View Full Version : Don't talk about that Miss America
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10657-2002Oct11.html
Miss America 2003 Erika Harold, who planned to campaign against youth violence and bullying, says pageant officials tried to bully her into not talking about sexual abstinence during her reign.
Harold, 22, of Urbana, Ill., was reportedly furious after pageant officials told her not to talk about it during an appearance at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., earlier this week.
"I will not be bullied," she told reporters at the event.
Harold, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Illinois who put off enrolling at Harvard law school to compete for Miss America, switched her platform from teenage sexual abstinence to youth violence and bullying after she won the Miss Illinois crown.
When she was in Atlantic City to compete for Miss America, she listed the latter as her platform issue, the cause she would promote if she won the Sept. 21 pageant.
In appearances after her crowning, she said she would focus on the topic because she had been the target of racial and sexual harassment as a ninth-grader.
But she wanted to talk about abstinence, too, a cause she advocated in her work as Miss Illinois and on behalf of Project Reality, a Chicago-based nonprofit that promotes abstinence education.
Pageant officials didn't want her to, asking her before Tuesday's appearance in the nation's capital to keep the focus of her efforts all year on youth violence.
After two days of discussions with pageant officials, Harold said she prevailed. She will talk about abstinence – from drugs, alcohol and sex – as it relates to youth violence and peer pressure as she travels the nation on a yearlong speaking tour.
"We have clarified the role abstinence will play in the advocacy of my platform," she said in a statement released by the Miss America Organization on Thursday. "I have discussed these issues with Miss America officials over the past two days and we now understand each other."
George Bauer, the pageant's interim chief executive officer, wasn't talking about the flap Thursday. He was taking a few days off and will not have a comment, pageant spokesman John Healy said.
hang10wannabe
10-13-2002, 09:52 AM
good for her :thumb: a miss america thats not all show and memorization... but it woulda been a more interesting story with some ninjas and karate chops in there :D
Cantacuzene
10-13-2002, 11:46 AM
Who cares? I hate people with bs issues. Why does she try to force her opinion on people? Why should anyone care what she has to say? I dont take my advice from people based on how hot they are.
hang10wannabe
10-13-2002, 04:00 PM
Originally posted by Cantacuzene
Who cares? I hate people with bs issues. Why does she try to force her opinion on people? Why should anyone care what she has to say? I dont take my advice from people based on how hot they are.
oooo... cantacuzene speaks it what seems to be jealousy... common dood... give her a break... if ur hot enough to win... go for that win... as for her opinion... if u can win Miss America... i say u get to use ur 15 minutes "of deserved" time any way u choose... :bandit:
Originally posted by Cantacuzene
Who cares? I hate people with bs issues. Why does she try to force her opinion on people? Why should anyone care what she has to say? I dont take my advice from people based on how hot they are. Why should anyone care what anyone has to say?
Abstinence isn't a bs issue-just look at how many numbskulls out there get knocked up. She's not forcing her opinion on anyone-listen to it or not, the choice is yours.
Cantacuzene
10-13-2002, 05:10 PM
I notice a funny hypocricy here. A lot of people complained that schools are trying to teach morals and they freak out and make a huge fuss. When a supermodel tries to teach morals, from an even more biased standpoint the same people applaud her.
These people were all about "getting our morals taught at home," but she is teaching morals to kids and you arent objecting now. I wonder why... oh I see now, she is taking a ridiculously strong stance on a non-issue that appeals to people that consider themselves better than everyone else by virtue of their supposed superior morality. Makes sense to me now.
WhiskeyPapa
10-13-2002, 05:25 PM
Abstinence is not a moral or religious issue. Not having sex until you are married is the only 100% way to avoid ALL unwanted pregnancies and STDs. It's the only method that works everytime.
The only reason God recommends it is because God ain't no dummy!
Miss America is different than the schools. Miss America does not have a captive audience, who have to regurgitate what she says on a test in order to pass to the next grade. You can listen to her message or ignore it.
She is simply using the attention she is getting as Miss America to present a message she feels is important. Every Mis America does it, only the pagent officials are apparently more comfortable with issues like world peace and hunger.
Cantacuzene
10-13-2002, 05:42 PM
Originally posted by kb0wwp
Abstinence is not a moral or religious issue. Not having sex until you are married is the only 100% way to avoid ALL unwanted pregnancies and STDs. It's the only method that works everytime.
The only reason God recommends it is because God ain't no dummy!
Miss America is different than the schools. Miss America does not have a captive audience, who have to regurgitate what she says on a test in order to pass to the next grade. You can listen to her message or ignore it.
She is simply using the attention she is getting as Miss America to present a message she feels is important. Every Mis America does it, only the pagent officials are apparently more comfortable with issues like world peace and hunger.
It is a moral issue. You can be healthy and happy having sex before marriage. You cant be 100% safe, but you cant be 100% safe driving your car down the street. Safety isnt the issue at all. The only real arguement is morality, and frankly, morality shouldnt be preached outside of the home or a religious institution.
As far as I know, no one get tested in sex ed classes or on any other moral issues.
As far as her personal issue, its hard to compare world hunger to abstinence. When you look at the two issues, abstinence becomes so minor and asnine thats its ridiculous for her to waste her time in it. Abstinence may be an important issue, but for people dying of hunger or caught in the middle of a war its pretty pathetic.
eSDee
10-13-2002, 06:06 PM
There is more than one valid cause in the world to fight for. Let her fight for whatever she feels strongest about. It's something that she earned by winning the title.
Huh? What was this discussion about again?
Originally posted by Cantacuzene
I notice a funny hypocricy here. A lot of people complained that schools are trying to teach morals and they freak out and make a huge fuss. When a supermodel tries to teach morals, from an even more biased standpoint the same people applaud her.
