Why is Carrie Prejean, the Miss California contestant from the 2009 Miss USA pageant, getting such an enormous amount of press? Is it simply because of the answer to her interview question? I don’t think so. I think much of the buzz has to do with her ability to answer a tough question with HONESTY.
I’ll be honest – I didn’t watch the Miss USA pageant. Frankly, there is a lot about the show that I do not like. But this is hardly the point of my post today. Today’s point is this – I did not watch the Miss USA contest at all, but I know about Carrie Prejean. I know that she answered a controversial interview question about gay marriage, and I know that she did not win. Are the two related? Lots of people seem to think so.
I do not have a problem with her answer. You guys know me. You all know my heart and my compassion for all. Carrie Prejean answered that she did not believe in gay marriage, as did the majority of Californian voters last fall, if you’ll recall. In November of 2008 the California Proposition 8 was voted into effect by the general population of California, a liberal state, by a margin of 52%. This is the state from which Carrie Prejean came from. Can we blame her for holding the same viewpoint as 52% of the voters in her state? Surely not!
What I would have blamed Carrie for is if she had answered against her conscience. It’s ironic because I saw a blog that called her a “hypocrite”. Um, hello? Last time I checked, the definition of hypocrite, according to Webster’s dictionary was, “a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, esp. one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.” Hypocrite does not mean, “a person who holds an opinion you don’t agree with”. Sorry, Charlie.
I think Carrie Prejean is getting so much press and attention because of the strength she showed speaking the truth of her heart even when she knew it would be a very controversial and hotly-contested response. Even Donald Trump has said that he admired her for sharing her belief.
Once, I was in the mall with a group of friends. At some point we had scattered and a friend, M, and I were in Claire’s. We were laughing at a ridiculous purse that truly was a monstrosity. Three times bigger than the one I am currently using, actually. One of the “popular” girls came in with her gaggle of friends and eventually raved about the handbag. She, and later M, each purchased one and I lost a great deal of respect for my friend that day. If she were so easily swayed on such a trivial matter, how would she stand firm in the important things? And sure enough, she didn’t finish high school, didn’t finish her marriage (either one of them), didn’t finish parenting, doesn’t hold down a job, etc, etc. The wishy-washy is extreme.
Wishy-washy. I cannot stand someone who waivers back and forth and becomes a different person each time they are with someone new. Like the main character on Runaway Bride who had never taken the time to figure out what kind of eggs she liked. What DO you believe anyway? Are you sure? At least Carrie Prejean is.
Great post. I prefer people with backbones to answer honestly–even if opposing my beliefs–over those who sway with the moment’s surrounding trees. At least you know what you’re seeing is what you can count on with the first kind. With people pleasers, one is always on sandy ground, and sometimes you just can’t shift fast enough to keep from getting sucked down.
Brandy