Tracy Press

Former Press intern Brian Hoovler writes that there could be — and are — worse role models than Miley Cyrus.

Parents everywhere try to make the right choices when it comes to what they let their kids watch on television. Based on the huge success of "Hannah Montana" on the Disney Channel, it would appear that many parents are willing to let their children watch and listen to Miley Cyrus, who plays Miley Stewart and her alter-ego, Hannah, on the show and has had sell-out concerts.

Recently, though, actress-singer-songwriter Miley, daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, has come under fire for a picture taken of her and used in May’s Vanity Fair magazine. She posed topless but covered by a blanket. She’s all of 15.

The photo, taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, has stirred up some controversy, and many people have posted responses on online news articles saying that their teens and pre-teens are not going to be allowed to watch "Hannah Montana" anymore, because of this photo.

I bring this up not because I want to attack or defend Miley, but because I want to pose a question to the parents — not Miley’s, but the parents of all the non-famous children in Tracy and America. I want to know where we draw the line.

I’m talking about (and to) all the parents who are outraged by this photo, yet who make other choices about what their kids listen to and watch that almost make you question their logic. These parents, who are so upset about this teen idol and her photo, will pay no heed to some of the other stars their children watch and listen to or some of the other things their kids see or hear.

They will jump to no longer letting their kids have anything to do with Miley, but they are fine with letting them listen to Jay-Z or Diddy. I just think that this is a bit contradictory and could send a mixed message to the kids. No, little Jimmy and Sarah, it’s not OK to do what Miley did, but it’s fine if you talk about drugs, alcohol and sex and walk around cursing like no tomorrow.

I know part of the big uproar is that Miley is a role model for millions of young girls, but she is a role model in the same way that Jay-Z, Ciara, Missy Elliot, Diddy and Snoop Dogg are to the millions who listen to their music. They’re all a role model to someone. The biggest role model in a child’s life is his or her parents, though, and if parents are saying that Miley is bad but Snoop Dogg is OK, then we are going to have children growing up ignoring these people who have the potential to be great role models.

Everyone makes mistakes, and Miley made one with this photo, but I think it is important for parents to remember that nobody’s perfect, and she’s still a better role model than Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton.

• Brian Hoovler, a former Tracy Press intern, will graduate later this month from Tracy’s Millennium High School.

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written by momof1 , May 06, 2008

if the worse thing miley is doing is taking a photo that both she and her parents approved of doing, being a typical teen girl playin with her best friends and NOT having a baby at 16, doing drugs, drinking, promoting fighting, that its ok to go to jail cause youll be rich after (like the above mentioned rapers) then you know thats fine with me. My daughter knows better then to think that just because someone on tv can do it to think that she can, hello her mom is with her everyday teaching her thats my job not a celeberitys.

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written by notnice , May 06, 2008

She's only 15 yrs old and she is posing topless, wrapped in a blanket, for a photo spread in Vanity Fair. Do you actually think she's as innocent as you think? Do you think that maybe her parents convinced her to pose like this? If so, then it seems to me that her parents are more interested in her "career". Hasn't Miley also been the "victim" of other leaked photos of her laying on her back on the lap of some guy with her shirt pulled up?

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written by K.D. , May 06, 2008

You've gotta be kidding me! I've seen the picture and I don't see what the fuss is about. She's 15- a young adult. She's showing the same amount of skin as if she were wearing a low back cocktail dress.

Parents- come on. Annie Leibovitz! She's been taking controversial photos for Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair since God was a boy.

Most parents are around my age. I'm in my late 30's. Look at some of the musicians WE idolized. Consider Madonna- need I say more? I think most of us turned out just fine.

Her latest antics are NO DIFFERENT than what your own kids do when you aren't looking. Think your kids are perfect angels? Think again! People need to quit trying to raise their children in a plastic bubble. If anyone is a GOOD role model, it's Miley. She's cute, seems to have a great relationship with her parents, is actually pretty funny, and doesn't dress like a hooker. I can't say much about her singing talent, but I digress.

I wonder how many parents disallowed 'Zoey 101'. Because you know, watching the show will make you pregnant ;-)

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written by notnice , May 06, 2008

Miley is 15 but she acts a lot older but then she cries foul when the photos of her in VF went public. I haven't seen the photo(s) and have no desire to. I only have knowledge of her via the internet and you know how the media is.

I do disagree with you, K.D., when you say that being 15 is a young adult. I think of that age as being an older kid. haha

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written by AMEN! , May 06, 2008

brings back memories of the hoopla over brooke shields for "posing" as a kid!