Okay, I admit it: I’ve been watching American Idol.
Wait — there’s more. I’ve actually been calling and voting.
At least, I had been calling and voting — for Mandisa. I loved the way she bounced back (no weight puns intended there, believe me) after Simon said she was too fat. I thought her early performances were easily the best of any offered by the rest of this year’s fairly insipid group of contestants. After she made the Top 12, I enthusiastically voted for her, doing my part to make sure she stayed in the competition.
And then Mandisa just went off the deep end.
First, there was the deplorable, indulgent Gospel tune she screamed at the audience, introducing the performance with a statement about God being bigger than your “addictions and lifestyles.”
Lifestyles. Uh oh.
Then, on her American Idol profile page, she listed Beth Moore — one of the misguided leaders of the poisonous “gays can change with Jesus” movement — as her personal American Idol.
With that, my enthusiasm for Mandisa’s art dried up faster than a puddle on a Mississippi sidewalk in summer. My phone calls stopped. The next time Mandisa lumbered out on stage, I used Tivo to bypass her performance entirely.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way: last week, a lack of votes sent Mandisa home for good.
This week, Mandisa makes another unfortunate move: an interview with The Advocate, peppered with phrases that are all too familiar to those of us who have been attacked by the religious right all our lives.
Fourteen years ago, I made a pledge to myself, promising never to work for, support, or give my time and talents to any person or company that feels the way Mandisa does. It was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.
So: goodbye, Mandisa. We hardly knew you.
In a related story: religious conservatives are now taking tolerance policies to court, claiming anti-discrimination laws interfere with their right to express their religious beliefs.
I, too, thought that vocally Mandisa was the greatest vocalist in the top 12 – actually the greatest vocalist out of ANY American Idol contestants I’ve seen in season 5 (this season is the first season I’ve watched the show). My heart sank when Gedeon narrowly missed the top 10 because I thought he was superior, vocally, to all the men in the top 12, plus he was a good performer in other ways. I thought it was an example of racist America. My heart also sank when my favorite Melissa McGhee (LOVED her “What About Love?” by Heart performance) got voted off first among all the top 12 contestants because I thought that among all the white girls, she was the most powerful vocalist, (not quite as good as Mandisa, of course), and though she showed more versatility than most of her peers, I thought that there was a touch of girl-next-door (even “white trash” – and I was ‘right’ judging by the stories about her parents) that, while I liked it because it’s so refreshing when juxtaposed against the fake refinement that many of the other contestants seem to have, would render her unpopular and get her voted off sooner rather than later (though not THAT soon). And WHY is Bucky still on there? But I was TRULY shocked to see Mandisa go. She was so dominant, vocally, I thought she’d be a shoo-in just for at least the top 3. I’d love to believe that she got voted off, however, just for her apparently anti-gay stance, but I’m not so sure that the voting demographic on American Idol is really all that gay friendly. But seeing that she espouses these views, I’m glad she’s gone, although I wouldn’t be at all suprised to learn that there are yet more contestants left who at least wouldn’t hesitate to sell out whatever gay fans they have. It’s not a show and format that does a good job of attracting actual human beings because it’s really such a brutal concept.
Glad she’s gone, though, in light of all of this. Really sorry all of your votes were put to waste. Switch to Taylor Hicks, maybe?
-M
Didn’t love Mandisa… Loathe Bucky… Chris is by far my favorite. The man *owns* every song I’ve heard him perform. It actually sounds like he’s singing a song he wrote and he comes across as “feeling” the song more than most of them. Oh, and he’s easy on the eyes.
😉
Mark, hope to see you at Eric Himan tonight. Piano, guitar, folk, rock, soul…. It’s not a rock show, FYI. Do come and bring the always-smiling Clyde! We’re setting up tables in the front since they play “listening” music. I promise no mosh pits or funky chickens.
The comments concerning Mandisa seem to be written with the same judgemental attitude that you accuse chritians of having against homosexuals. Maybe I misunderstood?
Which comments, exactly, struck you as judgmental?
What judgmental attitudes, exactly, have I accused Christians of having?
I’m not being obstinate. I want to be sure we’re talking about the same things.
At the beginning of your article, Mandisa was so much a favorite of yours that you actually called in to keep her on the show.
By the end of your article, you couldn’t even stand to see her on television because of the beliefs she stated on national television…
What’s wrong with this picture? As I stated before, I may have misunderstood your views. If I have, please forgive me.
Hi, Kim. Grrrr … you didn’t answer my questions! 🙂
That’s okay. To show I’m a good sport, I’ll answer yours:
Kim wrote: Maybe I misunderstood?
Mark replies: I think you might have! 🙂
Kim wrote: What’s wrong with this picture?
Mark replies: Nothing at all.
