JonBenet's death a chance to ask hard questions

America learned a hard lesson recently. A tragedy occurred in Boulder, Colo., in December, and while not quite on par with the works of Sophocles and Shakespeare, has nonetheless visibly shaken the nation. It concerned 6-year-old beauty pageant champion JonBenet Ramsey, but it was not her death.

But that is not the point of this column. I could write an entire column about child molesters as the lowest form of human life, as the detritus feeders of the world, but that would be unnecessary. I'm sure you all know that already.

The point of this column is to address the hoary world of pint-sized pageantry that JonBenet's death has exposed. These contests involve thousands of young girls each year, from toddlers to adolescents (and even older, if you count Miss America and its clones).

Contestants compete for trophies, crowns, cars, scholarships, cash and other prizes of varying value. Winners go home with these trinkets and their parents' overflowing love; losers just go home.

My question is this: How can the executors of these contests justify their action? Surely the age of sexual harassment and equal rights has eliminated the climate necessary for competitions between youngsters based on appearance. It only stands to reason: Today, we're hearing that looks, particularly among the female gender, don't, or at least shouldn't, matter. But these contests try to tell us that they do.

It makes me wonder what the parents of these oppressed children are thinking when they slap on the lipstick and mascara and Little Bo Peep dresses and tell their pride and joy to go out on a stage in front of a group of stoic judges and belt out "Tomorrow" in their best prepubescent voice.

But I, as an actual clear-thinking, rational individual, cannot see how this is possible. At least Little League affords the opportunity for children to improve and fosters sportsmanship and teamwork.

What does Little Miss Galaxy foster? An unnatural and unhealthy focus on beauty, with no room for improvement.

Therefore, these girls are being judged on things they can't help, and if they lose, how do you think that's going to make them feel?

The parents and organizers want the world to accept the notion that self-esteem is cultivated through the idiotic performance of silly stunts while wearing ridiculous clothes and even more ridiculous make-up.

I am at a loss to understand how this can be achieved before these girls have even forged a solid identity, more or less impervious to the everyday assaults of an unkind world.

Through participation in these pageants, a contestant learns that her worth is directly proportional to her finish in the contest. This is particularly tragic when one realizes this worth is tied inextricably to the girl's appearance.

This is why I wonder how these contests can be justified. Women today are fighting harder than ever to have their particular talents and abilities recognized regardless of their looks or gender.

That's progress, and it's what the traditional patriarchy needs to wise up.

But when parents groom their daughters to believe unless they look good and put on a show, no one will like them, they set the cause of equal rights back one hundred years and damage their girls' self-esteem beyond repair.

Do you really think Sally, who finished last, understands when Mommy explains she is just as good as Molly, who finished first? Sally sees Molly's mom hugging and kissing her and telling her how proud she is of her, while her own mom is fighting back tears while telling her she'll win next time.

Children always want to make their parents proud, so Sally reads the disappointment in her mom's eyes and figures she's not good enough for her mom. That doesn't sound like it fosters self-esteem, either.

JonBenet Ramsey's death was horrific, and I certainly hope they find her killer and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. But her death can still serve a purpose:

By revealing the tragedy of the kiddie-pageant circuit, she has given us the chance to take action before the lives of more young girls are irrevocably harmed.