When a beauty pageant divided a nation
By: Archana (June 13th, 2009)
On most days, a racist attack, anti-abortion riots and a crucial national health plan would have automatically been the important news of the day. But June 11, 2009 was not one of them. Donald Trump, who owns the rights to Miss USA, the beauty pageant announced that Carrie Prejean, crowned Miss USA runner up was being sacked for breaking her contract with him and the furore that followed has divided the United States of America into two.
What started as an honest viewpoint on same-sex marriage has ended into a sensitive fuse that could upset personal equations and finish political careers.
Here’s a recap on what happened:One of the favourites to win the Miss USA contest this year, Ms Prejean caused a nationwide tremor with her response to a question about same-sex marriage in the final round. The judge, Perez Hilton, asked her if she believed every US state should legalise same-sex marriage to which she replied:”Well I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one way or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. You know what, in my country, in my family, I do believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, no offense to anybody out there. But that’s how I was raised and I believe that it should be between a man and a woman.
“For Ms Prejean, the answer was an honest one, a straight forward opinion delivered in what she felt was a respectful manner but a large section of Americans did not think so. The answer did not go down well with the judges and she finished second in the pagent. And that was just the beginning. The very next day, Perez Hilton, the judge who had asked her the question called her “dumb” and said that her answer was the worst in pageant history. Same-sex marriage activists criticised her for her comments while people of the opposite view praised her for her stand.
Finally, in response to public outrage, an official from Miss USA’s team allegedly tricked her into violating the terms of her contract which ultimately got her sacked.
This accusation made by Prejean is yet to be authenticated but if it is true is paints a sad picture for freedom of speech in the country.
The question is not whether she said the right thing or not, the question is who gives people to right to decide between the good and bad and why is life so difficult if you take a stand? Same-sex marriage is one of the most crucial issues in the US with two equally determined sides and is something that is decided by each state. Both sides have equally strong arguments but that does not mean they can gag the opinion of the other. If Prejean had been a diplomat, she would have probably gotten away with it but she decided to be honest and that is the reason she is on the receiving end. She is no saint and has taken questionable decisions in her life but that does not make her opinion any weaker.
The question and answer round was introduced in beauty pageants just because the organisors faced a backlash for concentrating on looks rather than intelligence. Such pageants have dubious reputations as it is, but to ask someone like Perez Hilton (a blog writer who writes only about the most intrusive celebrity gossip) to judge the event and allow him to pose such a sensitive question is puzzling.
Taking a stand has never been easy and when it comes to an issue like same-sex marriage, the stakes are all the more higher. I’m sure a lot of people feel uncomfortable talking about it and prefer to change the topic. The few ones who do take a stand probably invite an argument. Yet, perhaps it would be better to rationalise and hear out opinions rather than brushing them under the carpet despite how difficult it is. This could at least help cooling down tempers.
What do you think?
Tags: beauty pageant, Miss USA 2009, same sex
June 13th, 2009 at 3:12 am
[…] Posts about Perez Hilton as of June 12, 2009 » The Daily Parr When a beauty pageant divided a nation - gracejunction.com 06/12/2009 On most days, a racist attack, anti-abortion riots and a crucial […]
June 13th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Archana…well written and appreciable perspective.
But I doubt if it would be better to rationalize and hear out opinions…..Reasons being
1) there is no common basis for rationalising?
2) the subject is too emotionally loaded to be rationalized!!
3) its not that opinions for the choices of either side are not obvious or unknown to the other, and
4) the divide of opinion is not rooted in aspects related to health, etiquette or rationality, it is based on beliefs….beliefs in moral absolutes and morality. The divide is there, and the issue of sexuality is only a peripheral much celebrated topic….
Now I hope you will understand that discussions, debates, arguments, dissertation, symposiums, researches etc will never help in cooling down tempers as the decision to take a stand depends on what kind of a belief system and moral standards defines the lives of the proponents and opponents of either side. The debate is much wider and deeper than just gay marriages or for that matter, even homosexuality.
June 13th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
It’s really obvious to us lowlives out here in the working community that you “untouchables” want same sex marriage. For whatever reason, this is perverting the rest of America’s right to free speech. When you got Carrie fired for speaking freely, stating what her beliefs are regarding same sex marriage, it became apparent that all we stand for in America is for nothing because of your sexually deviant desires. Just remember, when you control our freedom, that means someone else will eventually be able to control yours. You had better think about what you are doing to your own freedom.