Mandisa was a contestant on American Idol. She’s on the show for one purpose: to be judged worthy or unworthy of the title of American Idol by viewers like me.
As Simon and other judges have noted several times, there’s more to being an American Idol than having a good voice. To be an American Idol — to sell millions and millions of records — Mandisa would also have to appeal to the broadest possible fan base. She would have to have “The Whole Package.”
Mandisa — unfortunately for her, it would appear — chose to include in her “Whole Package” the business of parading her personal faith around on the stage of a pop music competition. In retrospect, this was pretty clearly a mistake, as it
– motivated her to sing a pretty insipid Gospel song on a show devoted to pop music, and
– alienated fans like me, whose beliefs differ from Mandisa’s.
By removing my support for her, I’m exercising my right as a consumer not to support artists who make themselves into public platforms for beliefs I don’t support.
In doing so, am I keeping Mandisa from embracing her own beliefs? Have I tried to force her to accept mine? Have I positioned my personal conclusions as the Will of God? Have I said she’s displeasing to God?
Nope. I’ve just decided she’s not my cuppa tea.
There’s a huge difference — a WORLD of diference — in my conclusions about Mandisa, on these terms, and the fundamentalist mentality that:
– mistakes its own conclusions for the Will of God,
– argues that others with different beliefs will burn in hell, and
– seeks to bind its beliefs on others by restricting their personal freedoms in the name of God and goodness.
So, I’d say, no, there’s nothing parallel at all about my attitude toward Mandisa and the fundamentalists’ attitudes toward The Gays.
Not to worry, Mark, I planned to reply…just have other things to do also… 🙂
You write:
“There’s a huge difference — a WORLD of diference — in my conclusions about Mandisa, on these terms, and the fundamentalist mentality that:
– mistakes its own conclusions for the Will of God,
– argues that others with different beliefs will burn in hell, and
– seeks to bind its beliefs on others by restricting their personal freedoms in the name of God and goodness.”
Judgemental, or not? Could I say things concerning homosexuals with the attitude that you have displayed toward christians and not be labeled “judgemental”?
I do not condemn or dare place myself in God’s judgement chair…and I am a christian. Have you judged me, Mark?
Whoah, there! This conversation just gets weirder and weirder.
I’ll try to make this easier. Please go back and re-read my original post, and all my replies to you.
Where do I — even once — say *anything* — judgmental or otherwise — about *Christians*?
Really. I’d like to see the quote, please.
I suppose the phrase “fundamentalist mentality” is used in the same way against christians as “lifestyles and addictions” is used against homosexuals.
As ever, Mark, your knowledge and use of the English language humble me. To be able to get a point across to your readers without actually stating it in words is truly an art. You never cease to amaze me with your talent.
Kim,
My references are to fundamentalists, not to Christians.
The two words are very different. In using the word ‘fundamentalist’ instead of ‘Christian,’ I’m not engaging in some sort of verbal trickery designed to highlight my skills as a writer. I’m being specific.
By asking, “Where did I say anything about Christians?”, I was hoping to help you see that all references to Christianity in this thread are exclusively your own. I had hoped that, once you realized I had referred to fundamentalists (but never Christians), we might chat about how these groups are different, and why.
I had also hoped that you would see that the “judgmental attitude” toward Christians to which you refer does not appear anywhere in my comments.
I seemed to have failed in that effort. For my inability to make that point kindly and clearly, I apologize.
You never used the word “christitan.” It’s nice to have something on which we can agree. 🙂
As I said previously, “I suppose the phrase ‘fundamentalist mentality’ is used in the same way against christians as ‘lifestyles and addictions’ are used against homosexuals.” I did not project any opinion onto you…I was making an observation.
If I have offended you by giving a compliment concerning your verbal skills, I am sorry. Or…is this another attitude I have “projected on to you?”
Kim,
I’m also glad we can agree my references are to fundamentalists, not to Christians.
The two words are very different. In using the word ‘fundamentalist’ instead of ‘Christian,’ I’m making an attempt to be very specific.
By asking, “Where did I say anything about Christians?”, I was hoping to help you see that all references to Christianity in this thread are exclusively your own.
I had hoped that, once you realized I had referred to fundamentalists (but never Christians), we might chat about how these groups are different, and why.
I had also hoped that you would see that the “judgmental attitude” toward Christians to which you refer does not appear anywhere in my comments.
I seemed to have failed in that effort. For my inability to make that point kindly and clearly, I apologize.
I also had hopes, and will continue to have them, for you are a precious person to me. No need for me to go into detail here about my hopes…we have had many discussions about them in the past.
I never intended to offend you, it just seemed odd to me that you would stop supporting someone you truly liked because she believed in something you did not. If I misunderstood the article, I apologize.
Oh, Kim. I’m not offended.
Actually, I’m pretty hard to offend. I’m a forty-two year-old with thick skin. (And a thick head, too, according to some.)
