Carrie Prejean
Say Something
“…and they will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.’” Revelations 4:10-12
She was literally moments away from the confetti falling like a silvery snow about her. The cameras would cut to her parents with tears streaming down their faces, proud of their little girl. The band launching into Miss America while the emcee croons the hymn of the beautiful. The lights cued to accent her newly placed crown. Walking around the stage holding that enormous bouquet of roses that eclipses her slight frame. The crowd cheering as she wrist waves to her adoring fans, commencing her new reign.
And then she drew the question that laid in wait her entire lifetime for her to answer:
“Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not?”
At no point in all her day dreams, in all those days of wearing her mother’s clothes and high heels playing dress-up, preening and posing, and practicing her wrist waves to her audience of stuffed animals – could she have ever imagined this question.
Say anything, Carrie, but just don’t say …
You could have rambled on like Miss Teen South Carolina in 2007 and you would probably be scheduling photo shoots and perfecting your wave in the back of shiny new convertibles on every main street parade in America at this very moment. I envision you speaking to Girl Scout troops about the wonderful scholarship opportunities the Miss America pageant has given you. You would be displaying regal poise as you master those really large scissors at ribbon cutting ceremonies during county fairs. Your new mailing address for the next year would be Trump Towers in downtown Manhattan. You, Donald, and his hair would be neighbors. Awesome. All of it was just an answer away.
Say anything Carrie, but just don’t say …
So much of the “final question” is about poise under pressure. Can the contestant behave in a manner worthy of the crown she would inherit if chosen? Many of us have joked about the nature of the questions in years past. Jesting that if the contestant would simply say, “World peace,” in the course of her answer AND she was the prettiest girl in the room – she was a lock to wear the crown. Well apparently gone are the days of softball questions and the need to hear someone utter ‘world peace’. After all, who cares about world peace anyway? We have become a nation of salacious-sound-bite-loving-fiends that enjoys the schadenfreude theatre our television provides, right? Make them sweat! Make them bleed! No person leaves our high-definition coliseums unscathed!
Say anything Carrie, but just don’t say …
This wasn’t an impossible question in the judges eyes; she just had to say the answer they wanted to hear. I watched her response dozens of times on the internet. She doesn’t hesitate. She knew the answer like it was etched in her heart from the moment the question left the judge’s lips. She also knew the answer would cost her the crown too. I have to applaud Carrie Prejean for flipping the script on the pressure for the politically correct response and responding in the only way possible for her. She responded with poise, purpose and compassion:
“In my country, in my family, I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anyone out there, but that’s how I was raised and that why I believe it should be between a man and a woman.”
Carrie chose to say Something versus saying anything.
And just like that the crown, confetti, wrist waving, the scholarship, big scissor ceremonies, and the penthouse next to Donald Trump was all gone.
That next morning she received a mountain of skepticism, backlash, and judgment. The pundits wanted their pound of flesh for her apparently callus and narrow-minded response. Bloggers drew web-traffic by simply labeling her a homosexual hater and crowning her with “right wing pin-up girl.” The very judge who asked the question took the opportunity to hatefully video-blog about her and call her a “bitch” for her answer.
And what was her response to his venomous attack?
“I will continue to pray for him.”
Another answer worthy of her True royalty.
I wish the cameras had cut to Carrie’s parents after that response. As a father of four daughters, I know my own heart burst with pride just witnessing the moment. I can’t imagine how her parents looked in the audience. They raised a young lady of character and courage. Among the few positive responses about Carries answer, one writer put it nicely:
“Miss California was asked a question and she answered it from her heart and her beliefs instead of saying what she thought someone else wanted to hear just so she could gain personally. (She) understands the importance of priorities and staying true to yourself. I don’t understand why people that don’t agree with her answer are so upset, she couldn’t have spoken more politely. Miss California may not have won the Miss USA crown, but she has a much bigger reward to look forward to and that is her Heavenly reward. Who is more important to please, (the pageant judge) or Jesus Christ?”
In April of 2009, California’s Carrie Prejean stood before the nation and chose to say Something mattered more than just saying anything to gain a crown. She gave the answer expected of her and her entire life has been shaped in a new direction ever since.
May we all have the courage, compassion, and faith to stand so humbly and cast our crowns at the feet of Christ and declare to the world, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
IN THIS ISSUE
Comments
Guess she's "the real deal," huh?
Looks like Carrie is really no different than Paris Hilton, huh? Controversy, hypocrisy, fame, and now even her own sex tape. I wonder when the next time she'll be on Miles McPherson's stage. This whole ordeal has to be a "great" for her new book too.
What a mess! What a shame! The hyper-conservative right just lost their pin-up girl.
Carrie Prejean is the real deal
When I saw a print report about Carrie's answer and the resulting backlash, I thought she was probably Christian in name only, since it was the Miss USA pageant.
When I saw the video clip of "the question", and then the "crowning moment" I knew in my spirit by a very strong witness of the Spirit that she was more than just a nominal Christian. Carrie was gifted and called out for just such a time as this, and she was called in the model of Esther (Hadassah).
Timing is everything with our Lord, and He placed people in place and in prayer in a miraculous way to support her. There are several which can not be shared, but one public one is obvious.
The article is wonderful in its truth, but it actually minimizes Carrie and does not accurately describe her substance and her heart as a believer.
Carrie was a tomboy all her life until age 17. She never wore makeup and hardly ever wore a dress, and certainly never did any primping or dreaming of being a beauty queen. She was a self-professed jock and wore mostly athletic apparel.
Carrie is an athlete who was competitive with the guys. She was the catcher on a national champion softball team and received a full basketball scholarship for college. She has the scars to prove it.
