SI Swimsuit Issue Features Local Woman

Friday, February 12, 2010

The annual swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated hit home with a splash this week.

One of the models is a local girl, and that's not all. She's not wearing a bathing suit or much else - just a little paint.

Bethany Dempsey, who is from High Falls and graduated from Union Pines High School, is one of the wives and girlfriends (WAGS, in SI parlance) of the world's top soccer players in the 2010 issue whose swimsuits are only painted on.

"You don't feel naked," she told Huffington Post. "You look in the mirror, and it looks like you are wearing a swimsuit. The detail is amazing."

A cheerleader and top student at Union Pines, Dempsey attended Furman University where she met her husband, Clint Dempsey, a U.S. midfielder soccer player. The couple married in Southern Pines at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church a few years ago and have a home in Seven Lakes. She is an educational psychologist and mother to their 1-year-old daughter, Elyse.

It took artist Joanne Gair 15 hours to paint the brightly colored bikini top and bottom and team T-shirt fragment on Bethany Dempsey, all there was between the camera lens and her body. Click here for Dempsey photos.

Teachers at her old high school remember her more as a very bright student than just a pretty girl, said Assistant Principal Jim Thomas - and yes, he has seen the famed swimsuit issue.

"Beth was a cheerleader, a top student, they told me," Thomas said. "When she graduated in 2001, the senior superlatives named her as 'smartest in the class.' I wasn't here then, but a lot of teachers remember Beth. She was - is - a beautiful young woman, and very smart as well."

George Griffin, who was the principal at Union Pines then, said he always thought of her as either No. 1 or No. 2 in her class. That was before the magazine's appearance last Monday set his phone ringing.

"Well, first of all, my son called," Griffin said. "He and Beth were friends growing up. He called and said, 'Check out your swimsuit issue.'"

Griffin was visiting his old school Thursday morning, and Sports Illustrated was the topic of the day among the faculty.

"People called and everything else about it," he said. "Bethany got famous in a hurry, I guess, in Moore County. I remember her well, but I only remember her from the neck up. (laughs) She was a beautiful girl in high school and didn't change any, that's for sure."

The impression teachers had then of Bethany Keegan was that she was a very good -student.

"She was definitely smart," Griffin said. "She was (A) very smart, (B) very pretty, and then (C) just a very nice person. I can only say good things about her - went to her wedding. She kept in touch more with my wife and son than me, because my wife taught her. She went to Furman, and that's where she met her husband. They live in Seven Lakes. They travel, travel all over the world I guess."

Griffin said Dempsey's parents, who still live in High Falls, were strong supporters of the school and all their daughter's activities. He said he is pretty sure they are getting a lot of calls nowadays.

Her looks would not have been the first thing that came to her old principal's mind if asked before she hit newsstands this way.

"If somebody had just called out of the blue and said, 'What do you know about Beth Keegan?' I'd have said, 'Well, she sure was smart.' That, that's the main thing I remember about her."

Griffin added that he would also have said all he had heard about her were good things.

"She was a great girl," Griffin said. "She really was. I can't say anything but very positive about her."

His former student's appearance in the swimsuit issue wearing only a coat of paint puts her in a new light.

"Yes," Griffin said, chuckling. "It's paint. That's exactly right. That's it (laughing). It was a different pose than anything, as I say, I remember from the neck up. (laughing) Yes, it is."

Contact John Chappell at (910) 783-5841 or by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.

More like this story

girlfriday 3 years, 3 months ago

Did you seriously put a picture of a naked woman on the front page of the pilot website? (That is just paint covering her, so yes she is naked.) As a grown woman I have no problem seeing this and tuning it out (considering I'm lambasted almost constantly with pictures of sexualized and idealized women by the media). But to put it on the front page of a website where a young girl can see it is reckless and in poor, poor taste. Give our young women a chance to form positive self-images by shielding them from these types of images for as long as possible. Shame on you.

jboy 3 years, 3 months ago

I agree whole heartedly with the first comment. You expect to run into questionable content in general on the web, but really? Did our small town local newspaper really just post a photo of a topless woman on the FRONT PAGE of their website? Come on now!