These people were all about "getting our morals taught at home," but she is teaching morals to kids and you arent objecting now. I wonder why... oh I see now, she is taking a ridiculously strong stance on a non-issue that appeals to people that consider themselves better than everyone else by virtue of their supposed superior morality. Makes sense to me now. Please feel free to review that thread (http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51348). The objection wasn't to schools trying to teach morals, it was the delving into matters none of its concern. Also what is troubling is this viewpoint of big government always being the solution. And of course the question of non-governmental sources was raised in that thread.
There is a big difference between an individual {who may be ignored or not heard} expressing views on an issue versus a government institution having a captive audience. Just think what type of society this would be if people could not speak and take action on issues.
Finally, just becuase a government institution shouldn't be involved in a matter, doesn't mean non-governmental organizations and individuals can not be involved in a matter. Last time everyone checked Miss America isn't a government institution.
Cantacuzene
10-13-2002, 06:49 PM
She is the spokesperson for a company. Her employer should be allowed to dictate what she does on company time.
As far as the moral issue goes, my big question still remains unanswered, why should we care what she has to say? She isnt qualified to comment on anything as an authoritive figure.
Originally posted by Cantacuzene
She is the spokesperson for a company. Her employer should be allowed to dictate what she does on company time.Yes they can. Fortunately both parties compromised and came to an agreement before bad feelings hardened.
As far as the moral issue goes, my big question still remains unanswered, why should we care what she has to say? She isnt qualified to comment on anything as an authoritive figure. Believe it or not some folks actually look up to Miss America. Just like there are other figures out there who are looked up to for some reason or another.
The luster of Miss America isn't as great as it once was {pass scandals, changing society}.
Kind of funny pageant officials have tried to move away from this barbie doll image who does whatever she is told and this happens.
whitak24
10-13-2002, 07:32 PM
Originally posted by Cantacuzene
As far as her personal issue, its hard to compare world hunger to abstinence. When you look at the two issues, abstinence becomes so minor and asnine thats its ridiculous for her to waste her time in it. Abstinence may be an important issue, but for people dying of hunger or caught in the middle of a war its pretty pathetic.
well, if more people practiced abstinence, world hunger would be much less of a problem :hihi:
seriously, i don't know where you're getting off here. first, if you look at an issue of "impact", i would say that miss america, who is someone many people look up to (regardless of whether you care what she says), is going to have a lot more impact talking about an issue that is important to the people who tend to look up to her (such as abstinence or bullying) than babbling about world hunger. face it: miss america talking about eliminating poverty is probably going to do almost nothing to stop it.
second, you seem to have such a problem with her discussing her moral values in public and encouraging adoption of such values. however, being opposed to hunger or war is just as much of a moral value, and you seem to have no problem being in this forum, which is neither a home nor a church, and trying to get us to all adopt YOUR moral judgement that hunger is a more important moral issue than abstinence.
third, i don't know where you get the idea that discussion of moral ideas should only take place in homes or religious institutions.
fourth, no one ever said you have to listen to her. but just because you don't want to listen to her doesn't mean she should also have to talk about what you think she should have to talk about.
Cantacuzene
10-14-2002, 04:41 AM
I dont have any problem with her talking about morals in public. I have a problem with her assumption that we should listen to her.
I personally don't care what anyone talks about in public, you have a first amendment right to say whatever you want. I was just trying to help out all those people who think morals are supposed to be taught at home and not by celebrities.
topane
10-14-2002, 05:25 AM
Originally posted by Cantacuzene
Why does she try to force her opinion on people? Why are you trying to force your opinion on us ;)?
She has the right to say whatever she damn well pleases, although I probably wouldn't listen to her.
Originally posted by whitak24
well, if more people practiced abstinence, world hunger would be much less of a problem I agree, but people are gonna screw anyway. Why not talk about proper contraception? IMO it would be much more effective because people will still continue to do what comes naturally.
WhiskeyPapa
10-14-2002, 06:19 AM
Originally posted by Cantacuzene
I dont have any problem with her talking about morals in public. I have a problem with her assumption that we should listen to her.
I personally don't care what anyone talks about in public, you have a first amendment right to say whatever you want. I was just trying to help out all those people who think morals are supposed to be taught at home and not by celebrities. The more you post, the more illogical your argument becomes. Your fisrt post said you "hate people with bs issues", and "Why does she try to force her opinion on people?"
Now you say you don't have any problem with her talking about it in public.
I'm still trying to find where she said everyone has to listen to her.
I'm starting to think that you post a contrary opinion to every statement, just to stir things up. Not that I'm opposed to that. It would be pretty boring if we all agreed here...
Cantacuzene
10-14-2002, 06:23 AM
I don't have to agree with her or her issue to approve of her right to speak it. I'd rather she didnt speak but its her right so she can.
whitak24
10-14-2002, 06:50 AM
Originally posted by topane
I agree, but people are gonna screw anyway. Why not talk about proper contraception? IMO it would be much more effective because people will still continue to do what comes naturally.
actually, that was a joke ;)
although it could be argued that it's true, it was an over-broad generalization, made in an apparently unsuccessful attempt to be funny :heh:
btw, i happen to agree with your general argument, as i talked about here (http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51348&perpage=30&pagenumber=2) ;)
hang10wannabe
10-14-2002, 07:21 PM
Originally posted by Cantacuzene
I dont have any problem with her talking about morals in public. I have a problem with her assumption that we should listen to her.
well i think of it this way... if i were to ever hook up with her... id listen "all" the time... now that thats said... i dont see why we shouldnt now... :shrug:
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