Miss California Teaches a Lesson on Tolerance

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, has been recently stripped of her title as a result of a controversial answer given at the 2009 Miss USA Pageant. Perez Hilton, an openly gay celebrity blogger, asked Prejean whether she believed that all states should legalize same-sex marriage. Prejean answered:

"Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one way or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. You know what, in my country, in my family, I do believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, no offense to anybody out there. But that’s how I was raised and I believe that it should be between a man and a woman."

So to recap, Prejean stood up for what she believed in, respectively stated her opinion when asked, and gave almost the exact answer that President Obama gave during his election campaign. It is pathetic that this answer cost Prejean the Miss USA title and eventually dethroned her as Miss California. Unfortunately everyone is so concerned with being politically correct and accepting that we forget to remember that tolerance is a two-way street. Yes, it is important to be tolerant of those who believe in same-sex marriages. However, it is just as important to be tolerant of those who do not. It does not matter if I agree with someone's views, I will still defend their right to peacefully voice their opinion under the First Amendment.

Even more troubling is Hitlon's assertion that Prejean is a "dumb bitch." Really? As a gay rights advocate you preach tolerance and political correctness and that is how you treat someone who disagrees with you? I'm pretty sure that if anyone called a gay couple "dumb bitches" then Hilton would call for their beheading. It is 2009. People have different opinions and that needs to be accepted. I think it is a travesty to the integrity of this country and the Constitution that Prejean was treated the way that she was. In a world full of violence and hatred someone actually sticks up for her own morals in a peaceful manner and gets roasted. Imagine that.

As for the same-sex marriage issue, I'm sure roughly half of the country would agree with Prejean's assessment that a marriage should be a union between a man and a woman. Heck, our liberal president feels the same way. Prejean makes a great point that in America people can choose and that is what makes our country so great. In Vermont the people voted in favor of legalizing gay marriage and it became legalized. In California the people voted against Proposition 8 (the legalization of gay marriage) and the Supreme Court upheld their decision. The issue of gay marriage is being decided by the people of each state and that is the way it ought to be.

It is unfortunate that Prejean had to lose so much, but do not let what she stood up for go to waste. It is just as important to be tolerant of those who have traditional marriage views as those who fight for the legalization of same-sex marriage. The truth of the hypocrisy of today's society is that it doesn't go both ways. A traditionalist gets blasted for respectfully stating her views while a liberal calls her a "dumb bitch" and is still viewed as a victim.

One thing I learned in school was that an opinion had no right or wrong answer. Unfortunately somehow those who run the pageant have deemed Prejean's answer as wrong.