I Know You Want It, Miley Cyrus

"I know you want it."

Miley, as I watched you "twerk" with the now infamous foam finger, I couldn't help but replay in my head the words Robin Thicke was crooning on stage.

"I know you want it."

When Robin Thicke sang "You're the hottest b*tch in this place", I wanted to make it stop. I'm sure the crowds were cheering as the performance of shock and awe intensified. But at home, I cringed.

"I know you want it."

Miley, has anyone ever asked you what you want? I know you wanted to "make history" and to have us talk about you for days, even weeks. You were definitely successful in that. However, I can't help but feel a bit of emptiness when I read your words describing your life as "messed up" and with "so many f---ing issues". Does anyone ask you about that? Or, are you just a money making machine to those around you?

I don't know your heart. I'm just a stranger separated from you by thousands of miles, much less dollars, and about fifteen years of breathing and making my own stupid mistakes.

This uneasy feeling just settled in the pit of my stomach as I watched your performance. I don't want to lecture you, or throw a book of rules at you, or make fun of you, or cheer. I just have to tell you that I don't believe any of it, and I hope you don't either.

"I know you want it"

Really? I'm not buying it.

I saw another musical performance, and that's when yours made sense to me. Like the fog lifting as the morning sun appears, I saw you as Fred saw his sweet Lorraine in the video below. I didn't see some guy talking to you as his "b*tch". I didn't see you wearing a tiny costume in order for us all to see your backside.

I saw you as loved. Cherished. Beautiful. Respected. Sweet. ... because that's who you are.

Your performance definitely captured our attention, but deep down, I think you want more.

In fact, "I know you want it."

You deserve more. Your performance objectified you as an object of lust, disrespect, and taunting. You deserve much more than that. You deserve to be loved as Fred loved his Lorraine. You deserve to have a man speak of you with tenderness and respect. You deserve to have someone whisper that they would do it all over again because you are worth it.

Do you know you are worth it?

You are certainly at a crossroads when the crowds may expect you to top your last performance. To do more -- more shocking, more vulgar, more racy. I actually agree with them to an extent. I want you to do more too -- but I want you to do it differently.

I want you to rise above the last performance. To use your platform to show young girls that they are not just the "hottest b*tch in the place", but they are queens to be cherished. To give young girls a voice that says, yes, I am beautiful. To see yourself as more beautiful than ever -- not the hair, or the tongue-face, or the bears. Just you and your heart.

I know you want it.

I want it for you too.