ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ:  Eyebrows competing with those of Joan Crawford, a sturdy body shape, curly hair more likely to be worn by office cleaners in corporate offices and a simple dress all lulled a jaded audience into super confidence mode; they had her pegged and she would be so good to laugh at.  The last laugh, guys, was on all of you when Susan Boyle opened her mouth on that "Britain's Got  Talent" stage.  Even grumpy, razor-mouthed Simon Cowell was thrown out of his element by her, or was that all a put-on?  Cowell, after all, is in on everything to do with this production, so was he, in fact, pulling the wool over the audiences' eyes?  Nice set-up, Simon, if you did it

Plain doesn't get far in this world enamored by wealth, fashion and cosmetically-enhanced youthful faces and bodies.  Plain gets tossed to the curb, overlooked, degraded and made to feel grateful that people don't step, literally, all over them.  They don't have a right to a decent, happy life.  Life, love and laughter belong to the Lotus Eaters. The hits she has gotten on YouTube, something over 12 million at this writing, is proof that she's winning hearts.

Research has shown, in some studies, that taller, more attractive people are seen as smarter, more fun to be with and able to do the job better than people who don't possess those genetically given attributes.  But the internet changed all of this and Susan Boyle is living proof that talent can win out after all

Overweight equals being dismissed and even seen as suffering from a disability.  They have to sue for their rights, speak louder, longer and with more intensity than the simply lovely.  Then, as a result, they are seen as living proof of peoples' rights to see them in a one-down position.  Is it right?  Does it make the rest of us feel better?  I hope not. 

The future will, undoubtedly, be changed in very dramatic ways for Susan Boyle, perhaps even if she doesn't want it.  There will be pressure to change her appearance, her residence and her persona.  Will she do it and, if she does, will she then lose what she has now in terms of her "everyperson" appearance?  What will that mean?  Let's hope it turns out very well for her.  She's had her share of hardship and she has lived a life of service to a mother who needed her

Watch out, Susan, the sharks are in the water and they're circling

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