All right, I haven’t seen a lot of American Idol this year, so before I begin, let me say that I have no idea what I’m talking about. That being said, I must say that this whole uproar about Sanjaya is pretty interesting to me. It seems to have become conventional wisdom that he has no talent. From what I’ve heard, this isn’t true. The kid can sing just fine. Maybe he can’t do Christina Aguilera-esque vocal gymnastics, but I’m sure he’s just as talented vocally as any member of any number of crappy boy bands.

I think the ridicule that’s being directed toward him is the latest manifestation of a longtime American preoccupation: the hatred of the sissy. He’s the kind of kid to whom everyone in America can feel superior. He’s an easy target. And it’s fascinating to me that when someone is on television, there is this presumption that they are no longer real people … when Jay Leno’s making fun of him for being effeminate, does he give a shit that the kid’s only 17 and (pretty obviously) self-conscious? Or am I being too sensitive? Is that just the trade-off for wanting to be famous?