A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath

In a society that treasures freedom of speech; I think it's a good idea to apply the King's wisdom when unleashing our tongue. In Proverbs 15, verse 1&2, he proclaims an applicable edict: 'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.'

Last week there was a firestorm of controversy surrounding the issue of freedom of speech at an unlikely venue - and many have expressed their fair share of verbiage about it. During the Miss USA pageant, a contestant for the crown of Miss USA, Carrie Prejean, honestly (and gently) answered a provocative question posed. Her answer earned her a poor score costing her the crown and later a tongue lashing from one of the judges, Perez Hilton. Not only was his tongue lashing harsh, profane and hateful but it lit the flames of a controversy that stirred up a great deal of wrath. Wrath by Perez and others that later Carrie publicly forgave and now hopefully, will turn away anymore ugliness.

This is a good example of what the King is saying. I suggest that had Perez exercised wisdom; he may have had more power to communicate his argument of persuasion surrounding gay marriage. It was just an opinion as was Carrie's. Yet he abused his position as a judge on the panel when he let that differing opinion affect the outcome of the crown with his low score (something Donald Trump, the owner of the pageant, announced). Then he opened his ugly mouth.

My point is: 'He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3). And though this episode put Carrie through great adversity; she is far from ruined. Her public image is more attractive now, than even her outer beauty, which I propose makes her message a powerful one.

I won't address the issue of gay marriage - that's for another day and it's just an opinion. But if we want to have powerful, respected authority when saying what we say; we must exercise wisdom and bridle our tongues. Profanity and harsh words won't win arguments. That kind of delivery is a turn off and unattractive, proving nothing except foolishness that gushes folly. And where were all those free speech advocates on this one? The ACLU, NOW, or even the gay lobbies that are constantly using the free speech thing to flaunt their message (frequently in obnoxious, insolently audacious expression). All should defend this woman's right to speak an opinion without being punished. I daresay a politically correct answer is not a point of critique in the rubric used for judgment in this competition. Was she eloquent? Did she answer the question with apparent consistent content in her opinion? Did she have genuine charisma in her delivery when responding? A differing opinion shouldn't be a part of the rubric.

Suffice it to say Perez is a fool and I'd venture a guess, eventually he will come to ruin. On the other hand, Carrie stood tall with honest integrity under this adversity and I'll bet this controversy will do her proud and bring all things together for good. But, that's just my opinion...something that for all Americans; we should be able to voice. And if we do it wisely, we just may get heard.