I didn't watch the pageant but I have heard all about it the past few mornings on the Today Show (my make-up-application-and-final-cup-of-coffee entertainment each morning).
Let me offer an opinion I have YET to hear from a single media outlet...
First, let's look at the facts. This is EXACTLY what was said:
Perez Hilton asked Miss California, Carrie Prejean the following question:
"Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?"
Miss California's response:
"Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and in, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," Carrie said to a mix of boos and applause. "No offense to anybody out there. But that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be between a man and a woman."
The uproar over her response has been incredible. Perez and many other media outlets (including Fox News) and blogs across the nation are outraged that she would say such a thing.
First, let me say that if she had said the opposite, if she had said that she was pro-same sex marriage she'd be the hero across the nation (at least to the media). But she didn't. So what is their response? "She should have left her opinion to herself and leave her religion and personal opinion out of it."
Seriously? The question asked what her personal opinion was. She actual chose to say a pageant/politically correct disclaimer by saying that she thinks that it is great that we live in a country where you have the right to chose. Then she answered the question, but "I think..." and then shared her opinion that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Growing up being raised by an independent mom and a democrat step-mom, I tend to have a bit more liberal views than most Christians when it comes to political issues. However the issue right now isn't same sex marriage. The issue is allowing people-- on both sides-- to have the opportunity to really share what they think.
So for all of us-- Christian or Jew or Muslim or Atheist, Male or Female, Straight or Gay, Skinny or Overweight, US Citizen or Immigrant-- why don't we all start listening to one another? We don't have to agree. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE TOLERANT. But we should at least hear the other side out and... respond in love.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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4 comments:
I believe the question itself was unnecessary and does not reflect what kind of job a woman would do as Miss USA. I have to suspect the judges have background info on each contestant and the judge specifically asked this to a person with a view different from his own. Just saw this video with an outrage made by Hilton after the contest. http://www.citizenlink.org/videofeatures/A000009838.cfm
I think for the most part we do need to listen to both sides of the story. I think there are times when we can't voice our views, like when the policeman pulls you over for speeding, or your mom tells you to turn the TV off NOW and not to argue about it (now later in court, or over dinner, you can voice your view). In this case, though, they asked for her opinion. It's like me asking you what color YOU think is prettiest, then sending you out of my house because you picked a color I don't like. CRAZY!
I don't think we are called to be tolerant in most situations. We aren't to just "tolerate" people, but we are called to LOVE people. We aren't supposed to just accept people even if we don't like what they do. We are called to love people regardless of what they do. Not that we have to hang out with them or expose our kids to people who choose to blatantly sin, but we are called to love them.
We aren't called to "tolerate" certain behaviors, either. If God says it's a sin, it's a sin. I DO believe there are behaviors that are not clearly laid out in Scripture, but there are some that are, and regardless of what any person says, God trumps any man's or woman's opinion.
Then there are things we have to tolerate; those pesky things that drive us insane and if it is about the 3rd week of the month could cause us to commit a violent crime. They aren't necessarily bad things and they aren't necessarily good things. These are some of the things on my "tolerance":
*Watching others eat Gluten while being gluten intolerant (THERE's that word!)
*Natalie whining
*Walking by the bakery at HEB and missing gluten
*Natalie whining
*Serving gluten foods to others(do you see a trend here? LOL!)
*Natalie whining
*Hearing an episode of a Disney Show for the 85th time
*Trying to get Bethany to finish ANYTHING in a normal amount of time.
Now if you want to know what I REALLY think....
ha, ha!
Great post! I agree with you.
I think she just earned something in heaven for that great answer and that crown is going to last a lot longer than the Miss USA one!
i TOTALLY agree. i was so annoyed about this for days and thought about writing about it but i thought my nerves would officially become wrecked. it's ridiculous the double-standard here...utterly.
I like your thoughts sis! Katie was watching that while I was working on my laptop, but that question quickly caught my attention. It's disappointing that she couldn't have her own opinion on this topic. The reality is that if she had said the opposite that there would be an uproar from another group. Great thoughts and a challenge to us all to LISTEN!!! It's okay to disagree, but to respond with such attacks is so unnecessary!!!
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