Here's the real scoop on Susan Boyle -- from her parish priest

[nichomachus]

http://blog.beliefnet.com/pontifications/2009/04/the-real-susan-boyle-her-paris.html

"Anyone who sees her for the first time behaves the same way. I have never heard her sing badly, though she might lose the words if the stress gets too much," he told Catholic News Service in an April 16 telephone interview.

Boyle first appeared before judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden on the ITV1 sister show of "America's Got Talent"; it was broadcast April 11.

Her fame spread on the Internet, and in just five days she had attracted more than 15 million YouTube viewings of her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream," from the musical "Les Miserables."

Part of Boyle's attraction is that she appears to be such an unlikely candidate for stardom. She said on TV that she has "never been kissed" and has lived alone with her cat since her mother died in 2007.

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."

So for all the no-talent slackers mocking her here on DU -- and other places -- stuff it.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Fill me in...

...who's Susan Boyle?:D

[Rhiannon12866]

38. Here ya go...

Reminds me of when JK asked the same question about Jeff Gannon... ;)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5490619&mesg_id=5490619

[Faygo Kid]

2. ". . . drawn cruel taunts from children. . . " And here at DU. What fun!

I have been here at DU a long, long time. And the nasty crap about Susan Boyle that is being posted here is just about the worst I have seen.

Are we that cynical, to not appreciate a positive story?

[dkf]

4. From what I've seen, its the people that like her who call her homely and make other disparaging

remarks on her appearance.

The people who aren't bowled over by her comment on her singing or on the trivial nature of our latest obsession.

[JDPriestly]

9. She is quite honest about her appearance. She looks like a middle-aged woman.

That's the way we look. I'm so glad she has the courage to look as she does. She proves that we middle-aged women can have talent.

I changed careers at about her age -- and had terrible difficulty being accepted and hired for more than temporary positions. Singers at any age tend to zoom to the top of the charts and then fall as fast as they rose. Susan seems to be a person with modest ambitions, and her priest is, I'm sure a good support to her in viewing her situation realistically. Susan seems to have a good sense of humor, so she will probably weather everything quite well.

I really like her and her voice -- and precisely because she is no top model. She reminds me of myself. Look at Susan Boyle and you see a little bit of me. I think a lot of middle-aged and older women feel that way.

[JDPriestly]

10. It's not disparaging to say she is chubby and middle-aged.

It's honest and she would probably be the first to admit that she does not wear a size 4 dress.

[D-Lee]

20. Look again, she's just badly dressed and body is pretty good

She has narrow shoulders -- that looks like about the only thing with her body that isn't well within the normal range.

Her round face is throwing off an assessment.

Double chin? Could be how she holds her chin ...

[JDPriestly]

53. I think she has a sweet face and a lovely smile.

[mitchum]

13. You are absolutely correct, but the schmaltzaholics are in denial...

that they are the actual objects of head shaking bewilderment.

For the record: I think she has a fine voice and I wish her much success.

[hlthe2b]

5. I agree Faygo Kid... As to the detractors--it's the same bullies

that shit on any good story. They simply dwell in their own misery and are not happy unless others do so as well.

The crude, rude, horrendous comments they have made about this courageous Scottish woman, are just horrendous. If I could give them a metaphorical "heart transplant" I would, but I would fear massive rejection....

[Faygo Kid]

8. Thank you. DU is lessened by such garbage.

I think and know we are better than that.

[elocs]

16. Yes, there certainly are cynical and snide bullies here

who do feel it is their calling in life to snuff out any light that might fall onto their pathetic, joyless and miserable lives. What a sad lot they are.

[nichomachus]

6. Mostly pathetic losers who make themselves feel better by crapping on other people

much like the shitheads who populate Free Republic.

[Triana]

22. I call 'em narcissists...

..first person to come into a thread that is devoted to praising someone like Ms. Boyle and hurls an insult about her (name-calling): narcissists. I don't mean those who simply disagree or don't understand what all the fuss is about her - that's one thing. What I refer to is the sneering and name-calling and insults.

And you're right. They salve their own resentment about HER getting all the positive praise and attention instead of themselves, by insulting her (or whoever is being praised in the thread). It makes 'em feel better about themselves.

That's how you pick them out of a room.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5487160&mesg_id=5487160

[merh]

46. it is not cyncism

it is jealousy, Susan Boyle threads get more attention than their threads. They resent the attention her threads get so they attack her. (Most want to make Susan Boyle threads flamefests so that all threads are locked and disappear.)

God forbid they use common sense and the features of the board. "Hide Thread" is such a wonderful feature.

