Amazing Women Rock - Mayapie on Susan Boyle

Mayapie on Susan Boyle

Re: Tanya Gold’s article in The Guardian (17 April 5:09)

I’ve read so many articles and comments today discussing Susan Boyle's 'unattractiveness' and all of the guilt and shame that came with judging this woman. This woman, who offered her voice and her spirit on a platter for the world deserves so much more than self-righteous 'don't blame me, blame the media' shame.

The fact that she has received so much attention because of such shame, is in and of itself shameful and embarrassing to me. She is being made a martyr for everyone else's inner struggles, when all she wanted to do was share her voice with us.
I do not normally watch reality tv, but because I saw the video on YouTube, what touched me was not at all about her appearance because I see women like her everyday on the streets of Philadelphia. She was not unusually odd or different. Slightly eccentric yes, but ugly? not quite. The average kind of slightly aging single woman we don't get to see on tv. Not even 'reality' tv.

What made me applaud and smile and press play again and again was not borne of guilt or shame but of pride for the common woman and man who are just faces pressed against the windows of success and wealth and luxury. She is a representation of all of us who get up, go to work everyday, and come home with only but our hopes and dreams and thoughts of 'One Day' if we're lucky enough. That is why I loved to see her (of course in addition to her songbird voice).

I smiled because of what she represents to me, a single black woman who happens to live alone...with a cat. This woman in Scotland, thousands of miles away from my home in Philadelphia that has nothing at all to do with my life has also affected my life today. And I thank her deeply for that. For just being herself because, well, frankly I doubt she knows any other way to be, and that is so rare and endearing and meaningful to me.

And to those that her appearance mattered so much to them as it was all that they could "see" until they "heard" her, hopefully it also will begin to break down those ridiculous stereotypes and standards of beauty in entertainment, in the arts, in the world in general.

May she be but one of hopefully many more examples of so many talented everyday folk, who wake up with a dream in their hearts that one day...

Related links:
Amazing Susan comment
DStubbings comment
Beyond-Amazing Susan Boyle Rocks the World
I Believe in Magic

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