You’re not going to believe this, and I really don’t believe it myself, but I’m going to defend those yo-yos on “Jersey Shore” – well sort of. 

Just this week, I read that the “stars” of Jersey Shore are heading to the shores of Italy to start filming their next season.  Well, the Italians are not too keen about the idea – and the octet hasn’t even arrived yet.

According to columnist Roberto Del Bove of the Roman newspaper, New Notzie, “they embody the worst stereotypes of Italians, multiplied by thousands and Americanized.” 

Corriere della Sera was a little kinder when it described them as a group with “slicked hair, exaggerated narcissism, boundless love for the family and outlandish eccentricity.” 

What got me reeling, however, was a reported note from an unidentified “commenter on an MTV Italia website” who said, “When I see this, I wonder whether Osama Bin Laden had a point.” 

I have no idea what was going on in this “commenter’s” mind, but, really, does the antics of eight young people create such delirium in one’s head that they would think terrorists who fly planes into our buildings and kill thousands of our people had a point?

Let me say I’ve never seen an episode of “Jersey Shore,” but I’ve seen enough clips and blurbs about the show and the comings and goings of Snooki, the Situation, and the rest of them to know that it’s something I don’t want to waste my time watching.  But that’s why they invented the remote control.  I don’t have to watch it. 

It actually disturbs me that people like this get million dollar book deals – although I’m not sure how many viewers of the show can actually read – or get to dance on Dancing with the Stars, or have the opportunity to start their own dress line.  The fact that they have millions of followers on Twitter is a mystery to me.  I’m clueless as to why anyone would want to know what these eight goofballs do all day.   Channeling my late 90+ year old friend, Anne, she’d say, these useless twits are “using up our air.” 

I’ve known lots of very talented people, great singers, writers, screenwriters and actors, who’ve never caught a break but that’s just the way it is.  Some people are lucky.  Some people are in the right place at the right time.  These eight numbnuts made it – at least for the next fifteen minutes. 

But that’s the beauty of America – the land of opportunity.  No where else in the world could a 4’9” troll-like creature named “Snooki” who uses inordinate amounts of hairspray and tanning spray become a millionaire doing absolutely nothing.

So, when I read that Osama Bin Laden may have had a point when he set in motion his henchmen to carry out the greatest tragedy to hit our country, I get a little ticked off.  Am I being over-sensitive?  Yeah, sue me.  But it was my country that was hit on 9/11 and, after almost ten years, the wound is not completely healed.  Our country did not deserve it, those who lost their lives didn’t deserve it, and the surviving families who lost their loved ones did not deserve it.  

It bothers me that stupid shows with ridiculous characters fill our airwaves at this point but, like I said, no one is forced to watch.  But I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit back and think that the existence of these shows justified 9/11.  Bin Laden and his crew hate our freedom and the opportunities we have in this country.  And it’s precisely that freedom and the opportunities America provides that allows the “Snookis” in this country to rise to national (and perhaps international) fame – whether we like it or not. 

So, to the person who made the comment that perhaps Osama Bin Laden may have had a point, my husband would say, “you don’t have to say everything you think.” 

For me, I’ll end by saying, “Io non lo capisco, ma se tu lo capisci, che Dio ti benedica.