Get that photo off of there! It isn't clean content that needs to be pushed down in front of us even if you do write about it. The least you could do is crop the picture to show only the shoulders up.

aeb 3 years, 3 months ago

I also agree with above comments. It's sad that the local newspaper cannot be trusted to be child-friendly. Shame on you.

kgirl 3 years, 3 months ago

Well I have to say I disagree with all of these negative comments. I think this is an opportunity to talk with young girls, teenagers, even our young boys, about what is healthy sexuality.

Are you not going to allow your daughter to go into a store in case she might see this SAME picture on the front of a swimsuit magazine? Our girls need to learn that they can be beautiful without being trashy, and be comfortable with their own bodies. This woman is a beautiful and very smart young woman. This style of photography comes from very skilled artwork, and is not at all questionable, dirty, or in poor taste. Our girls can form a positive self image, as long as they don't have overprotective adults 'shielding' them from 'these types of images' their whole life. A lot of the classmates I went to school with who were 'shielded' from reality ended up being alcoholics, on drugs, pregnant, or worse, because no one took the time to discuss important life issues with them.

To say that this photo is inappropriate and demand that it be taken off the website, or even out of the paper, is rash and unfair. As a woman, mother, wife, and daughter, I have no problem with 'this' type of image. It is art, albeit an entirely different form of art than our small town is used to (obviously).

bdavis 3 years, 3 months ago

Shocked to see that the Pilot would feature a naked picture of a young woman on the front page. Patrons can choose to purchase a magazine such as Sports Illustrated with this in it, but a local community paper should have more integrity and morals than to feature a naked woman covered in paint of at the front page. Shame on you!!

bdavis 3 years, 3 months ago

Again,I am again so shocked about this picture. Would the editors, contributors, and publishers of the PIlot want their daughters to be featured naked on a local paper? I have heard that newspapers are having a tough time financially, perhaps this would explain the Pilot's attempt to increase readership with resorting to soft pornography!!

aeb 3 years, 3 months ago

Luckily, I have the ability as a parent to discuss anything that my child needs to know without prompting from the local paper. If parents refrain from such discussions, it is a problem with the parents and a completely separate issue from the local paper's website.

I am not from this "small town", so I can freely say that the size of the town has nothing to do with the perception of legitimate artwork. I feel certain that the percentage of those buying this magazine for the "art value" is extremely small. And, while I may not deliberately avoid going to shops that sell this magazine with my child, I certainly would not grab it off the shelf and shove it into her face.

cmonalready 3 years, 3 months ago

Kgirl...I have to agree with you! I have seen worse than this on the beaches of NC, so um do we not take our kids on vacation? heh There is alot worse out there in this world than this picture AND she's educated, married a mother......seems like she's got it together, even in paint, right Kgirl? I'm glad she wasnt "shielded"! And boy I wish i looked that good in a real bikini, she's got it going on in paint LOL!! Kudo's Bethany:)

cmonalready 3 years, 3 months ago

well i dont know where all of my post went but you get the idea:) good day

phdent 3 years, 3 months ago

Seriously how could anyone be upset with this; better not watch tv and those awful commercials at night

LisaKivett 3 years, 3 months ago

I'm shocked that the Pilot would put this on their front page. Two words come to mind...Tacky and Sleazy. Shame on You Pilot.

girlfriday 3 years, 3 months ago

I would just like to say that as a young woman I have no problem with sexuality or nudity, I also have no problem with this model. I do think that cmonalready and kgirl are overgeneralizing a bit with their comments. Obviously, children can't be shielded from everything, and open and frank discussions are a necessity. I just think that the news media should be held to a higher standard than featuring naked women from SI. SI is not claiming to be an artistic publication so please don't give me the "this is art" schtick.

sadsad 3 years, 3 months ago

I never thought The Pilot would stoop so low to put this on the front page!!!! How pathetic! It is very sad and degrading. She is a mother and how sad for her child to have a mother that flaunts it all for the world to see. Sorry Highfalls for your image now! If I wanted "artwork" I would go to an art gallery. This is not what I want to see or my children to see on the front page of our newspaper.

username 3 years, 3 months ago

you all better just keep your eyes closed for the rest of your lives (and your children's eyes too) if youre taking offense to this.

in fact i would be happy for young people to be on the pilot's website. it means they are actually interested in the news.

jjslilred 3 years, 3 months ago

I graduated with Beth & remember her as a very intelligent and classy girl. Though my opinion of her is slightly changed, I can't really speak to her decision to pose naked for a magazine.