Are there more pressing things happening in the world? Yes, of course there are. Are threads on more important issues posted and ignored? Yup, happens all the time.

I think the Susan Boyle story is wonderful and positive. It is a good escape from those pressing/important issues and it is delightful to see the underdog become a champion.

[canetoad]

51. And every so often

that ugly resentment spills over to include the poster of any thread about her.

You know, at least every week there is a time when GD is filled with posts about some topic that is not in the slightest interest to me. Because I'm grown up and know a little of the nature of people and communication on the internet, I know that in a day or two they will be gone and the next thing will be brewing to take their place. That's life on the net. It happens.

I can't get my head around people who rattle on that a topic is 'boring' just because they themselves are not interested in it. Don't they know that only the boring are ever bored? Have they not had internet access long enough to realize the nature of the communication? Do they think they are super cutting-edge and much hipper than the rest of us?

Remember, 90% of the noise on the net is made by 10% of the users. Sometimes you just need to switch of the incessant background noice of these self-interested fuckers.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Her rendition of that song had me sobbing. I wish her all the best.

I hope she gets what she truly wants from this. She's amazing.

[Hekate]

7. Father Clark sounds like a terrific guy to have in her corner, no matter what happens with "fame"...

All the best to Susan, because fame is very very fickle. (Remember the Singing Nun? No? Exactly.)

Hekate

[DeepBlueC]

15. in fairness, nuns have authorities above record execs to answer to

I doubt if she was ever free to pursue a career in singing.

[Hekate]

19. She left her order to pursue a singing career and iirc she was no longer a novelty...

... once she shed her habit. Such is the fickleness of fame, imo.

I still have the vinyl album of Soeur Sourire.

Hekate

[DeepBlueC]

23. She left her order?

She must have felt condemned by God after her future disappeared in front of her. Poor dear. I hope she made a happy life after that. Religious life for women had absolutely none of the perqs that men in religious life enjoyed.

[Maccagirl]

27. Actually, her story doesn't have a happy ending at all

Jeanine Deckers (the "Singing Nun") committed suicide in 1985 due to financial problems.

[DeepBlueC]

30. Oh dear.That poor woman.

[Hannah Bell]

41. even worse...she didn't have to do it...money was coming...

Her musical career over, Deckers opened a school for autistic children in Belgium. In the late 1970s (mentioned in the July 22, 1978 broadcast of American Top 40), the Belgian government claimed that she owed around US$63,000 in back taxes.<2> Deckers countered that the money was given to the convent and therefore exempt from taxes. Lacking any receipts to prove her donations to the convent and her religious order, Deckers ran into heavy financial problems. In 1982 she tried, once again as Soeur Sourire, to score a hit with a disco version of "Dominique", but this last attempt to resume her singing career failed.

Citing their financial difficulties in a note, she and her companion of ten years, Anna Pécher, both committed suicide by an overdose of barbiturates and alcohol. In a great irony, the very day of her suicide and unknown to her, the Belgian association that collects royalties for songwriters (SABAM) awarded her approximately $300,000 (571,658 Belgian francs) -- more than enough to pay off her $65,000 debt (99,000 Belgian francs) and provide for her. <3><4> <5[br />

[Marie26]

44. How tragic. nt

[MineralMan]

31. So do I. I was sad to see what happened to her.

"Dominique"

[elleng]

36. Thinking about that.

SHOULD a parish priest discuss a parishioner to a public source in such manner?

[justinaforjustice]

39. Father Clark is Appalling.

"Father Clark sounds like a terrific guy..." I hardly think so. He claims to be her parish priest, not merely a neighborhood acquaintance. Why in hell is a priest giving out personal information about a parishioner to the press? I suspect that he is getting personal enjoyment about being interviewed by newspapers and, in his egotism, is exploiting Susan Boyle by revealing his knowledge of her. Did she expressly authorize him to reveal she has learning disabilities and other difficulties? I doubt it.

[hyphenate]

47. Most of those things have already been mentioned

and talked about, including the learning disability from the birth problems. However, and I stress this: Susan isn't a stupid woman at all, and I think some people aren't giving her enough credit for having intelligence at all. Hypoxia at birth can harm many different processes, and it's not always the same for two different people. Having a learning difficulty doesn't mean it harmed other parts of her brain, and think that's important to realize. Some, especially like the Today Show hosts, seemed to believe they were talking with a severely retarded woman on the show, and I thought that it was extremely rude of them. I've seen other interviewers treat her the same way. She appears to be comfortable in her own skin, she has a sense of humor, she has managed to cope with a lot of stress and loss, and she isn't afraid of exposing herself to what could have been horrendous criticism. In the video, just before she goes on, she says she's going to "blow their socks off" an gee, guess what--she did! She has enough confidence to know she could do it, regardless of what the audience and judges were reacting. Does this sound like someone who is severely handicapped? No--it sounds like most normal people who are harboring secrets or wisdom that others might not be aware of.

