Let me get this straight...My oh Miley Cyrus

Of all the self absorbed, bone headed, outright unconscionable things to do...

OK first, I am not a fan of the vapid Walt Disney television programing that so many of today's kids and their small minded parents are enamored of. Second, I am a huge fan of Annie Leibovitz. Third, the photographs I'm writing about are not pornographic, not erotic-not even a little. They are art photographs, of a young woman-on the edge of her womanhood. Anyone who looks at these photos and sees something of a sexual nature is a pervert. Provocative photos- yes. Sexual photos-hell no.
These photos are, in fact, beautiful. And, they certainly lend an essence of "human grace" to an otherwise spoiled, self- indulgent, young woman.

Miley should be grateful to Annie Leibovitz, because these pictures will most likely be the most important and inspired record of her youth. Nothing that Miley ever does, will ever feel like the day she stepped out of the lines that have been drawn for her. Nothing.

This is the look Annie captured in her eyes. It is Miley's recognition of infinite possibility.

I would, I think, cut off my left arm for Annie to capture a moment of complete unguarded honesty in my own daughters eyes. Because, like any mother I am fascinated by the young woman I helped bring to this earth. I would love to see just once in my daughters eyes a glimmer of the truth that her life will one day be.
A truth that most parents rarely witness. Really, be honest.

Caught forever on film, is that unguarded honesty in Miley's eyes. It is something that Billy Ray Cyrus (her Father) can't leech, or use, or manipulate.
It is something "Disney" has been unable to control or damage.

But I digress, if your going to be disturbed by "this rant" that I will, in fact, tear the "not so precious" Miley Cyrus a new ass- then stop reading now. Maybe tomorrows blog will be more to your liking. Then again, I am pretty sure I don't care.

How dare she (Miley). And, how dare this ass backwards, stuck in some kind of perverse conservative dark ages- country of ours, attack Annie Leibovitz.

Miley is old enough to discern her own level of maturity, and her own level of comfort.
I did when I was fifteen.
So did all of my friends at the time. We knew our limits. Yes, teenagers can recognize limits.
Miley allowed the photos because she needed to, and reveled in a moment of pure selfish abandon- and theres nothing wrong with the fact that she did it. That is what normal teenagers do. That is what young woman learning about their approaching womanhood do.

But, Disney is a powerful empire. With overlords who saw a "billion dollar brand" loose it squeaky clean image. The spin doctors when to work fast, but Disney executives went for her jugular, and Miley, had a choice to make at fifteen, that will define her career.
Oh and she chose badly.
This young woman has a something (not outright talent) but a something that her father never had. She is not always going to need Disney to cut her checks. She had an opportunity to break free from mediocrity, and from the clutches of a puritanical construct that truly limits her own understanding of self.

Miley's talent level is still in question, but her intelligence should not be.
She is smart enough to know that she capitulated, and did what was easy, instead of what was right. She allowed unfair criticism, possible criminal accusations, and disrespect, to be leveled at one of the premiere art photographers of our modern times- just so she could assuage the guilt of an American institution that does nothing to enlighten American youth.
(She has to be feeling like total shit right about now)
An institution, mind you, that's not even slightly reminiscent of it's brilliant past.

Miley should tell Disney to go to hell. She should take her millions, emancipate herself from her desperate, clinging, has- been father, and apologize to Annie Leibovitz, profusely. I mean it, she should grovel for forgiveness. She should also apologize to the American people-but, not for the pictures.
The apology should be for selling herself out, selling herself short, and for denying Annie Leibovitz the respect her art deserves.

Then we might see a "real manifestation" of the spectacular promise that was revealed in her gaze.

I will wait with hope that she gets her "true mistake", and corrects it quickly.
I really hope, with a wild hope, that Miley takes the bull, she sent running, by the horns and rides it to her true destiny. I hope.
- Renee