costuming is quite common at dance competitions. These girls are very good dancers and could be using their talent in a much more creative and challenging way. It is sickening to me that groups like this win at competitions. My sister-in-law, who is also part owner of our business, started a petition for age appropriate dancing at competitions. The petition was created in response to MANY dance studio owners who are absolutely against the exploitation of young children, which is what this is. She, and other dance teachers, submitted the signed petition to the dance competition organizations and received no response. They have moved on and are submitting it to media groups, but have not heard back from any of them. They have started a facebook page for the petition in hopes of getting more signatures. Anyone can sign it. The facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=119494914745038
posted May 18, 2010 at 10:17 am
Thank *you* so much, Tom, for your OP on this yesterday and for your ministry in protecting and ministering to children!
Agreeing so much with the other Jen Harris above…”I don’t want my children to be normal. I want us to honor God.” Also agreeing that it has to start with *us*…God’s people.
I blogged the “first installment” of my thoughts on this yesterday here… http://jenbh.blogspot.com/2010/05/protecting-children-part-1.html .
Protecting children is an issue very close to my heart. God has brought me in recent weeks to the place where it is time not just to hurt about it, but to *do something* about it. I’m not sure how exactly that is all going to come together in the coming days, but I’m excited to see where God is going to lead!
posted May 18, 2010 at 11:57 am
Super sad.
My heart breaks for these little girls. Their only fault is that they dreamed of dancing – like many little girls do. The very people that should have been protecting them have instead betrayed them by not watching out for their best interest.
Only God knows how many of the hits on this video are pedophiles…
posted May 19, 2010 at 7:02 am
Thanks for your comments about the dance world. I have a six year old in ballet and can’t imagine a dance teacher even considering forcing her to do what these parents have done. Mike, I am with you – especially as a father of daughters. These girls are being used by there parents and the system. Lord have mercy.
posted May 22, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Ugh! I want to vomit. This video is so disturbing. I work with girls that have been sexually abused, raped by family, prostituted by family members, sold to men down the street, Video’s like this just make me crazy!
The parents need to really take a hard look at what they are training their children for. NO child should be dancing like that in front of an audience. I’m just so sad and perplexed about this.