SIGNS OF THE TIMES !!!!!
In this article, I want to look at some of the recent happenings, that are taking place, right here in our own backyard, and the significance of them.
Recently, while listening to the news, I heard a story on, how that after 50 or so years in existence, that the 'Miss America' pageant, was going to drop several of its requirements.
Among these, was the requirement, that all the contestants, must be single, and without children.
When my wife and I heard it, we said, well, 'there goes the neighborhood.'
The point being, that as the name implies, it is the Miss America pageant, and as such, should be for a particular type of individual, a single woman, without children. Preferably (in my thinking), a virgin.
Virgin??? What is that???
The idea of any one, being a virgin, is one of those things that we simply tend to pass off, as a person, that can't' get any where with the opposite sex.
Virginity, a quality that is the epitome of womanhood. A woman, that is untouched, or blemished by a man. One who has high moral character. One, who brings to marriage, all that God intended for marriage to be about. Two individuals, enjoying something between themselves, that no one else has ever experienced.
At one time, that is what America's values were all about. And the Miss America pageant, upheld that tradition, by presenting women, from all over the country, that could stand up and say, 'I am Miss Jane Doe, a virgin, that has high moral values and am not going to compromise those values.' She would be a role model for all of the other young women, that are coming up, in life. When a young man will tell her, 'come on, everybody's doing it.' she could say, 'Miss America, Jane Doe, isn't, and I choose to be like her.'.
But times have changed. Today, to be a virgin, is something to be ashamed about. Why?? Because too many weak minded individuals have gotten together, to destroy the notion that one can live a chaste life, without being sexually active. They go around making people feel like they are a bunch of idiots, for not enjoying what God has given them to enjoy. They will point to, priests, nuns, and other people, saying, 'they are doing it, and they are supposed to be Christians, so you know that it has to be all right.'
This, is one of the things that the Miss America pageant represented. Now, it has given in to those that saw its high qualities as being unrealistic. They were archaic and out of date. Something from the old generation. A throwback to the times of those that were too dumb to see the pleasure that they were missing.
If a woman who wins the Miss America crown in the future, happens to be a mother, then one would have to ask 'what is she doing with her child, while fulfilling the obligations that Miss America calls for?? Is her child in daycare, or is she dragging the child(ren) with her all over the country???
What if she is married??? Then, the term Miss, doesn't apply. What about her husband?? Is he going to be going along with her on tour?? Will the pageant have to pay his way as well?? Then what kind of strain will that be on the marriage?
Do you see all of the variables that are now brought in to the mix. All of the problems that can arise?? Not meaning to re-hash some old news, or demean her character, since she has straightened out her life, but remember Vanessa Williams, and the scandal that erupted, when Larry Flynt, I believe, published pictures of her, in sexually explicit poses with another woman??? This could have been the beginning of the process of lowering the standards, so that people couldn't go out and try to tear down the pageant's success. Jealous people, will do anything, to get at someone. All of the other pageants that sprouted up, as copying Miss America, fell in to bankruptcy, because they were seen as trying to compete with, the real thing.
We had, Miss Black America, Mrs. America, Ms. America and a few others. But, where are they now??? In the history books, but Miss America, is still going strong. Why?? Because of the moral stand that it had. Only the years will tell if giving up on that stand, will cause it to fail like the others.
Things that are built on a firm, solid foundation, will stand the test of time. When you compromise on that, the structure begins to deteriorate, and crack, and eventually, fall.
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OCTOBER 1999
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