Jill’s last blog post..Recipe Box Swap

Adrianne’s last blog post..What do you think?

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/02/apple_dumplings/

Memarie Lane’s last blog post..Cream Puffs!

You’re absolutely right that modesty is highly relative and dependent also on context. I wanted to say something in my post about this, but I had already gone on pretty long.

When we lived in Cairo, I was always the most immodest person around, by far, except when we were only with other expats, and even then, I wore capris and short sleeves. Some expats are more respectful of the culture than that, and tourists are usually much less respectful.

When we lived in Florida, I was usually the most modest person around — even at the beach, there’s a wide range of attire (in Egypt I saw women ‘swim’ in the Med Sea and Red Sea in full clothing, including head scarves).

So every family, and then every person has to decide what level of modesty is appropriate for them, and then stick with it. And, of course (as evident from nude resorts and topless beaches, etc), some people think the entire concept of modesty is old-fashioned, repressed, naive, un-loving-of-our-bodies, etc.

Most mothers I know do feel that modesty is important, even if we all interpret what “modest” means differently.

What I object to in this whole brouhaha is that I think that the Cyrus family, in their promotion of themselves as family-friendly (her audience is heavily 6-11), and in Miley’s supposed statements of embarrassment afterwards, and especially in her initial “can’t say no,” indicates a disconnect between their own values and their own actions.

(I hope) I’m not trying to impose my own values on them, but I honestly feel like Miley/Billy Ray made a bad choice here (not) based on their own values.

But I totally understand why some people think it’s an inappropriate photo of a 15 year-old. I get it. But I just don’t get why this is all such a big friggin’ deal.

Great post. Your first line rocked. funny.

the mama bird diaries’s last blog post..it’s a girls town

Loraine’s last blog post..MMSM- still trying to smile after Sunday

A-R-T.

Marie — love the “hooker heels.” Better than the alternative I’ve heard, and nicely alliterative (or, as I read on a blog yesterday “illiterative,” which was highly appropriate for that blog). You’re right, of course, that Miley has worn other skanky stuff, and I do think a 15 year old (esp. one in show business, I agree, Cynthia) bears quite a bit of responsibility for how she presents herself.

Danielle — Good point on the editing adding to the inappropriateness of the image. I assume (knowing how risky that is) that Miley and her parents had veto power over the finished product. Of course she can wear whatever she wants, but she can’t be a role model for my kids if she chooses to undress in public. I mean, unless they start doing surgery in the streets or something.

Tara — read an article yesterday about nude vacations, and you’re right, we need to not go along with the new norm.

Tracey and LL — totally agree!

tarable’s last blog post..Dirty Yourself Clean

http://perezhilton.com/2008-04-21-fill-in-the-blank-146

http://perezhilton.com/2008-01-25-real-or-photoshop

She also tends to dress very provocatively when making public appearances, in micro-minis and hooker heels and such.

Memarie Lane’s last blog post..Some helpful diagrams for pregnant women

Memarie Lane’s last blog post..Some helpful diagrams for pregnant women

Anyway, I think any teenager would be thrilled to be in vanity fair and she probably assumed that they were doing the right thing and trusted them too much. Her parents probably weren’t as attentive as they should have been, but they do a pretty good job with her otherwise.

Anyway, I like your spin of what you can teach your girls about this situation. Thats a good way to look at it.

Danielle Waters’s last blog post..Maybe these are just funny to me.

Lady Lyn’s last blog post..Pooh & Honey

tracey’s last blog post..A thousand words….