Boyling Over


Like everyone else, I was blown away watching the YouTube video of Susan Boyle's performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" on Britain's Got Talent. If you're one of the last dozen people in the world who hasn't seen the video, click HERE.

But as the hysteria continues, I find myself cringing. What are we saying exactly? Isn't the message, "Wow. I can't believe a fat, ugly, Old Maid in Britain can actually sing!" If Susan Boyle looked like Beyonce' she wouldn't be a YouTube sensation. It's her plumpness, frumpiness and homeliness that help make her voice so exquisite. In fact, we're probably giving her voice higher marks because of her unfortunate visage. Of her appearance on the show, she's told reporters that she looked like "a garage."

Susan said she wouldn't have a makeover but it does appear she's been shopping judging by the new photo of her. She still looks like Philip Seymour Hoffman in drag in the photo but it's a nice change.

Don't misunderstand. I am happy for her. She's getting to pursue her lifelong dream and that's fantastic. I wish her the best.

But our amazement and fawning says so much about us, not her. It says that despite what we learned in grade school about judging a book by its cover, we still do it. We still jump to conclusions. We marginalize people.

So hurray Susan Boyle. Shame on us.

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