OOOPS, she did it again.

At the MTV Video Music Awards last week, Britney Spears caused yet another media frenzy as the princess of pop with the squeaky clean rep stripped off her man-style black tuxedo to reveal a flesh-toned sequined bikini top and matching pants. Once again, this good-girl star showed us that she's "not that innocent."

As the audience screamed in delight, the collective sigh of a nation of concerned citizens was nearly audible. In unison they shook their heads and pondered the almost-certain doom that today's youth is headed for with a role model who can't seem to keep her navel covered.

Recently, I was standing near a group of girls who were playing Britney's latest CD. From memory they executed each step from one of her video's with precision in a polished, nearly perfect fashion. Watching them I was a bit nostalgic for my days on the playground practicing the dance moves to all the New Kids on the Block songs (after all, if we were going to marry them we had to learn to dance like them), but then something else struck me. These kids not only were doing the dance, they were wearing the clothes.

Looking around, I found myself in a sea of pre-pubescent girls dressed in crop tops and mini-skirts. "That's cute, kind of funny-looking, but cute," I thought. Not many share my opinion, however.

Since her post-Mickey Mouse Club rise to stardom, Britney has been criticized for her revealing outfits. Call me crazy, but I do not think that they're that bad. Take a close look at her body (guys, I know it's tough but you'll have to force yourselves). She is not emaciated like some other celebrities, but is fit and muscular. If young girls are going to try to look like someone in the entertainment biz, let it be one who is in shape without being unhealthily thin. Britney's naked body part of choice is her flat stomach, I could think of many worse things that stars can - and do - reveal. Let's not forget the "if you have it, flaunt it" principle. The truth is if I looked like Britney Spears I wouldn't want to cover up my body either.

Surprisingly, it's not just the parents who are upset by the revealing clothing; I have heard many college students lament over what this world is coming to when children are permitted to leave their houses "partially-dressed." In particular, my friends who were camp counselors returned to school comparing stories of the most inappropriate outfits they had seen on their young campers. The assertion is pre-adolescents today need role models who dress more appropriately.

I guess they need role models like the ones we had. Madonna, Boy George, Prince -- now there were people to emulate when choosing outfits. Let's think back. I'm sure I'm not the only one who took scissors to my brand-new pair of stone-washed jeans making strategically placed rips in them to look just like the cover of Debbie Gibson's album. Who bought M.C. Hammer-style pants? Remember Kris Kross? And yet we survived, and emerged fairly unscathed, with the exception of a few embarrassing photographs.

But today people are in an uproar over a belly button. Although her outfit at the video music awards was admittedly a bit risqu