Blowing up Memeorandum today is the controversy over Miss Rima Fakih of Dearborn, Michigan winning the title. Miss Fakih is an Arab American and as such many people are chiming in. Basically the argument on the left is that the right is being racist for complaining about an Arab American winning. You know, they think everyone on the right hates all Muslims because of 9/11.
The argument on the right is basically that this was an affirmative action win. The reason for saying that is because Miss Fakih wasn’t very graceful as she tripped over her gown or very intellectually deep with this answer:
During the interview portion, Fakih was asked whether she thought birth control should be paid for by health insurance, and she said she believed it should because it’s costly.
“I believe that birth control is just like every other medication even though it’s a controlled substance,” Fakih said.
To add fuel to the fire, runner up Miss. Oklahoma came out in favor of Arizona’s new immigration law:
Given how Carrie Prejean was crucified for not singing the praises of gay marriage, it is easy to suspect why people think the pageant is playing PC games with picking Miss. Fakih. I think it is fair to say the Miss USA pageant officials are more interested in making a statement than running an honest competition.
I have no problem with an Arab American winning, especially if that Arab American has embraced western culture. Could Miss. Fakih ever get away with an outfit like this in the Middle East?
That being said, it would have been nicer if she won truly on merit rather than some sort of PC set aside. Let’s face it, things like the questions section, poise and talent are really what this competition is all about. If beauty was the only criteria, how on earth could one possible choose a winner when all the women are equally drop dead gorgeous? So when Miss Fakih gives a ding-dong answer saying birth control is a controlled substance, you expect points to be taken away. The same goes for tripping over her gown. This is why people wonder, how did she beat out equally beautiful girls who had smarter answers and who did not trip or stumble?
I think the best way to deal with the Miss USA pageant’s desire to make statements is to stop watching it for a while. Ratings for beauty pageants have been on the decline for years. I say, let them decline further until new people , people without an agenda, can take over and run a real competition without an agenda.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: Daily Kos
Via: Michelle Malkin
Via: Hot Air
Via: Liberty Pundits