The thing is, no one can truly judge her or extrapolate from what they might have seen so far, unless it is someone very close to her. It is useless to try to do that, and some people are likely going to come out short if they try to base their judgement on such a shallow introduction.

[Hannah Bell]

49. folks here at DU have also made the assumption she's mentally retarded.

[hyphenate]

52. I've noticed that

and as someone who has someone in the family with severe mental problems, I can definitely say that she isn't at all handicapped for the most part. Kids with dyslexia, Aspergers, Down Syndrome or even mild autism are far smarter than people give them credit for.

I think people need to look at this realistically. Unless someone has worked with those with mental handicaps for any length of time, it's not a fair assessment at all to characterize everyone with similar handicaps. My brother was relatively normal until he was 18, when he was in a very ugly and horrific car accident. The driver was killed, and my brother was in back of the driver. He suffered severe brain and head trauma, and has never been normal ever since. He can remember some of the stuff in his life before the accident, but beyond that, he has no ability to recall stuff since that time. His everyday demeanor is like that of someone who is about 10 on the maturity scale, and he will have a temper tantrum if someone doesn't do his bidding. From an actual 10 year old, that probably doesn't amount to much of anything, but from someone who, when standing, is about 5'10", and about 160 lbs, it is a little more daunting.

People also have different coping mechanisms that come up when situations warrant it. My dad used to begin stuttering if he'd been drinking more than he should have. It was a dead giveaway! Mel Tillis, the CW singer, used to stutter all the time until he sang, with no stuttering ever in a song. When I used to drink (stopped a very long time ago as well!), I'd get giggly. Perhaps with Susan, the slightly off humor is a coping mechanism as well? I don't know, but as time moves forward, we can learn more about her with each performance. She seems to be in control of her self, though I think she was blindsided by the phenomenon she has created, and is unsure what to do about it. I had been wondering how her siblings were reacting, and found it good that they are coming into the picture to help her get out of town for awhile so she can collect her thoughts. I just hope they brought Pebbles with them!

[Karenina]

55. The phenomenon is an historical media event.

It would blindside even one with prior experience and coping skills. It was reassuring to get that tidbit of her family circling the wagons. I want a security guard, a call screener and a personal assistant ON DUTY NOW! ;-) I did read somewhere that the production company has posted an employee to her.

Her mental capacity is less of an issue than her life being irrevocably altered overnight. Twice, while out with recognizable friends, I got to experience a wall of people running towards us. Each time it took me HOURS to stop shaking. My friends were used to it and on both occasions reacted quickly and instinctively. Theirs was not a level of fame to which I ever aspired. Playing to large audiences and having a globally recognized persona are two very different things...

Anyway, I'm enjoying me some Susan Boyle and going on about the issues and emotions her presence in our collective consciousness raise.

[mamalone]

56. In many ways Susan Boyle reminds me of my own daughter.

She is 22yo, brilliant in many ways, but completely clueless and utterly lost in others. She has Asperger's syndrome. Now of course Ms. Boyle doesn't have Asperger's, but many of her mannerisms, strengths and reported weaknesses remind me of my daughter and other aspies.

For what it's worth, if my daughter ever found herself in a position similar to Susan Boyle's current one (and I weren't there to assist her) I would fervently hope that someone would do as her priest has done here. We all have weaknesses.. pretending they don't exist doesn't make them disappear. Ignoring them doesn't eliminate their power to harm us. Personally I am of the mind that openness is a beneficial thing. I think that Ms. Boyle herself was open about her limitations.. the priest just clarified them in a way that was more understandable to the rest of us.

Why does the idea that she has differences in her learning style, differences in her social interaction patterns have to be seen as such a negative? Why do people see discussion of them as an insult?

[Uzybone]

11. Its ok not to be impressed by her

but to slam her and others because other people are inspired by her story is sick and very petty. Tells you a lot about the type of people who stoop to that level.

[ananda]

12. I'm not worried about her at all.

She's one of the sanest most grounded people
I've ever seen.

And I love her singing.. makes me cry every damm time.

[Karenina]

14. I fret about her, too. Thanx for posting this piece.

[underpants]

17. Expect a RW attack on British socialized medicine

I can smell it

but then they are so off their game they might let that one pass

[asjr]

18. Susan Boyle may never have been kissed

but she has millions of people in love with her. She has a beautiful voice.