June 16th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Seeing some of the most renowned politicians or people’s man (men) getting embroiled in such issues is really shocking..especially to know the cause behind their participation in such issues.
) but even from a secular standpoint, if views tht fuel the generations’ voice are given chance and praised enough then why not give a chance to one who is being honest about her views, views that resulted from her mere upbringing nothing more…atleast this single voice was all that was there to standup for her, even putting her chance of getting the crown at the stake. y not accept such views?!!?!?
It’s more about analyzing the psyche of the Politicians/actor(ess)/ leading personalities…all of them are aware of their stance in influencing the masses…they also keep working on it to build up their brand/public image in whichsoever respective field they are. And to gain popularity they start seconding issues like same sex marriage et al…and all of a sudden…zzzzzzzzzzap! their voice becomes public’s voice! and like every opinion manages to find at least some followers in the world; opinions about same sex marriage can easily manage a whole brigade of youngsters, those who just go against the flow and will do anything to make themselves look cool or stand out- getting a tag of nonconformist is an achievement for them…and this is the belief that is controlling the world…if somebody thinks something is wrong coz it ought to be wrong, ppl are hellbent to prove tht it’s just ‘cool’ and there is nothing wrong about it! And even these days politicians, actors realizing this; mold and burnish views pleasing to the ears of the recipients, for e.g making statements tht second such gay marriages giving an uplift to the already-wickedly-active human minds! and mankind welcomes such revolutionary thoughts or revolutionaries!
And btw, my point here is not to put gay marriages down (although I intent to…
June 16th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Hi,
I think Carrie Prejean was within her rights to state her stand on same sex marriage….but still she should have stuck to politically right answers (i am neither against homosexuality nor against same sex marriage) For isn’t that’s what beauty pageants are all about…if Miss Prejean was there to win the crown she should have taken the beaten track of giving ‘politically’ correct answers. Just remember all those females who went on to be Miss World/universe…who when asked who there idol was (a cliched question) would reply without batting an eyelid — MOTHER TERESA. They would then go on to say about their wish to work for the poor and their need to emulate MOTHER TERESA’s simplicity — all the while wearing a million dollar worth designer gown. None of them, i remember, ever went on to serve the poor…but their very POOR answer to a very POOR question earned them the crown of the most beautiful woman in the world/universe…. A very interesting lesson for future Miss USA aspirants.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:14 am
“… to ask someone like Perez Hilton to judge the event and allow him to pose such a sensitive question is puzzling.”
I don’t really see the puzzling part, Archana. This is a pageant few people could actually name. Its organizers wanted to inject some publicity and controversy (as they have every right to do, being a private organization). They described one theme of the pageant as “diversity” and asked a notorious bomb-thrower to be one of the judges. If Miss California could not guess there would be questions with answers harder than “world peace,” then she’s more of an airhead than she looks to be.
Now with the controversy waning she has sold herself to every right-wing talk show and praise-jesus hour that will have her and is far more famous than the woman who actually won. And she hopes to write a book (duh).
Carrie came out of this just fine, Perez got the attention he craves, and this pageant that no one ever watches got more publicity than it’s had in years.
They all won. Rational discourse on this subject lost.
June 17th, 2009 at 1:54 am
Ha ha…I liked the way Smitha and Mike put it
June 18th, 2009 at 1:21 am
Well written! And like Miss Prejean, the author has tried to be least diplomatic.
But as far as rationalising is concerned, ditto to Geo. The problem, as he mentioned, is deep rooted. A rational discourse between people owing allegiance to different races [ahem, trying to avoid that word ‘racists’ ;)]may still be a possibility. But issues such as same sex marriages are definitely found rooted in the very beliefs and moral systems that people carry.
Nevertheless, an attempt should be made, I believe, in atleast trying to understand that worldview, belief or moral system. The knowledge of origin of such a school of thought will do give people some space to find a ‘common ground’ (now whether it’s on a no-man’s land or not…no idea) among them.
June 18th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Very well written, Archana
June 19th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Hey Archana, you are so right about this..
How many people would ever say something what they really feel and not what they are supposed to say in a beauty pageant?? veryy few and Miss Prejean needs to be applauded for not being diplomatic unlike the other fake contestants..!
very well written Archana..Waiting for more..
cheers..