So: back to Mandisa.
If you’ve got the impression I stopped supporting her becuase she believed in something I don’t, then I’ve once again left the wrong impression.
I support a lot of people who believe in things I don’t. I recently paid taxes, for example, to a fundamentalist government that is about to drag us all into World War III because the leadership thinks doing so will speed up the arrival of the Rapture.
Mandisa’s case is a bit different.
1) Mandisa believes that homosexuals are sinners. (It’s fine with me, by the way, for her to believe this, because I fiercely support freedom of religion.)
2) Mandisa believes Jesus can “heal” homosexuality through prayer. (Again, I support Mandisa’s right to believe whatever she likes on this issue.)
3) Mandisa used her platform on American Idol to promote these beliefs to the audience — and to espouse the work of a woman who supports the use of dangerous, cruel, and ineffective therapies to change homosexuals into heterosexuals.
That was when I stopped supporting Mandisa: when she went from “potential pop star” to “mouthpiece for a personality, cause, and movement I believe to be poisonous, dangerous, and untrue.”
Let’s imagine an American Idol contestant walks out on stage and says, “America made a mistake when women were given the vote. The constitution says, after all, that ‘All MEN are created equal!’ Our founding fathers knew God intended women to be second-class citizens! From the day Eve ate of the apple, she condemned women to play a minor role in the world … and women who refuse to conform to that role by getting an education or a job are spitting in the face of God — but they can still be saved, if they will just pray and repent!”
Even if you liked how that pop star sang, “Hunka-Hunka Burning Love,” would you call to support her?
Listen, would every one get with the picture, god!! Mandisa is religious its in her blood, she has explained what she meant when she said those supposedly, discriminatory things and all I can say Is, Y’all need a getta life, who cares what she thinks of you, this was not a popularity competition this was a singing competition, and Mandisa no matter what her beliefs her opinions whatever, were!! People just need to get over it, and see her as was she really was, a brilliant, singer end of story!!
Joe, I’d humbly submit that:
– “the picture” you believe all of us should “get with” is really nothing more than *your* picture, or your point of view. In reality, there are many points of view, not one. If that fact hasn’t dawned on you yet, I suspect you’re in for some real shocks in coming years.
– If you don’t understand that a pop (as in “popular”) music contest is, indeed, a popularity contest, you may be dealing with some cognitive limits that cannot be addressed in a light-hearted forum like this one.
– The fact you refer to Mandisa in the past tense (“she really was a brilliant singer) is telling.
I’ve never disagreed that Mandisa was talented. To this day, I would assert she’s more talented than any of the rather insipid “final five.”
She is, however, a bigot — an unfortunate state of affairs for someone hoping to achieve mass appeal.
You dont have a problem with people you have a heart issue with God Almighty! If we have an issue with God it always comes out with people.
And if we have an issue with clear thinking, it tends to express itself as a preference for fundamentalism.
Mark
Lovely back and forth there Kim and Mark. Though Kim might not have put her thoughhs across quite right, I do tend to agree with her Mark. Your article shows quite clearly that you loved her at first for her voice but turned against her because of her beliefs and because of your fear that she could use her position on American Idol, a platform for spreading her ‘poisonous, dangerous and untrue’ beliefs you claim.
Now, I don’t know whether or not homosexuals will burn in hell or if it is a natural or psychological phenomenom, but I do know discrimination when I see it. You used the analogy of the constitution, an analogy that has never happened by the way, but what about people killing homosexual politicians because they fear they could use their position towards fighting for gay rights? It has happened and it could happen again.
Personally, I don’t watch American Idol, but when you say’I loved the way she bounced back (no weight puns intended there, believe me)’and then go on to say at the end of the piece”The next time Mandisa lumbered out on stage…”it is pretty obvious that that weight pun was intended and in a mean and hurtful manner. What is so wrong with singing a Gospel song? People like it and some Gospel singers have a huge fan base too (Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary etc).
Anyway, my point is this. You are as fundamentalist as those ‘fundamentalists’ you speak of. That’s because you are willing to COMPLETELY write off a person because of any one character quirk you do not like, REGARDLESS of talent or any other factors.
Tee wrote: You are as fundamentalist as those ‘fundamentalists’ you speak of.
Mark replies: Nope. Sorry.
A fundamentalist identifies a rigid set of beliefs, positions these as the only correct or righteous beliefs, and seeks to bind these on others.
While I freely admit I do have:
a) strong opinions, and
b) the right, as a consumer, to refuse to support any two-bit pop singer who espouses poisonous religious beliefs with which I disagree
I do not, in any way, seek to bind these strong opinions and consumer behaviors on others.
You can agree or you can disagree, and I’m just as happy as a clam.
That alone keeps me from being “as as fundamentalist as the fundamentalists” of which I speak.