| My talent is better than yours, according to BYU-Idaho Activities |
by Andy Cargal
CAR02031@BYUI.EDU
editor-in-chief |
"My mom’s better than your mom.”
“Nu-uh. My mom’s the coolest mom in the world.”
“Oh yeah, well I wouldn’t want my mom to be the coolest mom in the world if she looked like your mom.”
“Well, at least my mom doesn’t dress like she’s homeless!”
We played verbal games like this all the time as children, apparently trying to prove we were somehow better than our friends. But we’ve grown up, right?
Competition is a part of life. Whether it is in sports, jobs, looks, talents, academic grades or even moms, people battle to be better than someone else. And, in some aspects, competition is good. The reason most monopolies are illegal in the United States is to give consumers a choice. After all, how would you feel if you could eat only Western Family-brand foods (perish the thought)?
Even BYU-Idaho sponsors competitions of its own.
Let’s take Miss BYU-Idaho, for example. Contestants are asked to try out with a two-minute talent and are judged based on ability and the variety of talent. An average of 30 women try out each year and about 10 make the final cut, said Kris Fillmore, enrichment activities director at BYU-I.
Finalists are judged on talent, interview, poise and presence, impromptu question and an essay. But the most weighted aspect is talent, comprising 35 percent of the total score.
Too bad contestants aren’t judged today like they were in the ‘60s and ‘70s. In 1963, contestants were critiqued on modeling ability, talent, dancing and — cake baking. And in 1971, etiquette and the ability to teach a party game were added to the list. If only Miss BYU-Idaho could bake a good cake and teach us how to play hide and seek; the world would be a better place.
But now, if you can’t sing, dance, act, play a musical instrument or read an original poem or story — you’re out of luck— because contestant talents must be performed.
But what about the woman who has not been blessed with performance talents? Is she somehow inferior?
What about the woman whose talent is listening, or the woman who has a motherly heart? What about the woman who can cook, sew, nurture, love, be patient, write, draw, paint, memorize or manage time? What about the woman whose kind words make you want to be a better person? Where is her crown?
According to Doctrine and Covenants, we all have different gifts given us by the Spirit of God, yet BYU-I Activities seems to say that some of these gifts are better than others. And it’s not just with Miss BYU-Idaho.
Other events this year include Guitars Unplugged, Acoustic Café, A capella Jam, Grand Pianos Live, Extravadance, Broadway Review, Nashville Nights, Poet’s Corner and Christmas Encore — all of which portray performance talents. In fact, if you look at the BYU-I Activities Web site and click on “talent,” you’ll find that all the listed events are performances.
In a way, it’s as though we are fostering here the type of banter that existed when we we’re children.
“My talent is better that your talent.”
“What makes you think so? I bet I can make a tastier meal than you could ever make.”
“Who cares? I can sing like a superstar, and at least my talent can get me into the Miss BYU-Idaho pageant.”
It’s wonderful we’re showcasing the talents of women, but maybe there’s a better way to choose our “queen.” Perhaps an interview, essay, grades, service an extracurricular activities should carry more weight, and talent can take a more proper role in the mix.
Maybe we should be more concerned with the overall package of a woman that what she can show us.
HELPFUL LINKS
