While watching Fox News channel this evening, I got to see what turned out to be a somewhat humorous interview of the actual Miss California 2008 (actual because a recount showed that the previously declared winner had not actually won). The host asked the girl whether she thought that our society emphasizes the outward appearance too much – more than what is more important, namely a person’s character. The girl seemed to think that our society doesn’t have that problem. I’m sure that’s why no women have problems with anorexia or bulimia and why no one publishes magazines that obsess over beauty and women’s physical appearance (*cough* Seventeen, Maxim, etc.).

The Bible is pretty clear that we have a tendency to judge people based on their physical appearance. Remember when Samuel anointed one of Jesse’s sons to be king? Samuel’s natural tendency was to favor Jesse’s older sons based on their appearance. But, God reminded him, “the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Anyway … Miss California went on to comment that the girls’ appearance isn’t the only thing that matters for the competition. Rather, “you also have to have smarts.” I had to laugh … because in hearing her talk, I didn’t feel that she exuded the brilliance she considered fundamental to winning the competition. That problem was only compounded by the fact that, at one point, she was very clearly reading the teleprompter. However, I shouldn’t be too critical. After all, I don’t know this girl and I would probably do the same and speak with a stutter if I were being interviewed on TV. I have some time to get used to that, though, before Stan and I become famous as we take over the software world and build our MN/SCL Technologies complex in West Chicago.