What you want your 8 year old son to see.

A Philly story. But given the geography of Independence Day, a national story as well.

Here’s the background:

On Friday night, aka the 4th of July, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Hudson, Ed Sheeran and the Roots took to the stage in front of the Art Museum for a pre-fireworks concert. It was a fun show, but what the [expletive deleted] was with all the cursing?

With the exception of Jennifer Hudson, who proved to be a class act all the way, one by one, the acts hired to entertain the crowd of many thousands (a crowd that included plenty of children) couldn’t refrain from dropping the F-bomb. Oh, there have been some slips of profanity in years past, but this year seemed particularly problematic.

Concert broadcaster 6 ABC didn’t just bleep out the profanities as Roots frontman Black Thought dropped the curses left and right at the start of the show — they cut out the entire transmission, video and all, switching to a 6 ABC logo until it was safe to return.

But that was nothing compared to Nicki Minaj, whose buxom getup no doubt inspired some wishes for a wardrobe malfunction. Minaj managed to fit “bitch,” “shit,” and “motherfucker” into her set many times over.

When concert closer Ed Sheeran took the stage, I had guessed that our delicate ears would be safe. But no. The ginger-haired British pop guy treated the masses to his new tune “Don’t.” The hook (they used to call that a chorus, FYI) repeats the line “Don’t fuck with my love.”

Oh, and then there was comedian-host Marlon Wayans. I guess you can’t really expect a comedian to class things up, and Wayans certainly didn’t. In addition to all of the cursing, he also peppered his lines with “nigga” this and “nigga” that. And he just had to make a dick joke, because, hey, this is Philly. Happy fucking 4th of July, America!

Listen, I’m no prude when it comes to the English lexicon. Anyone who has an office within earshot of mine has heard plenty. I can curse with the best of them. But I don’t do it around my kids or around other people’s kids, and I expect others to act the same way, especially on a national holiday and in the place that started it all.

And here’s what the black mayor of Philadelphia had to say, as reported by Philly.com:

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

POSTED: Monday, July 7, 2014, 5:14 PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Philadelphia’s mayor is promising a review of the city’s July Fourth concert after several acts used expletives during their performances.

Mayor Michael Nutter tells KYW-AM that concert organizers are contractually obligated to make the free concert suitable for families. He says the city will work to make next year’s “Welcome America” concert more family-friendly.

Friday night’s televised concert featured Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran and other performers.

Nutter apologized to anybody in the audience who was offended but also pointed out they were free to go.

Free to go. Free to go? Free to go! I’m gone. Don’t go to Phillies games anymore because I’m tired of hearing the F-word hollered in my ear and the ears of kids who should be watching a baseball game.

Tired of a lot of things. This was supposed to be the post-racial administration. What I’m not allowed to say. This administration and all its succubi in politics and the media have done nothing but reaffirm the worst of the old stereotypes. Lazy, lying, freeloading, foul-mouthed (what other administration has had a foreign policy doctrine like this?), know-nothing do-nothings who are riding the ride as long as it lasts. Worse, we’re supposed to accept the premise that some are athletically and sexually superior while the rest of us are inferior precisely because we know something about culture, music, philosophy, religion, and history.

This administration has guaranteed that the presidency will never again fall into the hands of these particular heirs. As I predicted long long ago.

As I said, 2008 was 1865. But I’ve said a lot of things. I trust you all not to bring down the wrath of the world on me. Sure I do.