Recent AP article:There is a failure here to consider the naturally acquired physical responses to emotions of ecstatic enthusiasm.
Lawmaker Seeks End to Vulgar Cheerleading
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Friday night lights in Texas could soon be without bumpin' and grindin' cheerleaders. Legislation filed by Rep. Al Edwards, D-Houston, would put an end to "sexually suggestive" performances at athletic events and other extracurricular competitions.
"It's just too sexually oriented, you know, the way they're shaking their behinds and going on, breaking it down," said Edwards, a 26-year veteran of the Texas House. "And then we say to them, 'don't get involved in sex unless it's marriage or love, it's dangerous out there' and yet the teachers and directors are helping them go through those kind of gyrations."
Under Edwards' bill, if a school district knowingly permits such a performance, funds from the state would be reduced in an amount to be determined by the education commissioner.
Edwards said he filed the bill as a result of several instances of seeing such ribald performances in his district.
J.M. Farias, owner of Austin Cheer Factory, said cheerleading aficionados would welcome the law. Cheering competitions, he said, penalize for suggestive movements or any vulgarity.
"Any coaches that are good won't put that in their routines," he said. And, most girls cheering on Friday nights were trained by professionals who know better, he said.
"I don't think this law would really shake the industry at all. In fact, it would give parents a better feeling, mostly dads and boyfriends, too," Farias said.
If the cheerleader has acquired through rather common experiences, automatic responses in terms of various specific physical movements to emotions of ecstatic enthusiasm and if the cheerleader is genuinely emotionally involved with the success of the team, the behavior described may be difficult to contain.
Theoretically the experiences of cheerleader candidates could be investigated and only those without such experiences accepted.
But I am inclined to believe that this would not be a very good idea either.
Specific problems should be addressed by the lowest level responsible official, the faculty member in charge of cheerleading. Gang up on him if you do not like what is going on Friday nights.
