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At last night's Youth Inaugural Concert, hosted by Jenna and Barbara Bush, and packed full with the Hillary Duff crowd (also known as the "tweens"), one of the performers dropped a choice word that no parent wants their child to hear at a presidential celebration (or period for that matter). The AP reports:

"You might say the Janet Jackson moment of President Bush's inaugural festivities came Tuesday at a youth concert with hundreds of preteen Hilary Duff fans in the audience.

No nudity was involved, but the Vince Neil-style profanity probably didn't win rock band Fuel any fans at the Federal Communications Commission, nor from the parents at the concert. Now the Pennsylvania band is just hoping the concert, "America's Future Rocks Today," wasn't aired live.

Borrowing a word from Motley Crue's Neil, the lead singer of Fuel proclaimed, "Welcome to the greatest ----ing country in the world." Brett Scallions followed with a quick apology of "excuse my language."

How Classy of him. Call me crazy, but I think it not the least bit unreasonable to assume that people know better than the curse in front of children, and certainly not at an event with the word "President' attached to it.

Can we say Tacky?

I don't think profanity should be used in any context.

IMO it shows the user as one weak in vernacular and intellectual property.

As a side note, I don't think 'curse' should be synonymous with profanity, you can use profanity toward someone without 'cursing' them.

It was a thoughtless slip, but it would have been classier for him to not apologize in the first place and look like a pansy in front of his fans. Parents know that their kids are constantly exposed to bad language at school, in music (who doesn't have the two-disc Outkast album?), in movies and after-10 cable ("The Shield," "Nip/Tuck," "South Park"). Tweens are hardly children. If it were anywhere other than an inaugural concert, it would have been fairly normal. The more shocking sentiment to me was that a rock musician actually had something good to say about America. That could have more effect on a tween than an errant f-word. It's preferable to a bunch of junior-high girls mimicking the dancing and clothing they saw at the Britney Spears concert.

Imagine the smut level at a Kerry inauguration party. At least the Hollywood stars are avoiding Washington this week. The President had the right idea during the campaign- limiting the people with show biz connections in major appearances to Gov. Arnold and country music singers. Wide cultural gap out there, you understand.

I wish he had not used profanity at all in the first place -- but at least he apologized. When you hear about the profanity-laced celebrations otherwise, they are NOT a slip of the tongue nor are they apologized for! The fellow knew what he said was inappropriate (and I agree with your first person who said that profanity is inappropriate NOT just at inaugraul activities, but in many cases even where we accept it now -- as your third commenter proves. Quite frankly, I'd be happy to just go back to the times when gentlemen -never- used profanity around women or children, just among themselves.)

BTW Greg, what is this "Two-disc Outkast album" you talk about? I've never even heard of it.

I don't have the two-disc Outkast album, either. I listen to the alt/album-rock station in the car, but I only buy the good stuff--not death-thrashing Seattle grunge by people who can't even spell the name of their own band.

(My tweener son prefers Lifehouse and FFH, though I have taught him to appreciate the finer points of Over The Rhine and Pink Floyd.)

The "cursing kids" title was just a play on words. And I agree alex, there is a difference between that and using profanity. Although they can be linked.

IN any case, yes, I'm glad he apologized. However, I think that professionals ought to have better control of their faculties.

Then again, from the abundance of the heart......yeah.

I think use of profanity lacks class and grasp of the English language. Save a few words that should be used in proper context, most of our cultural onscenities are totally inapporpriate and telling of some jacked up heart issues.

ugh, I'll write on this one day...