Miss USA (almost)

5

By now the whole inhabited world, by which I mean those who watch TV and follow the Internet, knows about Carrie Prejean who almost became Miss USA the other night but ended up in second place presumably because of how she answered a question from a strange fellow named Perez Hilton about gay marriage. Although Miss Prejean’s answer was not a model of clarity (pageant answers generally being of the “I favor world peace” variety), she was clear enough in defending the traditional view of marriage as being one man and one woman.

Last night I watched her interview with Sean Hannity. Miss Prejean comes across as a sincere 21-year-old who decided that it was better to be true to her faith even if it meant losing the Miss USA crown. Well, good for her. We need Christians who will not sell out their convictions or mumble a bunch of politically correct nonsense.

She is, by the way, a student at San Diego Christian College, formerly Christian Heritage College, founded by (among others) Tim LaHaye and the late Henry Morris.

A few quick notes about the controversy . . .

1. If you watch the video carefully, you can hear loud clapping when she gave her answer. That reinforces the notion that many people do not support gay marriage. Even in liberal California, Proposition 8 won last November.

2. We shouldn’t be surprised that Miss Prejean has been pilloried by the mainstream media. Anyone who dares to speak out in favor of traditional values will run the same gauntlet.

3. Nevertheless by keeping her cool under enormous pressure, she gains support from millions of people. And if she had caved and given some mumbo-jumbo answer, she might have won the pageant and would have disappeared from the cultural radar. Better in this case to speak your convictions firmly and politely and leave the results in God’s hands.

4. She illustrates the need for Christians with tenacious, winsome courage. Tenacious meaning we won’t give up. Courage meaning we speak out when the time comes. Winsome meaning we speak with a smile, not a frown.

5. When asked about controversial matters, we would all do well to take the “Joe Friday” approach: “Just the facts, Ma’am.” Brief is better. Just say what you believe, don’t make a big deal about it, and don’t try to explain it or nuance it. Short and simple with a smile wins the day.

6. Ironically, Miss Prejean won by losing. That often happens when we respond to provocation with grace under pressure.

One final point, which I hesitate to mention because it injects an unhappy note into the proceedings. Nearly all the news reports show the video of Miss Prejean in an extremely skimpy white bikini that all the pageant contestants were required to wear. It looked like sexy underwear, which is how it was supposed to look. 

I guess by now we’re all supposed to be used to this sort of thing and think nothing of it. But still it bothered me. I wouldn’t want my daughters parading in public dressed like that. Hmmm. I sound like those old-time preachers, don’t I? But I think they were more right than wrong about stuff like this. 

While that part doesn’t help the cause, I am happy to commend Miss Prejean for sticking up for what she believes. By speaking out in favor of traditional marriage, she took a strong stand in favor of the truth, and for that she deserves our applause.

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April 22, 2009, 9:45 AM lawyerly says:
	I completely agree with you that those Christians who stand up for traditional Christian values and do not follow mainstream psychobabble or political correctness should be cheered. It is even more encouraging when it comes from someone so young and someone who says it on National T.V.
April 22, 2009, 9:56 AM PrincessRachel says:
	About the bathing suit: I, myself, grew up doing pageants - stopped at age 10, and was thinking about reintroducing myself to the “world of beauty” after I had some offers of sponsorship, etc...The one thing that held me back was the bikini’s- In my own little way I stood up for what I believed was right, however, as you said- most people don’t even think twice about it anymore! I give props to Miss Cali- I have heard more about her than the girl that actually won! Thanks for writing this...
April 23, 2009, 11:03 AM Jenny says:
	Thanks very much for this article. I’m glad to hear that you mentioned the bikini. It’s wonderful that Miss Prejean was brave enough to “speak the truth in love”. However, I also question the wisdom of a Christian who doesn’t seem to see a problem with being so scantily dressed. It is a little uncomfortable to see a professing Christian like this.
April 24, 2009, 1:03 PM Ray Pritchard says:
	I have received many comments on this article, most of them congratulating Carrie Prejean. I personally am glad for what Miss Prejean said under enormous pressure and the resulting publicity has actually been a good thing because it has exposed the intolerance of the homosexual community. But there are underlying issues of modesty and propriety that also need to be addressed. I notice others have raised the same issue also. Modesty is still a Christian virtue. That has to be part of the overall discussion, I think. Very grateful to everyone who posted a comment here or via email or on Facebook. Ray
April 29, 2009, 10:35 AM Jennie Prust says:
	Her reward is in Heaven indeed!!! She stuck to her guns!!!!