Don't Trash Susan Boyle - She Can Teach Us a Thing or Two

Pamela Madsen wrote "Why I Continue to Adore Susan Boyle" on her blog today.  She finds Susan inspirational, saying " Susan’s story is all about taking risks and putting yourself out there." I agree with Pamela. I like Susan Boyle too. She has a beautiful voice, raw talent, the background story, the advanced age for a new singing sensation and the look, like Paul Potts did in a previous Britain's Got Talent, of someone who has devoted very little thought or money to taking care of their personal appearance.
We all love a rags-to-riches story; the Ugly Ducklingfairy tale, the meteor-like rise of a "nobody" to a superstar in record time.  What I, and many others, don't like, is how a major discovery is inundated with the publicity and criticism from press and detractors (the anti-fan) and then trashed for being unable to cope with that much attention and pressure. It's like a pack of wolves waiting to pounce; on high alert for bad behaviour to breakdowns. Their excuse is that Susan knew what she was doing when she auditioned, so she is fair game. Really?  Just because she auditioned, doesn't make her prepared to have her entire life turned inside out, gaining a horrible nickname of "hairy angel" or having the media speculating daily about the state of her mental health. 

Susan Boyle may have courted attention as the antidote to a narrowly-lived life in a tiny village. It would bring that attention, accolades, money, makeovers and fame. However, Susan had no expectation of winning Britain's Got Talent. Like thousands of other applicants, she trotted out on stage, during the audition phase of the singing competition, for her 15-minutes of fame. That probably would have been enough for her: a big audience and a chance to be on television for a few minutes. She is a lumpy, middle-aged, plain woman with terrible clothes and a tendency to bark out inappropriate comments. Susan Boyle didn't have any concept of what life would be like for her a year down the line. It's almost like she is being paraded in front of the public like a savant, "look at the freak: we hate her, we love her, she's unattractive, she's had a makeover, she's changing, she's not "her" anymore," and the long-standing British favourite: "Who does she think she is?"  Well, you didn't like her old look either. Just look at the faces of the booing crowd at her first BGT audition and then the raised eyebrows and dropped jaws when she began to sing. She has scrubbed up rather well between that performance and the cover of her new CD.

Why does the media want to strip people bare and give others the opportunity to scrutinize their mistakes, flaws, shortcomings and fears? Why does the public encourage it by buying those papers and magazines? Is someone else's success so threatening? It's almost like someone giving you a hand as you climb up a mountain, celebrating when you reach the summit and then pushing you off. 

Pamela makes the point that Susan Boyle is inspirational for taking a risk and going for our dreams. Since Pamela is in the fertility field, as I am, she suggests using Susan as inspiration to step forward, i.e. consider using donor eggs, looking into adoption or another family-building process, or any other goal we have. That works.  Susan is living proof that you don't have to be beautiful, young or wealthy to make things happen.  Susan had self-belief.  You do, however, have to stand up and be counted. If your dream is crying out to be fulfilled, don't just talk about it or lament your lack of easy breaks.  Reach out and grab opportunities. Create opportunities. Don't give up. 

I also see other messages coming out loud and clear:  Use Susan's story as an example by which to ask yourself whether youjudge people too quickly, whether you give people a chance to show you what they have got, whether your support is sincere, whether you are happy for someone else's success or feel they need taking down a peg. The example of Susan Boyle isn't one that should be lost on us. It may seem old-fashioned to quote the old message "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." So, I'll quote from another possibly misunderstood singer: Michael Jackson. 

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change

Just something to think about.  No one has to wait until the New Year to make resolutions to be more generous, encouraging, non-judgmental, accepting, supportive and kind.  I'd love to hear what you think about Pamela's blog post, this one or about Susan Boyle in general. 

Comments

[Kristin]

What an incredible post. I've loved Susan Boyle from the start and I give her HUGE PROPS for what she has done.