What I can say is how very dissapointed I am in The Pilot for plastering nude pictures of a painted woman (that's not a bikini, its paint) on the front page of their website and newspaper. How low is this "news source" willing to go in order to sell their paper? Simply having an article about Beth was fine, but including the picture was in serious bad taste.

My offense has nothing to do with Beth, at all, but in her exploitation by The Pilot. It is not fueled by jealousy or ignorance, but by a sense of common decency and self-respect (a quality which I see is dwindling even in our small community).

mollym01 3 years, 3 months ago

Get over it! It is a painted women! You cannot see anything. Children see and hear worse things on TV. Seriously, how many children go online to read The Pilot?

username 3 years, 3 months ago

welcome to the United States of Offended. you people troll the articles just looking for something to be offended by.

bdavis 3 years, 3 months ago

the hurst you are mistaken in many ways first of all, the woman does not have on a bikini ( an article of clothing) she is totally nude and the full Sports Illustrated photo is below the waist too - Maybe the Pilot will show this in the print edition

also, you are mistaken - kids do look at the Pilot, if only for local sports news and movie or TV information

you are also wrong about jealousy - I am an over 50 mom and grandmother who looks Ok, even in a bathing suit , but I am disturbed that our local community paper would feature a nude young girl instead of one of the many local young girls that excel in academics, arts,military, work force, etc Of course you know it does not take a lot of effort or intelligence to take your clothes off to get attention. A woman posing nude for a magazine shot would not be a role model for my granddaughter, who I hope would only receive accolades for her character or accomplishments.

username 3 years, 3 months ago

bdavis - you must be from a family who wasnt even allowed to look at their own naked bodies.

do you have magazines in your house? do they have ads with women? do you watch tv? do you turn it off when the commercials come on?

bdavis 3 years, 3 months ago

username

I have not problems with anyone's body, but I believe it is sexist, immoral, indecent, and unnecessary for a local community newspaper to feature the picture of a young nude woman on the front page. Yes, I have many magazines in my home,and subscribe to state and national newspapers - none that I know of have featured young nude women on the covers.

Tom_Embrey 3 years, 3 months ago

@bdavis - Wow. did you read the story, or did you just react to the photo like so many others? Dempsey is a educational psychologist with a college degree, who has been described as smart and beautiful. Sounds like a daughter or granddaughter most would be proud to have.

username 3 years, 3 months ago

obviously she didnt because it would have a launched an even bigger tirade about the link to more photos. tom and the pilot - thank you for delivering news. which this is whether everyone likes it or not.

CSmithson 3 years, 3 months ago

@Tom Don't be jealous of Chappell, but this story is going to get way more comments than the one you had about creepy people at the gym. :-)

khgalloway 3 years, 3 months ago

There is also a story on the front page of ThePilot.com about a man murdering his wife in our county. Maybe those of you that are so sheltered and offended by this woman's image should re-prioritize what you consider to be so offensive. If you're concerned about 'racy' images, maybe be concerned more about the woman in Carthage being shot in the head by her husband. Personally I find the latter more offensive. There's a reason that the media doesn't publicly post crime scene photos.

bdavis 3 years, 3 months ago

tom embrey blah, blah, I am a psychology grad Phi Beta Kappa from a top university- big deal when it comes to decency and common sense

again , a local community paper chose to feature a young woman on the front page in the nude with body paint

this is not the role model most parents and grandparents would choose for their daughters

jjslilred 3 years, 3 months ago

I think that the Pilot made a good move in changing their front page picture. Again, I have no offense in regards to Beth--she is and has always been very beautiful and should be proud of that--but if I wanted to see an old classmate naked I would have bought the magazine, not my local paper. Simply reading about it would have been good enough for me.

