If you've read my previous blog entry, you will see that I don't have much respect for reality shows like American Idol because they humiliate and tear down people on national TV for "laughs."  But what happened this week regarding Susan Boyle on this show's precursor (Britain's Got Talent) restores my faith in humanity and clearly sends a message about what is right, good and needed in this world.

Most everyone by now has seen Susan Boyle's face on the news or on YouTube (it's gotten over 20 million hits already) and heard her glorious voice sing "I Dreamed a Dream." In true American Idol fashion, though, she had been paraded out on stage with the express purpose of being demeaned and ridiculed not only by the so-called judges, but by the so-called young, hip audience. I'm sure the producers thought she would be good for more than a few laughs, sarcastic comments and dismissive sneers. That is, after all, the real attraction (or so they falsely think) of this "hit show."

After all, here was a 47-year-old Scottish spinster from a small village, lacking the glamour, sophistication, clothes, hairdo, and make-up that the American Idol crowd expects in its so-called "stars."  What comedy it would provide! What fodder for Simon Cowell! But I think our divine source has become as fed up with the nonsense on this program as many of the rest of us--I think God stepped in with a lesson for not only the Simon Cowells of the world, but for all of us. I think God looked down and said, "It's time that young people learn what really matters in this world. Their parents and the media seem to be sending them the wrong message. It's time to lift each other up, not tear each other down. It's time to focus on what is good, not on what is flashy."

What has American Idol or Britain's Got Talent been about all these years? Certainly not talent. These shows have done little to uplift the human spirit. They have been about "tearing down" the human spirit and about  brainwashing the world into thinking that the shallow and the superficial deserve to be put on a pedestal. They have glorified a cloned look for the ideal female "star":  a young make-up laden face; blonde flowing hair;  a size 4 tight, short skirt; a slinky leather top, showing just the right amount of cleavage; and a dismal, if not totally lacking, singing voice. They were never looking for talent, they were looking for that cardboard-cut-out, cheerleader look. Brittany Spears clones. Nothing distinctive. Nothing original. Nothing that brings chills to your arms. Certainly nothing memorable.

Then along came Susan Boyle and did something none of the previous clones had done. She sang a song with real talent and real emotion from a real body. She did bring chills to your arms. She was original. She was distinctive. She was memorable. And it turns out that, after all, that is what people DO WANT. They want to hear a voice that is exceptional. They want to see someone like themselves excel (because only about 1% of us look like Brittany Spears) because of real talent. They were craving justice and fairness and goodness and virtue the whole time! The producers had it wrong!  

People were tired of seeing someone like themselves being made the butt of jokes--they were tired of schoolyard bullies--they were tired of mediocrity being rewarded--they were tired of the cute blonde with no brains getting the promotion at the office--they were tired of trying to lose weight and lose weight and lose weight in order to "fit in"--they were tired of looking in the mirror and feeling un-beautiful--they were tired of being told they were not "good enough"--they were tired of being the girl no one asked to the prom--they were tired of make-over shows telling them that people like them needed to be made over--they were tired of being the pimply geek that the jocks laughed at--they were tired of seeing themselves as failures. When Susan Boyle came on that stage and performed in a way that made all the "perfect people" pale by comparison, every one of us won. The "real people" of the world finally showed the false celebrities of the world what is worthy of applause. Susan Boyle stuck it to the cheerleaders, the prom queen, the celebrities, the cover girls, the models, the talk show hosts, the stars, and all the so-called "beautiful people" of the world. And the rest of the world--the majority of the world--loved it!  

Susan Boyle was applauded because she had a tremendous voice. That's the way it used to be. People got recording contracts because they could sing! Barbra Streisand is an example. I'm sure if she debuted on American Idol today, she and her crooked nose would be laughed off the stage. How nice to see that Susan Boyle has reminded us why Barbra Streisand was NOT laughed off the stage years ago. We judged singers on their talent then. Just as we judged writers on their talent. Today, an endless string of "celebrity" books, poorly-written, line the shelves of bookstores where no one is buying them. Yet publishers keep putting out this superficial crap. These books do not uplift us, do not inform us, do not enlighten us. They just tell the "dirty secrets" of celebrity lives; most have no redeeming message or value. Publishers need to learn the lesson that Simon Cowell learned from Susan Boyle this week. People are looking for inspiration, truth, fairness, value, and experiences with meaning. People are looking to be uplifted, not brought down.  

Susan Boyle showed the record producers, the TV show writers, the book publishers, the movie-makers, and all us that the days of glitz, materialism, showiness, superficiality, mediocrity, lies, sexual innuendoes, negativity, sarcasm, nastiness, gore, violence, grossness, crash scenes, stunts, and crudeness may be coming to a much-needed end. People crave the miracle--the uplifting message--the positive--the good--the connection with each other--and a connection with their divine source (God). People are finally turning away from entertainment for entertainment's sake to love, meaning, and spirituality. We are learning that we are here, not to tear each other down, but to build each other up. We are learning that we are all one.  

In God's eyes, we are all perfect. We applaud Susan Boyle because we are all Susan Boyle.