[L0oniX]

21. Damn it. Welcome to my ignore dungeon where you get susan boyle 24/7.

[nichomachus]

25. And where your screen name says it all

[malaise]

24. This is actually the most informative post on Susan Boyle

"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."
----------------------

I share all his fears and wish her all the best.

[Karenina]

29. I thought so too, Malaise.

Yes, it's all hype and manipulation und, und, und. However Susan Boyle is a real, live, vulnerable human being like each of us, whose "story line" is being presented through our new-fangled technology. Remember that caveat, be careful what you wish for? Well, I for one am delighted she had her wish and the moxy to go for it. SHE initiated that.

I WANT HER TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON HER OWN TERMS

And I want SO MUCH for her to be protected in ways I never was in my 50 years as a musician. Call me shallow and falling for hype if you will, but I've stood on stages and sets, done PR, advertising, worked in studios and am quite familiar with the machinations. I survived cruel hazing and also didn't fit a mold; there wasn't one. There still isn't. "Now life has killed the dream I dreamed." So FUCK ME if I want Susan Boyle to get everything she ever dreamed of without anyone daring to muss a hair on her head.

To all the psychos who flock to these support threads to register their disdain for us all, a hearty

SOD OFF!

[alarimer]

40. The problem with most regular people is that they are ill-equiped to deal with sudden fame.

Just like lottery winners typically end up worse off despite the money, most of us would have a hard time with this.

It would be very easy for some no-good person to take advantage of Susan Boyle, for the simple reason that she might be entirely too trusting. Most of us are. I hope that there are people around her, like her family, running interference with the sharks out there.

[malaise]

45. You have real experience on the subject

:grouphug:

[Control-Z]

26. k&r n/t

[Blue_Roses]

28. I hope she surrounds herself with people who she can trust...

I worry for her too. She seems very shy, innocent and vulnerable.

[DeltaLitProf]

32. Why the Hell is a Parish Priest talking about her that way in public?

Shouldn't they be more discreet about mentioning the personal details of their parishioners? Or was he too interested in picking up a paycheck from the British tabloids?

Yet another example of religion poisoning everything if you ask me.

[Hekate]

33. He sounded to me like someone behaving as a real father would, someone caring involved in her life

Apparently she has real vulnerabilities, and with all the hoopla surrounding her performance, I repeat that I am glad she has him in her corner. You can find good people everywhere if you look for them.

Hekate

[mamalone]

35. "You can find good people everywhere if you look for them. "

I completely agree!

[mamalone]

34. I think he is trying to do his part in keeping her safe.

That's part of his job as a priest too. He knows her, her strengths and weaknesses far better than most.. certainly better than us out here in the world. By helping us to understand her, I think he's hoping to minimize damages and maximize the positives in the situation. For one, I'm very glad he has taken the time to speak out. Doesn't sound like poison to me☺

[elleng]

37. I have the same question.

.

[Skittles]

42. and talking about her "damaged body"

WTF?

[Hekate]

54. It was a birth injury: she was deprived of oxygen at birth, leaving her with cognitive deficits...

... of some sort. It happens -- a lot of times such babies end up with cerebral palsy, but apparently that is not what happened in Susan Boyles' case. She was teased as a child by schoolmates, which leaves a mark.

In any case, I am putting together a picture of a woman who may be a little bit erratic socially due to this, and it would go a long way toward explaining why she stayed at home with her mother.

As an example, I have a really dear friend I've known for around 15 years. She's obviously bright but has a hard time focusing; although she was a valued member of a county commission I used to chair, in her paid work life she is struggling to hold on to a fairly low level clerk's job. Conversations are all over the place and kind of exhausting after awhile. It was only last year that she told me that just about the time she was going to graduate from college she was in a motorcycle accident and comatose for two months. I realized that she was telling me she had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) -- what they call the invisible disability. You look normal -- only you're not.

As to Susan Boyle, a couple of articles about her life have mentioned the oxygen deprivation at birth and the learning disability in school. I think her priest knows her well and is being compassionate.

Hekate

[greyl]

50. Yeah, he sounds like a bit of an asshole.

Reminded me of the Rabbi from Seinfeld.

Elaine: But he's a Rabbi! How can a Rabbi have such a big mouth?

Jerry: That's what's so fascinating.

[HughMoran]

43. I hope she makes out OK

After reading this post, I am somewhat concerned about her long-term stability.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. Thanks, was wondering who this lady was

damn it... have not been keeping track of the latest obsession...