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Fear and loathing...

I've tried to ignore the nasty things and swirling cynicism surrounding the international sensation caused by a video of 47 year old Susan Boyle... but this morning... when I saw both the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail with front page web stories about the viral video... I had to say something...


Is it simply that people are jealous of the attention one ordinary person gained and thus must piggy-back on her success??? Must we always criticize? Have we all been devoid of praise that when someone deserves it, it is easier for us to shame them instead of rise them up?


Sure, a lot of us... and I include myself in that category,  were brought up without a pat on the back... later to be told that our parents didn't want us to get a "big head"... Humbleness was close to Godliness in some of our homes... to the point where some became starved for attention...


We live in such a critical, self riteous environment that anyone feels they can point their finger at another and say, you don't deserve it! That's the reason I think so many have joined the "I'm suspicious of  Susan Boyle" brigade... We all want to be better people but we are overcome with disgust when someone actually IS one... Someone who had the guts to rise from their despair and perhaps insecurity to battle the beast and win! Haven't we all been in a position where we felt unsure of ourselves, that others may judge us for just being ourselves? 

I suspect that we are all just jealous that we can't be decent loving people who only see the good and ignore the bad... Why don't we raise up the people that can see the glass half full, that perhaps we do all have the same soul... and that the outside is just a shell? Instead, we mock. Not mocking would mean we might shake our own self-loathing long enough to cheer another human being on! Why can't we do more of that? Why are we locked into behaviours that promote hatred instead of perpetuating hope? 


I wish I knew the answer... if you do... call me or e-mail me...

Shauna Rae's blog | add new comment

susan boyle

Fri, 2009-04-24 13:39
Anonymous
don't whach reality tv.........did at one time.............it is all a set up......she is made out to be .an ugly spinster.............she has a great voice ....it is too be shared.....pub stunt.think so....look at our own rita mc neal...........thanks gary

Build up without tearing down

Tue, 2009-04-21 23:37
Anonymous
I truly think that this issue goes back to the age old dilemma of beauty being only skin deep. You would have thought after all these years of evolution and self improvement we would have gotten past this attitude. Please remember that the name of the show Susan appeared on is “Britain has Talent” emphasis being on TALENT. Unfortunately, this is something that most of the audience forgot when she walked out on stage. If Susan’s voice had come out of the mouth a 5’ 6” perfect size 2 body with long wavy hair cascading down her back and a face that would make the angels themselves stop and stare we would not be having this discussion. Plain and simple…Susan does not look like her voice. I watched in complete awe for the full 2 minutes and 52 seconds that she was on the video. I ran the whole gamut of emotions from laughter (Susan is a very humorous lady!!) to goose bumps to tears by the end of her performance. She truly has a talent that most of us could only wish for. It is Susan’s time to take her light out from under her bushel and let it shine for all to see. She appears to thoroughly enjoy singing and does so with ease and beautiful composure. She is very humble and when told how impressed everyone was Susan seemed genuinely humble. She is an amazing woman!!! The people I feel sorry for are those who feel that the only way to build themselves up is to pull someone else down. If I have not changed their minds or made them think a bit I suggest that they listen to Susan’s performance again with their eyes closed and their minds open. I am sure they will hear something fabulous!!!

Seeing the world as half full.

Tue, 2009-04-21 18:19
Anonymous
We as parents need to set an example to our children and hopefully they'll learn from all the positives and try and make their own adjustments to the negatives. If we look around, there are so many examples in our society where complacency seems to prevail. I think one of the perfect examples is fighting in hockey, our national sport. Are we setting an example to our children when we sit back and allow grown men to beat each other up because it's 'the way it's always been' and the poor fellows need to let out their frustrations in this manner? I believe by banning fighting in hockey will be a great start in teaching our younger generation that there are better ways to resolve issues. Fighting has no place in the rink or anywhere. I know this isn't relating to the Susan Boyle story, but it could be a start in our quest to make this a better world, to fight discrimination of any kind and to learn to get along.

SOBs

Tue, 2009-04-21 16:44
Anonymous
Hey, any word on Tim Best's court date today? Shandenfreud and all that ...

WTG Shauna...

Tue, 2009-04-21 15:37
Anonymous
I too am tired of all the negative BS laid out there in our society. Everything seems to be about "ME ME ME" wherever you look. When was the last time many of us sat down and actually took stock of the good things in our lives and then looked at the less fortunate and tried to make THEIR life a little easier and a little safer. Susan Boyle took a chance and now people want a piece of her. Good and bad. The more media personalities like you, Shawna, that stand up and DO SOMETHING about this stuff the better. Keep up the efforts sister, this listener has your back. Ron Hunter

Isn't it because the media

Tue, 2009-04-21 14:39
Anonymous
Isn't it because the media have conditioned us to equate beauty with talent? Shane R

Susan Boyle

Tue, 2009-04-21 14:26
Anonymous
What you need to keep in mind is that for every hate-filled, poisonous, low life, there are probably thousands of appreciative, decent folks who recognise talent when they see it and although this thought may not completely over-ride the negative comments regarding this incredible lady, it will have to suffice. I, personally, would take Susan Boyle over any of the so called movie/TV "beauties" who have about the same IQ as an amoeba and absolutely NO TALENT at all except to influence our youngsters. Rock on, Sue, you are the best!!!

Susan Doyle

Tue, 2009-04-21 14:00
Anonymous
Hi Shauna, it was so difficult to watch people mock her before she began singing because she wasn't our version of attractive. And then this beautiful voice came out and all of a sudden people were cheering - is it because there was such a wide difference between what they expected and what really happened? I wonder if the expectation would've been so low for someone young or beautiful. I think the negativity is not about Susan Doyle herself, but more a comment about society and how pathetic we can be when it comes to judging a book by it's cover. Really, why should we be so surprised she has an amazing voice? That being said I think all the attention around this has been very beneficial for her and I hope she benefits from it!