Show degrades women, marriage
Letter to the Editor
Last night, FOX hosted the most watched wedding since Charles and Diana. The show, "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire," paraded 50 single women ranging in age from 19 to 43 in beauty pageant form across a nationwide stage. Instead of a sparkling rhinestone studded crown, the prize was a middle-aged millionaire holding a three-karat diamond ring in a Pumpkin Carriage-style box. The Cinderella motif was a valiant attempt to romanticize this pathetic display of superficial degradation.
Contestant No. 1 was asked what she would do if she was at a party and one of her husband's friends hit on her. The question is ridiculous. Other questions followed this format, asking about ex-boyfriends and strip clubs. It's nice to know that this man isn't interested in the brains that lie beneath the beauty of these 10 women. These women didn't just parade around in swim suits and answer asinine questions, they openly admitted to the public that they are interested in abandoning their chances for romance and courtship to marry for money.
The contest began with 50 women representing 25 states and 8 countries. These are women with wonderful careers or college students on their way to successful futures. There was an environmental engineer, an ER nurse and, of course, a professional model thrown in there. These women could have lived successful lives without a multimillionaire to pay the bills. They participated in this event to grasp their opportunity to live on "easy street." There is no other explanation. These women were interested in one thing, bringing home a rich husband. It's a superficial way to enter the so-called sacred institution of marriage.
Winning a millionaire husband on a TV show completely degrades the sacrament of marriage. The entire idea of marriage is the unification of two people out of love and trust. How can two people take vows which state "I pledge you my love and devotion" when they just met?
Marriage involves an eternal commitment to "love, honour and cherish." The only things these people love, honour and cherish are money and companionship. These aren't the basis for a marriage. This marriage involved a contest, a prenuptial agreement, and an exchange of empty vows.
The judge began the ceremony with "Dearly beloved," but the only love on that stage was shared by Mr. Multimillionaire and his 80 family and friends. A person can't pledge a lifetime to someone when they don't even know their last name. No little girl dreams of her future husband saying "I, Rick, take thee ... what's your name again?"
It was so appropriate for the new husband and wife to dance their first dance to Savage Garden's "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You."
Alisa Schmitt
Freshman
McCandless Hall
February 15, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, February 16, 2000
