GLAAD Reacts to Adam Lambert Controversy

I'm sure everyone has heard about Adam Lambert being dropped as a performer on ABC's "Good Morning America," and shortly after was booked as a guest on the CBS Early Show.

President Jarrett Barrios of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said, "Some music performances, regardless of the sexual orientation of the performer, are tailored for a prime time audience but not for a morning show audience. It is disappointing that Good Morning America did not give Adam Lambert the opportunity to tailor his performance to their audience, as he did on their show in August 2009. We applaud the CBS Early Show for taking this opportunity to work with Lambert on a performance that is entertaining for an early morning television audience."

Although producers of the "Good Morning America" show ensured everyone that Adam Lambert's sexual orientation had nothing to do with their decision is dropping Lambert, many find it hard to believe.

Advertising and publicity is something that all television stations are focusing on. Televion stations can not afford to lose their viewers for any reason. They are very careful as to who and what they show as to not offend any viewers.

I think it was wrong of the "Good Morning America" show to drop Lambert from their performers. Even if it wasn't because of his sexual orientation, it really looked that way to everyone. I hope that they realized that not putting Lambert on the show may have lost them a lot of viewers. Adam Lambert has a lot of fans that love him regardless of his beliefs. I feel bad for Lambert, and I hope that other shows well reconsider decisions like the one "Good Morning America" made in the future.

Wal-Mart pushes to be ahead

As you all know the infamous "Black Friday", the day after Thanksgiving, is known as the biggest holiday shopping day of the year.  Retail stores all over the country are going to be having their best sales of the year. The one store that is jumping the gun with their "Black Friday" sales is Wal-mart.

Wal-mart announced earlier today what sales they will be having for "Black Friday." They also announced that they will be launching sales simular to those on the day after Thanksgiving this Saturday.

"Wal-mart's Black Friday specials include 50-inch Sanyo plasma HDTVs for $598, Magnavox Blu-Ray disc players for $78, TomTom GPS systems for $59, $7 reversible fleece jackets and $3 children's sleepwear," said Melissa O'Brien, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman.

Wal-mart along with Sears and Toys-R-Us are all trying to start big sales reserved for "Black Friday" in a n attempt to attract early shoppers.

I think it's great that Wal-mart is advertising their "Black Friday" sales and starting them early. This will definitely help them get more customers as well as sells. They will get a lot of early shopers not only for the good prices, but also because people will want to beat the early morning "Black Friday" rush. With the economy in the state that it's in, retail stores like Wal-mart have no other choice but to get as much good priced advertisements out there.

Obama helps the country cope

I'm sure everyone has heard about the shooting that happened at the country's largest Army base at Fort Hood, Texas. 13 active and retired soldiers were gunned down by one of their very own.

President Obama spoke to a large audience of thousands of Army soldiers earlier today at Fort Hood. He vowed that the memory of those who lost their lives last week would "endure through the life of our nation."

"It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy, but this much we do know: No faith justifies these murderous and craven acts. No just and loving God looks upon them with favor. For what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice, in this world and the next," said President Obama.

Today was the first time in President Obama's career in which he comforted the nation in the time of a major tragedy. It's in times like these where the words spoken can define a president. We all remember when President Clinton praised the victims of the Oklahoma City bombings, and I'm sure the speech given by President George W. Bush after the tragedy of September 11, 2001 really hits home. However, in both of the speeches just mentioned, a sort of blame and reason was given behind the unfortunate acts.

President Obama chose not to blame anyone or anything as the cause of the shooting. Questions have been raised recently about Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist. However, President Obama never once mentioned his name. Instead, he praised the diversity of those fighting for our country and emphasized that all were Americans, serving together to protect our people, while giving others half a world away the chance to lead a better life.

Many people have been questioning whether or not the shooting is in some way related to terrorism and wanted President Obama to speak of it. The President chose not to, however. Obama wanted to keep his speech as well as everyone listening focused on one thing only, and that was remembering the one's who died.

I respect the fact that President Obama didn't go into detail about who was to blame for the attack. I believe it is important for the country to receive an explanation, but the memorial service was not the place to do that. The families and friends of those who died are still in mourning, and I'm sure they want to have their chance for closure before anything goes further. Eventually, when the time is right, President Obama does need to provide the country with sufficient answers and take action.