18 January 1999 – Engineers from NASA, Boeing as well as
professors from Stanford University, University of Maryland, University of
Toronto, and other schools have boycotted the music of country pop singer,
Shania Twain. With the release of her single, “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” off
of her latest album, “Come on Over,” several students, professors, and
engineers within the aerospace field have expressed great concern over the
messages she conveys through her music.
“It’s hard work,” Bryan Font, a student at Stanford
University, said. “I’m not saying everyone needs to be impressed, but at least
give credit where credit’s due.” Font also went on to state that with all the
student loans that he has taken to pay for his education, seeing the growing
distaste for his field only adds insult to injury. “We live in a day and age where pop singers
are taken more seriously than the people behind aircrafts and space
exploration,” said Dr. Felicia Cartwheel, a professor at University of Toronto.
“Very unfortunate.”
While figures within the aerospace field have politely
expressed their dissatisfaction with Shania’s message, others have taken to a
more aggressive approach, including former US space explorer and engineer, Neil
Armstrong. “First off, Shania,” said Armstrong. “It’s called aerospace
engineering, not rocket science. Science is the study of nature,
dum-dum!” He later stated that “exploring the moon and developing aircrafts
were damn impressive,” and that “[engineers] were in fact, something special.”
Twain could not be reached for a full interview, however,
she did comment on the matter. When asked how she felt about the aerospace
community’s boycott, she replied, “Man! I feel like a woman.”
"What's wrong with your hair?"
"I dyed it. It's cute, huh?"
"Boooooooo."
"Is that all you have to say?"
"Booooooooo."
"Fuck you then."
"That'll be $3.76, you piece of shit."
Denise Lee paid the cashier the money and went about her business. Who would have thought that the employee at the coffee shop would be so rude? It was most certainly something that she would not have expected. After all, she had gone to the same coffee shop for years, and everyone there treated her kindly. She was just there yesterday, and things were normal. Shaking her head with anger, she decided right then and there that she would no longer give business to that establishment.
Sipping on her drink, she entered her car and began to drive aimlessly. With nothing else to do but ponder on the situation, she began to feel terrible. It was as if she was about to cry. Looking around the streets as she drove, it was as if everyone was upset at her. Old ladies shaking fists, little boys giving her the middle finger, and high school honor roll students throwing text books at her car. Why was the world so angry at her? At this point, she was definitely going to cry.
Feeling shaken up, she decided to go her friend, Cindy, to talk. If one more stranger treated her poorly, she was going to lose it. What better way to calm herself down than to talk to a trusted friend? "Cindy," she sobbed. "Can I come over? I need to talk." Of course the supportive friend told her to come by. There would be no reason for her to turn away a friend in need. And so, the distressed young woman shifted gears on her Mazda Miata and drove as fast as she could.
Reaching her destination, she parked the car and quickly made her way to her friend's flat. Knocking on the door, she waited in the hallway. A clammy ball of emotions, she stood there until her friend answered.
"Heyyy girlfriend what's wro-," Cindy exclaimed before stopping herself mid-sentence. "What the fuck is wrong with your hair?"
"Huh," Denise replied, more confused than ever.
"We're no longer friends," her friend replied before slamming the door.
She was distressed, angry, and torn-up. It was as if the whole world hated her. She felt like public enemy number one. Society was against her. Everywhere she went, she was met with heckling and disapproval. With her friends abandoning her, she felt there was no where else to turn. Before she could even consider her parents, she received a call on her cellphone from her mother.
"Denise," her mother said with disgust. "Cindy told me the news."
"She was being such a bitch, mom," Denise replied. "She told me out of the blue we're not friends."
"Rightfully so. What's your problem," she answered back. "You're the scum of the earth, you know that? I have no daughter."
Denise had reached her boiling point. She was a broken woman. There was nothing more she could do. She was tired of having strangers make her feel less than human. Her loved ones abandoned her. The woman felt all alone. All she wanted to do now was go home and shut herself in from the rest of the world. As she drove her Mazda Miata back to her house, she heard sirens whaling behind her. Blue and red lights shined in her rear-view mirror. "Oh great, now the cops," she thought.
"What seems to be the problem officer?"
"You mean you don't know?"
"Was I speeding?"
"No."
"Look, I just want to go home. I've been having a rough day."
"Oh no you're not. You're going to jail."
"Why?"
"Asians shouldn't have blonde hair."
"WHAT?!"
"Yeah you're going to jail for a really long time, bitch."
"Don't I even get to see a judge?"
"Not like that, you're not."
Denise Lee was then arrested and taken to jail. Several days later, she was presented before a judge, forced to cover up her crime. She was sentenced to 5 years in the California State Penitentiary. She learned her lesson.
