midwestdaddy: What my parents made me watch when I was a kid.

I got angry at my wife the other day because lil bit was watching Dora the Explorer and I said I did NOT want my child watching that cartoon. She asked why, and I began to explain to her what Dora was doing. OK, there are two languages in this cartoon, English and Spanish. But neither English NOR Spanish is spoken on this cartoon. I call it Spanglish (did not come up with that word). I have no problem with a cartoon speaking any language, I just have a problem with a bunch of people from a certain generation speaking their own language, Spanglish. People who speak English or Spanish cannot understand this language. I hate that! Then I started reminiscing about the children's programing I watch when I was little. Then I really started thinking about those programs. Let me begin.

1. Sesame Street: Burt and Ernie lived together and were 'roommates'. Life-long bachelors that fought like a married couple. Sigfried and Roy think that is perfectly normal. I am not saying that B and E were and still maybe gay, but I am saying that the fact that they now reside in a West Hollywood bungalow together puts a shadow on their lifestyles.

Big Bird had a buddy named Snuffleupagus (spelling?). Big Bird did not have a job. He just hung around on the street corner waiting for the children to come around. He was 'supposedly' the only bird that could see the big hair elephant that would talk to him. I am going out on a limb but Big Bird was a dealer. NOT ONLY WAS HE A DEALER, he was also a heavy user of his products.

2. Mr. Roger's Neighborhood: One word, Mister McFeely?

Speedy delivery? Really?

3. Charlie Brown: Peppermint Patty was not called sir for no reason. She did not wear Birkenstocks and a flannel shirt for no reason. She wasn't dirty for no reason. There was a reason, we know why that is.