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Before bothering to author an article, I was sure to read every other piece that has been contributed to this site so far on this topic, quite sure I would run across at least one that discussed the real, overarching issue involved with Britney's appearance on the MTV Video Awards, and what it means. But, unfortunately, everyone seems to be missing the point, and either poking fun at her or defending her. That's for the tabloids and fansites...why not a discussion of something worthwhile?

First of all, it's very important to realize that the people at MTV designed Britney's "comeback" to be a disaster. Do you really think they didn't know exactly what was going to happen? That was the plan. Look at all the publicity that Britney's pathetic performance has created. Everyone and their gossip-hungry dog has been eating it up with a spoon. This is exactly what MTV anticipated. If you don't believe it, can you explain why they followed Britney's act with Sarah Silverman, the Queen of Low Blows herself? She's the only comedian alive that you can always count on to kick anybody and everybody when they're down.

The whole thing was designed to be a circus that every blogger and YouTube poster would jump right into, and it has worked beautifully.

But the fact that it was all a set up doesn't really matter. What matters is our response, which has overwhelmingly been to laugh in Britney's face. While I don't consider her to be a good role model, the fact of the matter is that her life and career has been shaped by many, many outside factors, of which we, her public, are no small part. Everyone from her disgusting parents, to the heartless music industry, to everyone who has laughed at her or aspired to be her has designed her current fate.

Britney is the symbol of our society's desperate need to create ultra-sexed feminine idols and relentlessly pressure them to meet impossible standards, and then scold and deride them without mercy when they inevitably fail to live up to our Olympian expectations.

Even the attention garnered by her less-than-supermodel-worthy physique is inexcusable. What percentage of Americans could even fit into the bikini she was wearing? Yet, everyone has the nerve to call her fat. Don't you see that unrealistic standards are the problem? If Britney is fat, why is anyone surprised that anorexia and bulimia run amok in our high schools and colleges? We are the creators of our own sickness, and it's time we acknowledged that. It seems a little more important than a crooked wig or some botched dance moves.

It's not Britney's modest cellulite that's disgusting; it's us.

Learn more about this author, Zane Taylor.
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