DWTS x 5

UPDATE: Bristol is in the finals -- and totally unrecognized by the other contestants, as well as the judges, the hosts, and the crowd. There was dead silence because the favorite went home tonight and the only non-dancer left standing stays for the finals. It irritates me that such disrespect has been shown to Bristol, perhaps for political reasons, but I hope that is not the case. It was stunning to hear accusations that The Tea Party/Republicans kept her on the show long past when she should have gone home, and disgusting to hear the boos attributed to her mother and father, who came to the show to cheer their daughter in her performances.

Perhaps many others felt as I did, watching the show last night, that this young woman put more of herself into this contest than some of the other contestants. Her gracious attitude, her fierce determination, her acceptance of herself as the underdog are qualities to be admired, not to be criticised. Bristol is NOT on the show because of her mother; perhaps, she is on the show in spite of her mother!!

And, she's going to the finals. Good for you, Bristol!
_______________

I've watched this season of Dancing With the Stars, but I have not voted until tonight. After watching Bristol and Mark, I decided to give them all 5 of my votes because they embody what the program is about: a person who is NOT a dancer becoming one, one week at a time.

Bristol has not been talented or graceful or even a good dancer, but she has worked hard to learn the dances, perform the dances, accept the judge's criticisms, and keep coming back each week. Others in the semi-finals came into the competition at a much higher level than the former 17-year-old "high school slut" who became pregnant and then had to be pregnant on national TV. She gave birth to her son, has raised her son, gave her son's father a second chance, which he blew wide open, and then stood on her own two feet to continue with whatever comes next.

What came next was an invitation to be part of this season's DWTS, a tough gig for anyone, but especially tough for a young girl with limited exposure to the hardened public figures who know how to handle the papps, as well as the glare of the 24/7 media spotlight. Through it all, she's been gracious, hardworking, and ... herself.

Congrats, Bristol, for keeping true to yourself. I'm proud of you for using what happened to you as a reason to continue to be who you are in the process of becoming who you will be.