Being a fan of pageants sure isn't easy these days...
So yeah, I'm a feminist who played with Barbies and watched pageants growing up, and now I let my daughters do the same. Never had a problem with body image, because my mother and other women in my life gave balance to the parade of near-impossible "perfection." Pageants are all in good fun. Until now.
It was bad enough when I had to fast-forward past Perez Hilton's question during the Miss USA broadcast last month. Now I have to be viligant in keeping little eyes and ears around here from catching wind of all the "controversy" surrounding Miss California.
Today a website released a photo of her that is somewhat risque. (I hate to give the site more traffic, but for the sake of the argument, I guess you have to see it. It's at www.thedirty.com) I would definitely not want my girls to see this photo, but it does not fall outside the realm of usual underwear ad material these days. Seriously, you see much worse in any Abercrombie catalog.
I'm not thrilled that Miss California did this -- more from the feminist point of view than the "moral" one -- but I think I was more disappointed when I noticed during the broadcast that she obviously had a boob job. And then to find out that the Miss CA organization paid for it after she won the state crown... It's really disheartening to hear they feel it is so important to win that they disfigure themselves, and that the pageant doesn't simply tolerate it, but encourages it and even pays for it.
But the unwarranted onslaught against the poor girl continues to escalate. It wasn't enough for the site to simply post the picture (they say they are more, and have hinted they are worse, but my guess is they're less provocative and the site is milking it). It wasn't enough to say, judge for yourself. No the site had to proclaim Carrie Prejean "homophobic" and "a sinner." (I'm sure they thought the latter about other women who have posed like this before this instance.)
All this hate against Prejean is puzzling. And hate is what it is. Prejean simply stated her opinion -- and during the pageant broadcast she didn't even mention religion, just a belief -- and she was immediately the newest whipping girl for the gay marriage crowd. It goes without saying how intolerant this crowd is of a dissenting opinion -- unless of course it comes from Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, etc, etc. who are all in favor of keeping traditional marriage. Maybe it's repressed feelings against those they have to adore that they save up to cast upon those they oppose.
But Prejean isn't the only one. The San Francisco Chronicle published a list of Prop 8 supporters and the witch hunt began in earnest. A woman who is a big supporter of the gay community in a S.F. neighborhood -- who even delivered meals to AIDS sufferers -- also happened to support traditional marriage. A crowd protested outside the restaurant she worked at, and she had to quit to keep the establishment from going out of business.
Maureen Mullarkey, an artist in New York, chronicled her experience -- the barrage of angry emails and unflattering news stories -- in an article for The Weekly Standard. Her account is mind-boggling. http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000%5C000%5C016%5C252zsbwa.asp?pg=2 There are many more tales like these.
I just don't get it. The left is all about not judging people and not hating and there is room at the table for everyone, and every opinion is valid, every lifestyle is valid. Unless it's one that disagrees with certain hot-button issues: traditional marriage, choosing life, and school choice most prominently. Suddenly -- simply because an opposing opinion may be based on a religious belief -- it's worthless and unreasoned.
Funny -- when religious organizations open soup kitchens and shelters for the homeless, or when they build homes for the poor -- it is based on a religious belief. Are those actions and thoughts invalid? Are they attacked by the left as "imposing morality"? Of course not. Because they agree with those positions.
Sure there are those who support traditional marriage who are guilty of their own hateful words -- attacking the homosexual community, instead of staying on point about this single subject. That is just as bad. And I know it's not every one who wants gay marriage who are perpetrating these attacks, but it seems to be more prevalent and has gone mainstream enough to the point that Hollywood stars are speaking out (and even making videos mocking their opponents) and cable news anchors are calling Prejean -- and others like her -- very harsh names.
If marriage for all is so right, it will prevail. If itis not wanted, bullying those opposed will lead to a backlash by those on the fence. I'm starting to think I'm one of those who will come down in favor of traditional marriage -- because I'm really tired of gay marriage being forced upon those who don't believe in it by activist judges who are having their arms twisted by thugs.
What has happened to civil discourse? What has happened to true debate? What has happened to the democratic process? Sadly it seems it has been lost somewhere in the midst of a torch-bearing mob.
So Miss CA may have presented an excuse for her title to be stripped. And if that happens, the spiteful will dance with delight and spout that it's a comeuppance. But Carrie Prejean will remain the thoughtful woman who stood up for what she believed and will continue to inspire -- even with a few naughty photos and fake cleavage on her record.
It's ideals that matter -- not packages.
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