Miss California's Real Issue is Posing Topless, Not Opposing Gay Marriage

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, says that she should not be penalized for her opposition to gay marriage and that America is a place for freedom of speech. She is absolutely right. People should not be penalized for their opinions.

But what puzzles me is how she believes that gay marriage would harm the institution of marriage and is anti-Christian but that her posing topless is none of those things.

Huh? The real danger to marriage in our time is the rampant culture of male womanizing, lack of commitment, and the assault on women's dignity which treats women as masturbatory material for men. Women who engage in pornographic offerings become complicit in their own degradation and further the male view that a woman is not to be respected as an equal but rather, is a means to salacious male ends.

Miss California also reportedly accepted breast implants for the Miss Universe pageant. Now, aside from the silly relic of beauty pageants still existing in a time when women ought to be appreciated for their minds and not just their legs, surely dissatisfaction with one's body and implanting foreign objects to enhance one's perceived physical shortcomings somewhat negates the Christian and spiritual message that beauty is something more than skin deep. Surely, if asked, Jesus would have said that women are more than male eye-candy.

Whether people oppose or support gay marriage, one thing is certain: since the gay population in the U.S. is approximately ten percent, and the heterosexual divorce rate is about fifty percent, we straight people ought to be blaming ourselves for the destruction of marriage instead of finding scapegoats.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach achieved worldwide recognition from bestsellers like Kosher Sex, radio and TV shows like TLC's "Shalom in the Home", and syndicated columns in the international press. In 2000 he was the London Times "Preacher of the Year".

For more information contact Kennia Ramirez on 201 816 3540 or write to [e-mail].

Comments

[Malkin71]

Question--

When Carrie Prejean claimed she was 17 when she took those photos (this was untrue, she was legal age) and thus accused the photographer of being a sex offender, which is vile...

Wasn't she also saying her super great Christian parents who raised her with such great values allowed their underage daughter to shoot porn?

[callmemara]

and I pray my little girl grows up to be such a sweet republican woman that Miss Prejean has given as an example. oh. amen.

[ArthurTwoShedsJackson]

Remember Vanesa Williams' loss of her title (Miss America?) after Bob Guccione published photos of VW in an adult photo shoot with another woman?

I can't help but think that IF a similar revelation was discovered involving Prejean, the right wing xtians would forgive her in a NY minute for that too. She's one of them so it's OK, Jaysus forgave her!

[Pie7]

Agreed!

[yourmotherwasahamster]

Spot on, Shmuley! Thank you for crystallizing the real essence of this latest "brouhaha du jour". Self promoters like Prejean, The Donald, and NOM often fail to recognize their own hypocrisy and irony is completely lost on most.

[kamachanda]

"in a time when women ought to be appreciated for their minds and not just their legs'

If her comments reflect the development of her mind, she should stick to being appreciated for her legs and her implants.

[MartyinLA]

Right on Rabbi Boteach! Also, I think Ms. Calipornia is exceeding her 15 seconds of fame becuase she hit a cultural nerve. Thankfully, the influence of the religious right is waning and she is its lightining rod.

[Dave24]

She's a model, building a career by using her body. And there's nothing wrong with this.

The problem is that she deems gay marriage as "unnatural" and then injects her breasts with "unnatural" materials.

I'm sick of hearing about her "freedom of speech." Let me ask you this: The people who criticize her... aren't they also exercising their freedom of speech?

By the way, Rabbi, porn is not the problem. The problem is that people use porn as an excuse for why men treat women terribly. Those who make arguments with an underlying religious subtext such as yourself are simply ashamed of the human body thanks to plenty of scriptural indoctrination. Blaming "culture" or the porn industry is nothing more than a petty attempt at trying to impose your version of morality upon society, which is not surprising because it reflects the totalitarian intentions behind all religions.

Miss California is like Sarah Palin: the first time you see her, she looks amazing. Then she reveals an enormous amount of ignorance and bigotry for selfish gain, and the ugliness overwhelms their external appearance. And I can't stand to look at either of them.

[lexlib]

this article is correct. when nude photos of vanessa williams surfaced she was dethroned. what message is donald trump sending to future particiants? its ok to have photos of questinable nature since i will be giving you a second chance. this is the second time Trump has not abided by the contract of the pageant. Anyone remember Tara Conner?

[SharpDressedMan]

I see two issues with Miss California. The gay marriage question and her lying about semi-nude photos.

Miss California was honest with her thoughts and feelings on gay marriage despite her bigotry. Perez Hilton gave her low scores but reportedly, her feelings on gay marriage didn't cost her the crown.

