From the fine Catholic News outlet in Minneapolis: The Catholic Spirit
According to British media, she has learning disabilities as a result of being starved of oxygen at birth. She is unemployed and, as a churchgoing Catholic, her social life revolves around her family and her parish of Our Lady of Lourdes. She also enjoys karaoke in her local pub.
Father Clark said, "When she gets up to sing it can either be wonderful or you can get the unpredictable eccentric behavior, but it is to do with the fact that she has learning difficulties.
"In a sense, there is a beautiful voice trapped in this damaged body," he said. "It is an absolute contrast. There she was on television acting very peculiarly and the audience was expecting peculiar things to happen and then a voice of an angel comes out -- and that's Susan."
Father Clark said that local people who knew Boyle, the youngest of nine children of a family descended from Irish migrants, were "enormously proud of her and wish her the best but they are aware of the risks she is running," adding that her behavior has previously drawn cruel taunts from children.
"People are slightly worried about what might happen after this bout of fame," he explained.
"I am quite worried for her," he added. "I think it's great at one level. It might just be the thing that will make her, but she is a very vulnerable person and it could be quite difficult.
"It is a great opportunity for her and as far as I am concerned she should make the best of it, and if it lasts, it lasts, and if it doesn't, then it's still more than almost any one of us will ever achieve," he added. "It is important in sustaining her and making sure this is all a very, very beneficial experience."
Boyle indeed has that bit of eccentricity in her. It may indeed be tough for her to deal with fame and prestige or for her to handle a salty barb from Simon or Piers. But it seems to me that she has plenty of people around her to keep her in check. I can't wait for her next performance which is supposedly going to be Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Whistle Down the Wind" which is from the disastrous show Whistle Down the Wind that was so bad they once called it "Whistle Down the Drain."
Hopefully, that's not an omen for Susan Boyle.
1 comment:
I do find Father Clarke's comments typial of some attitudes to those with learning disabilites - i.e rather patronising. There was nothing "perculiar" as he put it in Susan's behaviour as we watched on Saturday. If he was embarassed it says more about him than about Susan, who comported herself with quiet dignity and courage in the face of hostility. His comments may have been well intentioned as she may well need a great deall of support to deal with what lies ahead, but sadly came across as patronising and typical of those who treat those who are different as if they are children, and not human beings with feelings, hopes and dreams, just like the rest of us. Shame on you father.
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