Tonight (their time), inhabitants of the British Isles will once again witness the impressive talent of a previously unknown, rather plain-looking 47 woman who turned their world upside down with her singing.
According to “Women on the Web” (WoW), “Contestant Susan Boyle… captured the hearts of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ fans and, more importantly, Simon Cowell, fellow judges and YouTube crawlers. Boyle, 47 and unemployed, got the crowd standing and cheering within seconds of beginning her rendition of ‘I Dreamed a Dream,’ from ‘Les Miserables’… Actress Demi Moore said the performance ‘moved me to tears’.” By now, most of us have joined the celebration of the most unlikely contestant in her rapid rise to international fame. The little people once again triumph.
Yet according to London’s “Times Online” yesterday, another little person may steal the show tonight. “Susan Boyle may seem a sure bet to scoop the Britain’s Got Talent title, but a 10-year-old budding ballerina is tipped to be the only contestant who can stand in her way. Hollie Steel, from Accrington, Lancashire, will be seen singing and dancing on the ITV show tomorrow night. Show insiders believe that she is the only real competitor to Boyle, the Scottish spinster who has become a global phenomenon.”
Because of an amazing voice, the girl’s rendition of ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’, from ‘My Fair Lady’, is guaranteed to carry Simon away. At the end of her (previous) performance, Piers Morgan, another judge, told her: “We have seen a lot of children on our show over the last three series and I have never heard any of them sing as well as you do.” “Morgan had previously promised great things from the youngster: ‘watch out for a “tiny young girl singer ... who will melt your heart”.’ ” Well, this rising star will have her work cut out for her, since Boyle’s performance has already been viewed on YouTube over 100 million times. She may have dyed her hair now, but she remains the latest icon in a recurring popular altarpiece: once in a great while, heaven lifts the veil of illusions to uncover true beauty.
This brings me to the substance of my article. It’s all about a pageant that, after years of trying to beat its image as superficial and demeaning, just took its worst dive ever. “It’s a Beauty Pageant - Get Over it Already”, a contributor to Salon.com’s “Nothing but the Truth” page argued in 2005.
But the fact is, last Sunday we who believed that the Pageant had some redeeming value discovered we were wrong. Not that I’ve ever watched it. I have never been able to stomach watching otherwise intelligent women being parade around in bathing suits. And as one friend yelled last night, regarding Spanish equivalent “La Belleza Latina”, “¡Es una porquería!”
“It’s no worse and no better than anything else on,” Coyotegirl had blogged. “…It’s just funny. It’s no better and no worse than the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Or the New York Firefighter’s Calendar. We like looking at pretty things. Don’t watch it if it bugs you.” (Dec. 23, 2005)
DianeM had written: “Personally, I find the idea that Miss America ever was anything but a beauty contest kind of insulting. Okay, they started to ask questions that required a modicum of intelligence to answer. So, instead of telling girls that they had to be extremely thin, have perfect features (surgically, if necessary), and look terrific in a swimsuit (also through surgery, if necessary) in order to represent America, they were telling girls that they had to be thin, beautiful, have big breasts AND be intelligent in order to represent America. Miss America is nothing more than a nationally televised wet t-shirt contest without the spray bottles. As much as I loved watching it a as girl, I think we’ll all be better off when it’s gone and we have one less source telling little girls that they can be anything they want to be - as long as they are beautiful.” (Dec. 22, 2005)
The pageant’s official website begs to disagree: “Miss America represents the highest ideals,” boasted Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce President Frederick Hickman over 75 years ago. “She is a real combination of beauty, grace, and intelligence, artistic and refined. She is a type which the American Girl might well emulate.” And according to the promoters, the words “still ring true today. Miss America is a role model to young and old alike, and a spokesperson, using her title to educate millions of Americans on an issue of importance to herself and society at large.
“Over the years, Miss America has been intent on making a difference in people’s lives through her charitable and community endeavors. Jean Bartel, Miss America 1943, went so far as to use her celebrity in the war effort. She was credited with selling more Series E war bonds than anyone else in the United States - $2.5 million worth of them. While Kate Shindle, Miss America 1998, spent her year of service addressing groups and meeting with federal, state and local public officials on behalf of the HIV/AIDS cause. She even presided over sessions regarding women and AIDS at the 12th World AIDS Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Today, Miss America travels approximately 20,000 miles a month, changing her location every 24 to 48 hours. She tours the nation reaching out to support her ideals, committed to helping others. Miss America is more than just a title. She is a woman who reflects a tradition of style, sophistication and service.” These ideals are certainly worth cultivating.
But whatever gains the pageant made over the past seven decades melted away last Sunday night. Sydney-based Arjun Ramachandran wrote: “Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was a favorite to win the crown.” Judge Perez Hilton, “who is openly gay, asked: ‘Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?’” It should be mentioned that Perez Hilton operates what he calls “Hollywood’s Most-Hated Website.” Check it out for yourself and you’ll understand why. What you probably won’t get is what I still haven’t figured out: “How was it that such an obnoxious and immature person (putting things as politely as possible) took his place with judges of higher reputation and character?” His sexual orientation and way of life are his own business. But he has made the private business of many celebrities the stuff of his on-line gossip, and he digs straight for the dirt.
Apparently, there was only one acceptable answer to Hilton’s question.
I didn’t realize that speaking out one’s convictions was against the rules.
Ramachandran’s April 22 article explained what happened: “A Miss USA contestant says God was testing her character when she was asked her views on gay marriage, and will stand by her answer - that marriage is between a man and a woman - despite being called a ‘dumb bitch’ by the judge who asked her the question. Miss California…said she did not regret stating her views on same-sex marriage, which was deemed to have ruined her chances. “I wouldn’t have answered it differently…the way I answered may have been offensive. With that question specifically, it’s not about being politically correct. For me it was being biblically correct.”
Faith-based “Belief.net” rejoiced that Prejean “may have lost the Miss USA title for explaining her opposition to same-sex marriage, but it looks like she’s gained a new gig as Christian idol. After appearing on Fox News, NBC’s ‘Today’ and other talk shows to defend her stance, saying she would ‘rather be Biblically correct than “politically correct,”’ Prejean was invited to appear at the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards--the Christian world’s Grammys--on Thursday night. The 21-year-old, who says she’s a longtime fan of Christian music, introduced a performance by the band MercyMe. (Belief.net, “Idol Chatter Religion and Pop Culture”)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” Jesus proclaimed long ago, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:3,5). He also cried out, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25,26)
And St. Paul reminded the believers in Corinth: “think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord’.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-30)
As for the producers of the Miss America pageant, the tables have turned.
Far from bringing in a judge they thought might liven up the evening and boost ratings, they have brought down God’s judgment. Any dreams of resurrecting the glory days are shattered. The pageant’s promotion of character and values are a sham. It’s as deep as the contestants’ make-up.
Finally, a word of warning for our nation’s gossips, whether they destroy good people’s reputations in public or behind closed doors: “…I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night’.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus. (Rev 12:10, 22:20)
For me, one who has never watched the Miss America pageant, I’ll be watching anxiously for the rising of my latest hero, Miss California. She’ll continue shining on, even as the brilliant stars of Hollywood fade forever into the oblivion of those lost souls who believe in the lies of our Accuser.
