This controversy of the Miss California and gay marriage....

@bamakelly (5191)
United States
June 13, 2009 1:06pm CST
I have heard about this controversy back when it started and first I ignored it. When I later starting getting the idea of what it was all about the first question that came to my mind was why?! Why did they have to ask a question like this in the first place? Somewhere in the back of these pageant coordinators' minds when asking a question like this was the fact that they knew some kind of controversy was going to erupt. I mean, come on. If her answer was something more to the to the tone of this contestant being for gay marriages then there would have been some other type of pandemonium surfacing because of it. What happened to the days when the emcee just asked a simple life question of the contestants and then moved on from there to their bathing suit and talent competitions? What is this world coming to? Believe me, I am not bothered at all with what people do in their lives. People are people and they should be accepted as they are. Yes. There are homosexuals in the world. They are now getting married. It seems that society has its way of wanting to separate them too much and putting to much emphasis on their orientation. This was an incident of a pageant contestant arbitrarily being forced out because of her opinion. I guess they are going to have to go back to the simple questions like "Where do you think the world will be in five years", or "What is your favorite color" and hope that the contestant will bite her tongue and not upset the masses. After reading this excerpt I have posted I am hoping that you will give me your honest thoughts on this matter.
6 people like this
8 responses
@psyche49f (2502)
• Philippines
14 Jun 09
Miss California Lost Crown for Speaking Her Opinio - It's sad that the organizers seem to be playing God or politics by stripping Miss California of her crown for speaking her mind against gay marriages...
At least, she was just being honest with what she believes, instead of lie about it, right? We don't like Miss C to look cute by saying things which she does not believe. It's really a matter of principle, and it's sad that the organizers played too much politics by stripping off her crown. Well, she may have her little faults, but I sense it's not really a mortal sin so as to cause her crown. That's really sad...
@rdadey (484)
• Canada
14 Jun 09
It seems she gave her opinion and didn't really matter what she said, it was a no win situation. Another question like that could be. "do you believe in abortion?" I don't think it's fair to ask those types of questions, especially if it's not asked to all contestants. I know when they have children pageants here there is only one question asked to all the kids. But I guess on TV that would seem boring so they have to ask different ones.
1 person likes this
@deejean06 (1952)
• United States
15 Jun 09
Hi bama...The thing that truly upsets me about this controversy is the complete lack of tolerance. This woman got up on stage and gave an honest answer based on her values and beliefs. So what? So now she's not welcome to an opinion because it's not the correct opinion? If the other side embraces tolerance and diversity, why not the diversity of a differing opinion?
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
15 Jun 09
I can see that this is a controversy that has upset some people and I am receiving comments from various members here that truly are getting good grasp of my point. You said it right about the fact that it does seem that because of an opinion it is subject to banishing a contestant to the right of even having an opinion. And I still point out the fact that I can't see why such a loaded question was asked. It is a very controversial subject and it so happened that she was the contestant that answered it in an adverse manner. It doesn't seem fair.
@deejean06 (1952)
• United States
16 Jun 09
I have another question: Why was a gay man chosen to judge such a pageant?
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Jun 09
This, like most everything these days, bamakelly, was orchestrated for purely sensationalistic reasons. If you really want to know what I think I'll tell you: In a time when everything is judged on political correctness why do they even still have beauty pageants? I can think of nothing that is more sexist. These "contests" claim to focus on more than mere physical beauty, but it's all a big lie. People go to all sorts of lengths in order to make themselves look more beautiful, but in reality it's what's inside that truly counts.
1 person likes this
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
15 Jun 09
You have really hit the nail on the head here with this one. It is so true about political correctness these days. They are having beauty pageants to this day basing most of the facts on the physical beauty. Now there is a spin put on things with the questions that are presented. It was a loaded question just as another member here replied. No matter what this girl would have answered it was going to be a problem for certain cultures and the like. And it is also true that it is what is on the inside that counts. Women should win based on their inside merits. But then again what is it about the winning all of the time? We have come such a long way in society today but these contests still keep the staying power that they do.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
14 Jun 09
You make an excellent point on this. Why even ask the question to begin with. It really does appear that they were looking for the attention and the drama that followed. It worked. She gave her honest thoughts and she did it in a respectful way and it blew up in her face.
1 person likes this
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
15 Jun 09
Thanks for replying that I made a good point. This was a situation that certainly started up some controversy. I might not have known all of the other things involved in this case but now that I am armed with some more information I can get a better grasp on things. I do still believe like you do the fact that she gave her honest thoughts. No one should be persecuted for that.
• Philippines
14 Jun 09
with regards to Miss California, I think she wasn't really that committed to being a role model in the Pageant. She should have just admitted it at least, but her fear had caused her to lie a lot of times. I never heard or watch her on the show regarding that question but i guess she was also not open-minded into it as well.
• United States
15 Jun 09
Kelly- I recall that story. I didn't agree with her answer, and I felt she should have kept her religious opinion to herself. However, now that you've brought up another point they did put her on the spot about her convictions, and instead of allowing her the freedom to have them, they kicked her out. That doesn't seem very right, because if the person had said they were for gay marriages, and the those against gay marriages had opposed and kicked her out we'd be shouting the other way. I think I agree that those questions should be as they were many moons ago "How will you bring peace to the world", etc. It's not that I don't think people should have an opinion, they have every right to one, but in some instances those types of personal feelings are used against the person and it becomes another form of discrimination. Even if I agree that her comment was insulting, it doesn't mean she shouldn't hold the crown she rightfully won on all other accounts. Namaste-Anora
1 person likes this
• Philippines
14 Jun 09
Good day.. Questions in pageant should be focus about the world as a whole and not on a group of people or their preferences. I mean they should promote unity and worl peace right? how can they do that when all they want is controversy which is not helping anyone?.
@rdadey (484)
• Canada
14 Jun 09
It does seem that this was a loaded question. It didn't matter who had to answer it, it would cause a negative reaction. I would assume that the questions would be approved before hand and the type of question would be of a general nature. Did the other contestants have to answer a question of a similar controversial issue, where they'd be hung by the neck no matter what answer they gave? It was a no win question in my opinion.
1 person likes this