It's spring and the latest "tempest in a teapot" has been lighting up the airwaves and the blogosphere (and distracting us from stuff that really matters.) Since the story doesn't seem to be going away I decided to add my two cents to the debate (since I have nothing relevant to say regarding the important stories of the day.) Spring Storm is an easy and obvious choice for the post. Now--on with the rant!-
It's the story that WILL NOT go away--no matter how much we want it to. Last Sunday night (April 19) openly gay "celebrity blogger" Perez Hilton asked Miss California USA Carrie Prejean the "question heard 'round the world" on whether or not she approved of same-sex marriage. Miss Prejean said she was against it because of her Christian belief--which angered Hilton to the point that he blasted her on his blog--calling her (and I quote) a "dumb bitch." Five days later the tempest still rages. It's hard to decide the biggest idiot in this story, Hilton, Miss California USA or all the folk who simply won't let this go. Personally, I think they should all be awarded dunce caps and sent to the back of the class.
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Here's why...
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ALL contestants in the Miss USA Pageant are given the questions IN ADVANCE. Contestants don't know which question they'll get but they still have an opportunity to prepare their responses. Carrie Prejean said she knew the question was coming yet still gave a stumbling, inarticulate answer almost on a level with the (in)famous reply in the Miss Teen USA Pageant a few years ago. Beauty pageant contestants are schooled in the fine art of "dancing a little sidestep" to avoid awkward situations. Perez Hilton and (according to Donald Trump) other judges scored her down--thus costing Miss California the crown.
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That should have been that but Monday (April 20) Hilton posted a video on his blog that set a match to the powder keg. Perez Hilton had every right to make an ass of himself (those who follow his career know he's good at that) and he's never been shy about expressing his feelings. He also, IMHO, had every right to score her down for her answer. Still, if the question of journalistic responsibility doesn't come up, the idea of common sense should. Hilton doesn't see himself as the defender of same-sex marriage rights: he claims he's simply one person expressing his opinion. Still, someone with as such a high profile as Perez Hilton ends up (intentionally or not) a cause and his ill-chosen words end up doing more damage than good.
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As for all the bloggers, and TV Talking Heads, there's one thing they fail to point out. Yes, Carrie Prejean lost the title of Miss USA but she gained so much more in publicity. Do you even know without looking it up who won this year's title? (It's Kristen Dalton of North Carolina: I looked it up for you.) If Miss California plays her cards right she'll have a much bigger career than the girl who won the pageant.
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Me, I have loads of problems with this story from all sides. FIRST: with everything going on in the country and world today--why is this even an issue? (Still, I'm wasting space in my blog and you're wasting time reading my rant--so obviously I'm a contributor to the problem.) SECOND: there's a bit of a disconnect for me when I think of a young lady who puts herself out as an advocate of traditional Christian values yet struts herself in stiletto heels and a teeny-weenie bikini as a sex object. (Somehow that doesn't equate with traditional Christian values to me.) Miss Prejean is free to espouse ANY values she chooses: we should respect and applaud her for that. Still, others (the Judges) have just as much right to disagree and score her down. Nobody should be complaining about "unfairness." It is what it is: deal with it and move on. As for Perez Hilton--he really needs to be a bit more responsible for what he puts out in the world. His words and actions affect others and last much longer than the few minutes it took to post a rant.
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'nuff said.
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