Why, girls? Why?

This whole thing is so wrong for so many reasons I can't count them all. Beginning with the Osmands, straight through the worthless questions and nonsensical answers, all the way to the winners package given to the deserving lucky lady who smiled the longest, made the most eye contact with the judges, looked the prettiest while parading around the stage in a MOST demeaning manner, answered her question with enough sense just to be understood, and whose parents had enough money to buy her lessons, costumes and seriously twisted ideas of self-esteem and what it means to be a woman. All this to be crowned, MISS USA! Is this what we want our little girls to grow up and aspire to become? The title Miss USA should belong to the young woman who works her butt off in school studying and writing articles in the school paper, playing sports and being a friend to those who aren't quite as fortunate as her for one reason or another. Ask these girls questions like, "What does having a woman as a strong candidate for president mean for the future of women in politics?" Or maybe, "How do you plan to make a positive difference in the world when you get out of school and into the workforce?" Not, Are you for or against beauty products for girls in elementary school! Or worse, what celebrity would you help if you could! Miss TX walked away with a cultured pearl and diamond crown and tiara, a luxury NYC apt., designer shoes, clothes and swimwear, fashion denim, spa vacation, and a scholarship to NY Film Academy's 2 yr. acting or film making programs worth $100,000. And Marie Osmand had to add, "All this and memories to last a lifetime." Where in the world has feminism gone? Not to MS, b/c she had the stupidest answer of all five unfortunate-minded young women. My hope is that my opinion on this sad state of affairs is a popular one, and this sort of antiquated flesh parade is on its way out. jody