I just finished watching the latest episode of American Idol. For the life of me, I can not figure out why people keep voting for Sanjaya. For the third straight week he rode his seemingly fragile bubble on to another week while another more talented contestant had his bubble burst.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think any of the contestants voted off in his stead were championship material. That, therefore, is not my point. What burns me is that people seem to vote based on other factors besides a contestant's singing ability. The last time I checked, AI was a singing competition. I understand that 'pop' stars typically have a certain look about them but let's be honest here; one look across former AI winners and runners up will tell you that those rules don't apply here. That's what make the show so appealing. America votes on a person that they identify with, one whose talent is so clear that they rise above all else.
This season may very well (and probably will, honestly) end with the top vocalist winning. However, to continue to vote for contestants like Sanjaya (or that chicken little looking kid from last year) is a tremendous injustice. Many of these contestants are very talented and continue to grow from week to week. To vote for a contestant based merely on looks alone is wrong. What's even more wrong is voting on a contestant because of their LACK of talent. I believe that is what is happening here.
This type of 'rewarding' is flawed in its core. Those who vote with any other intent than to reward the best singer are penalizing those who are more deserving. I realize that our world is not perfect and that those who are most deserving don't always get what they, um, deserve, but if I as an individual have an opportunity to do what is right and I choose to do something less than that, then I have performed an injustice. Put yourself in the shoes of those contestants who have worked so hard and know that they should still be in the competition. What if that was you? How would you feel?
You know, there used to be this thing that parents taught to their kids called the Golden Rule. You know, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Whatever happened to that? Is it not true anymore?
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I hear ya, check out votefortheworst.com. A young guy in my Sunday School class last Sunday was honest when he said that if McDonald's gave him 47 cents too much, he would keep it. I asked him if I could have his soul for 47 cents... maybe infringing a little on eternal security, but I like how often extremes illustrate realities... what are we selling for a laugh or a smile?
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