A friend suggested she enter a pageant because she was pretty, and since there was no bathing suit competition, Carrie agreed. Her mother's jaw dropped at the news, and her mom could not believe it. Carrie had the same drive to win that she had in sports. She out-worked the other girls, and the rest is history.
Carrie was never self-absorbed as one would expect. Her passion is in ministry to the disabled and to young women, and she has been active in both for years in organizations both inside her church affiliations and outside in secular ones. She is well-respected as a down-to-earth person who is very real and loves to serve.
Carrie was named Miss Congeniality by her peers in the Miss California 2009 pageant. Donald Trump did not choose her, the girls she defeated for the title did. It was no accident. Her family and friends and all people of good will who meet her are amazed that she is so friendly and gracious, and is gifted in so many ways.
In her own church and in ministry events Carrie always purposefully dressed down to not draw attention to herself. Carrie was very active, but maintained such a low profile that only family and ministry friends knew that Miss California USA 2009 attended and was active in 2 ministries there .
Carrie was sent to New York alone after the pageant to face the glare of the hostile media. Her own testimony was that she was alone, afraid, unprepared, and melted down in tears on the trip.
Carrie read her Bible, and cried out to the Lord for His help in her despair while on the plane.
As Carrie was flying to New York, one of her ministry partners notified her church office of the events and asked for prayer for her. An associate pastor placed a call to the senior pastor, who did not know that Miss California was a member of his church.
Today that senior pastor is in Manila, seeking to organize business people and churches in a broad mission outreach there. When he received the call about Carrie's plight, he was already on the ground in New York, not in San Diego or elsewhere.
Her pastor was there, and he had the time and the spirit to counsel her and protect her for the entire week of appearances and interviews. That was no accident, and Carrie acknowledges that.
Carrie has survived the initial onslaught and the continuing attacks on her from every side, including from Christians.
Carrie has grown in her relationship with the Lord and in her gifts and is becoming a powerful witness. She knows the Lord spoke to her, and she knows He made special provision for her.
If she is in protected company with like minded believers, she weeps as she describes her arrival in New York all alone, and discovering her pastor's message on her phone.
Christians who criticize her should get to know her better. They should consider the account of Esther, and notice that there is no criticism of Esther for competing in the pageant to be queen, or in the year long preparation for the pageant.
Carrie wanted to win the Miss USA title so very much so she could be an advocate for the disabled, and be an advocate and role model for young women. She knew her answer would cost her the crown, but she laid her desire and her life down to honor her Lord.
I was persuaded that Carrie was gifted, called, and chosen by the Lord in the spirit and model of Esther to serve His people, and I told her that on her second morning in New York. I also reminded her that all God's promises were hers.
Her pastor taught that principle the next Sunday in 5 services after Carrie gave her testimony.
Carrie is "still standing" and now she is speaking and writing. Her crown was taken away, but it seems the Lord has given her the desire of her heart. It has been at great cost to her and her family.
Who are we to say that Carrie was not chosen for such a time as this?
Pray for the families of those men, women, and children who are beheaded, tortured, and made slaves around the world because they refuse to deny their Lord.
Our Lord, who is the Word of God, is mocked and slandered here in our country. Carrie refuses to deny HIm.
We should pray for her, too.
Jim Sappington III
Carrie Prejean
Carrie stood up for Jesus that night.... and for all Americans that think and have been taught by the Christian values for which we as a nation stand. One nation under God, and free to comment or say what was in her heart, like it or not.
Carrie has now become a lightning rod for Jesus in America and for marriage inparticular. I commend her stand, and believe in my heart of hearts, that God has a greater purpose for the stand and beliefs that were spoke of on the stage that night.
You see, I believe and know that Carrie carry's the traditional beliefs of many Christians, and agree that she was the real winner that evening in the eyes of our Lord, and many Americans that hold dear her values. In the end that is what really counts.
We love you Carrie, and for the messages we know that parentally have been placed into you. We admire the guts you had to say in your heart and do it with such grace. But, since we know your dad, we understand it all.....
Ron & Sue
Nice.
This is such a wonderful article! This has to be a Matthew Marquez article, right? I know Chris Arens always puts his name on his work, but this one isn't attributed to anyone. Over the past year, my husband and I have become fans of Matthew's writing. He's contemplative, passionate, and well written. I wouldn't normally read a magazine like Risen, but his style and patient heart really brings us closer to subjects he writes about. Can you please pass this note on to him for my husband and I? If it's not by him, please let the writer know. We just love this kind of stuff. The comment below from a person who is gay, is a real testimony to the way the writer of this article can speak to all audiences. We look forward to seeing more of this kind of work in the future.
patiently waiting,
Belinda Ethier
GLORY TO GOD!!!!!
GLORY TO GOD!!!!!
Okay, I'm Gay...
..and as a supporter of Gay Rights, I don't fully see how this country can have one set of rights for people of a specific mindset and another for those who see things differently. It just doesn't equate for me and seems very biased.
However, as a homosexual, I didn't find "how" Carrie made her response to Perez's question the least bit offensive. It's an opinion question, people! Come on! I think the media (Perez especially) were brutally unfair with her and Trump had no options but to fire her given his own blood lust for attention.
I think your story handles this really well too. Again, I don't agree with it in principle, but at least its a fair dialogue to a difficult conversation most of this country would rather resist in having.
Thanks for letting me share.
wow!
Good post!
Really like what you said and how you stated your position in all this with the same gracefulness she has handled this too.
thanks, Risen
I agree , i wlike so much
I agree , i wlike so much you were amazing ...
Mara,
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email spider
awesome...
you are right buddy...
I am amazed that some one from the fashion industry would answer this way about same sex marriage but she handled it with great wisdom without getting offensive. Literally awesome...
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