Clinton Yates over at the Washington Post:

Her bawdy performance, that featured Miley and other dancers twerking on stage, drew criticism as lewd, grotesque and shameful. MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski went so far as to say Cyrus "is obviously deeply troubled, deeply disturbed, clearly has confidence issues, probably eating disorder," on Morning Joe Monday. But what exactly is so disturbing about Miley Cyrus?

It seems that we still can't handle what it's like for a young woman to be able to perform, as she chooses, without layering in a heavy helping of insults as well.

Screw people for telling a 20-year-old that she can't be who she wants to be. Who in the world wouldn't like to go out on the edge of what their current life and existence is, and play around?

Miley has the guts and the privilege to do whatever she wants and be whomever she wants. She doesn't tell you how to live your life, she sings and dances. And of all the crap going on in the world, you're going to get pissed at her for it?

Here are a few quotes I tweeted that I find relevant:

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. - E. E. Cummings

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. - T. S. Eliot

If you are not afraid of the voices inside of you, you will not fear the critics outside of you. - Natalie Goldberg

I did yesterday what they wouldn't, so today I can accomplish what they can't. - The Rock