During this ruckus, another storm flourished over semi-nude photos taken by two separate photographers and her contractual declaration that such photos don't exist.

Miss California cleverly setup smoke and mirrors by laying blame on Perez Hilton for her bigotry, accused photographers of breaking confidentiality, even blamed the wind in one photo shoot. She elevated herself above all this by declaring herself as a Christian model, as if that gives her permission to work as a soft porn model, lie about it and get away with it. In short she demonized her opponents and rendered herself a victim. She ignores the hypocrisy and sees demons and her victimization.

Evangelical Christians support her. Their life involves teeter tottering between virtues and sin then asking for forgiveness because they believe in Jesus.

Using her deceptive skills with the precision of a tactician, she held on to her Miss California crown and gained sympathy from evangelical Christians and notoriety from others. Emulating Sarah Palin's disregard for values, Miss California used her Christianity, gift of gab, and crocodile tears to embark on the seas of media stardom destined to join her soul mates at FoxNews.

[TuoulumneFlower]

Your forgot to mention she used her body and sexuality, too. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Who gets to draw that line, Donald Trump? Bikini OK, arms crossed over chest not? Give me a break.

Rabbi, as for "the assault on women's dignity which treats women as masturbatory material for men" well, it's the men who have to change their behavior regarding that. Women well ever be "masturbatory material" for men, and that's ok. It's blaming the women for it, treating them as nothing more than that, that's the problem. Women are the ones caught in the trap, not the ones who set it.

[midknightryder13]

You know that her argument regarding "the wind" in the photo shoot is on shaky ground when JAY LENO, no less, appears to be able to de-bunk it.

[faithnj]

I really love the point made by Rabbai Boteach. I had never looked at the situation that way. But the first thing that struck me as ridiculously hypocritical was that she lied on her Ms. CA application when asked if she had posed nude or semi-nude. I really want to tell Ms. CA that lying to get what you want is real "Christian" of you. Way to share your values with the rest of the world......NOT! And I can't believe Donald Trump kept her despite her lies. But what are we supposed to expect from him? Not much of anything, I guess. If she's bringing his business attention, then I guess that's good enough for him.

[trisha08]

I think the real issue is that she claims to be a "Christian" and is willing to judge how others live their lives (gay marriage) but she has no problem posing topless and then lying about it.

The other issue is how the Christian Right has been supporting her,etc. Even Palin has come out in support of this woman. Since when have conservative Christians help up a topless model as a role model for "family values'?. If she hadn't voiced her objection to gay marriage, does anyone believe the Christian Right would adapt this woman as their newest role model.

First, Palin is a role model for her family values while her unmarried teen daughter is preggo, and now Carrie is the new face of the Religious Right with her boobies for Jesus. A bit hypocritical.

[HeevenSteven]

Miss California's real problem is hypocrisy; The same goes for the pageant that would oust her for modeling the implants they paid for so that she'd be good enough for them.

[fwilms]

Although I'm gay, I support her giving her opinion. I don't think it was a fair question to ask. Asking the question was mean-spirited. I also support her posing topless, even though it does seem contradictory to the conservative Christian philosophy she espouses. Personally, I don't want to live in a world where nudity, or being sexy is considered immoral (I know I do currently, but I don't want to!).

However, as a title holder, I do not support her right to join the anti-equality marriage movement, be a spokesperson for their cause, and be on their commercials. When her title year is over, she can do anything she wants to, but as a representative of California (and San Diego, where I live), while she has her title, I don't think she should be permitted to keep her title, while furthering the cause of discrimination.

[trisha08]

I appreciate your open view. But, I do disagree with her showing her boobies and lying about it. Not that I care personally if posed topless, but it should be a big deal because she lied. However, the contract she signed asked if she had posed for any of these types of photos and she lied. THAT is where I have problem.

Other girls in that pagent played by the rules, so why should she get away with lying on that contract and keeping her crown. Plus, the only reason that "Christians" are supporting her is because of her stand on gay marriage. Do you really think they would support her if they found out she had posed topless? If she were a Dem, they would be screaming for blood, and the loss of family values,etc.

[LittlePurpleUSA]

The question was pre-approved by the pageant directors. You need to take that up with them. She was just unlucky enough to get the question.

[Palemoon]

No it wasn't. ;o)

[Observer1000]

Oh and I thought she was doing this all for her love of Christ.

[doodlefarbe]

Voo-zhaaa Day!