I never follow “beauty” pageant news. Beauty pagents themselves disturb me, but I couldn’t help but notice the media frenzy surrounding the Miss USA Pageant last week. Miss California, Carrie Prejean, made headlines with her answer to a question regarding gay marriage. That now infamous moment during the pageant can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY-1cybT6p8.
There is so much wrong about this entire situation. First of all, why on earth was a question like that even allowed in a beauty pageant? Perez Hilton, the man who posed the question, has accused Miss Prejean of being divisive with her answer. Was he not divisive with his question? Yes, he was. Obviously, he assumed that whomever his question was posed to would agree with him. That is the only thing that could explain his outrage over the answer that was given.
What happened to respecting the opinions of others? I do have an opinion on the gay marriage issue myself, but this post is not about my opinion. What disturbs me about last week’s fiasco is that only the current popular opinions are held in any esteem. It may not truly be the opinion of the majority, but it is the opinion most in vogue. Therefore, it must be the correct opinion.
Admittedly, Carrie Prejean did not answer the question well at all. I can understand her not getting much credit for it. First of all, most Americans cannot choose gay marriage. They can choose a gay relationship, but not marriage. It is only legal in a few states. Secondly, she really needed to answer the question beyond stating that her opinion was based on how she was raised. There was a time when that held weight, but it no longer does. My sisters and I were raised to believe that inter-racial marriage was morally wrong. None of the three of us hold to that opinion today. One of my sisters even married a man from Nigeria. Miss California really should have thought out her answer a little more. Surely there was more to her opinion than the fact that it was her parents’ opinion.
Since that night, Miss Prejean has spoken out big time. She immediately spoke to many media outlets, which appears to be in violation of her Miss California contract. She has also aligned herself with a traditional marriage organization and appeared a commercial for them. Her public appearances were apparently supposed to be approved and were not. In these appearances, she has stated that her opinion is based on the Bible. Again, we can’t throw around the Bible says so anymore and expect it to have any impact. Exhibiting the heart of God, speaking in love, and not running to the media to claim that you are being persecuted would go much farther.
Obviously, I do not agree with how Carrie Prejean has handled the situation. However, I must give her props for speaking her mind. She had to have known that her hopes for the crown were ruined, but she gave her honest opinion. I do think that it took a certain level of courage to do that. If she had only stayed quiet and gracious following the pageant, she might not be in the position to possibly lose her crown. They may still have dug up the half-nude pictures of her, but maybe not. She certainly fueled the attack against her.
Bottom line – they all need to go to time out!! Seriously, are we not allowed an opinion anymore? Carrie Prejean was entitled her opinion, but I haven’t sensed her respect for others’ opinions, either. Perez Hilton is entitled his opinion, but not at the cost of everyone else’s. Most of us don’t live on the extreme fringes. Mature discussion is possible, but it would mean that someone has to close their mouth for a moment and let the other speak.