And, does anyone else find it humorous that some people are squalking about how offended they are by our offense? How ironic.

username 3 years, 3 months ago

You're right. I'd rather my daughter be a failure as long as she doesn't appear in the media looking pretty.

jjslilred 3 years, 3 months ago

@Username

I really think you're missing the point entirely. Its not that she posed nude, its not that she's beautiful, it’s that The Pilot chose to put what should be considered soft core porn on the front page of their website and newspaper. I wish her the best of success, and I truly believe she is able to achieve that with or without her clothes on. But seriously, your last argument lacks any recognizable intelligence, nor does it speak to the actual concern that many of us have voiced.

bdavis 3 years, 3 months ago

usernname

do you have a daughter?? do you have a grandaughter? perhaps that would make a difference in your perspective

RD28327 3 years, 3 months ago

Well, you have the prudes and you have the perverts, and sometimes you can't tell the difference between them around here. And was that really paint? I think I need to get my glasses fixed! LOL

wadodson 3 years, 3 months ago

So, When will the photo of the nude painted man appear?

username 3 years, 3 months ago

You all are right. I probably abandoned any reasonable argument when I became overwhelmed by many of your unreasonable complaints. But in all honesty, you can either be realistic or idealistic and I don't think something like this warrants the wave of complaints many of you made. I don't care who you are, nothing you've seen here is new. No one's life is wrecked from seeing a painted woman. None of your daughters are going to become anorexic or pose nude. Being offended is part of being in the real world but you'll save yourself a lot of stress and probably live longer if you calm down.

bdavis 3 years, 3 months ago

usename

thanks for your considering the point of the complaints!!

It is "new" for a local community paper to feature a nude woman on the front page!

Community is a concept that we all have an equal share in , and many of us stand up and fight ( not stress out ) for community standards that influence us all for the greater good.

Don't think a nude picture of a young girl on the front page of a local community paper advances that goal.

Thanks though for listening!!

Also, all the big ole male hot shots at the PIlot that endorsed this picture of the nude young woman should be prepared for some of our local artists to render a creative nude picture of them on the front page of the Pilot. Since gardening is my art, I had the vision of a garden patch with a bright green carrot in the center fold. What do ya think?

runorbike 3 years, 3 months ago

Wow. I wish the Pilot would remove that picture of the Carthage man accused of killing his wife. What a disgusting picture. His scruffiness and that look on his face offends me! ;0

citizen 3 years, 3 months ago

Here's what I think: The Pilot folks guessed correctly that it would be controversial, and that was the primary reason why the picture appeared on the front page. "So what?" they reasoned, if some of its readers were offended in the process? Controversial topics, tantalizing pictures, sensational headlines--these things generate interest and sales. The big thing today is to gain attention by "going viral" where the public intrigue, response, and/or uproar actually becomes the story. Personally, I'm not offended by the picture, but I am sad that the Pilot chose to present the story this way. It used to be that people had a choice over what they wanted to see. Surely they could've cropped the picture, but that wouldn't have had the same shock value.

When it comes to local news, obviously The Pilot is the only game in town. I don't imagine they really have to worry too much about losing any readers.

I won't be surprised to see the Pilot run a follow-up to this story which focuses on its readers' reactions.

phdent 3 years, 3 months ago

I am glad the pilot has color ink

Poundman 3 years, 3 months ago

Birnster is right, we should try to keep quiet on this one. I did love the Super bowl!!!! And now I plan to go buy an SI tomorrow to enjoy the articles,, will be at Walden at 10 am sharp!!!

Hammer 3 years, 3 months ago

LOL people get a life if they didn't mention the fact that she only had body paint on you wouldn't know.

Poundman 3 years, 3 months ago

I agree Hammer, heck a swimsuit is more revealing from my eyes and trust me I have eyes for those sort of things.

Hembloche 3 years, 3 months ago

I'm so offended that i'm gonna keep reading the Pilot each day it comes out to find something new to complain about....

poncho 3 years, 3 months ago

Long ago, when men had no paper to paint on, they used their own bodies as canvases. It is no wonder then, that many consider Body Painting to be one of the most ancient forms of art.

Body Painting returned to vogue half a century ago when in the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago, Max Factor brought a model who was dressed only on body paint (actually his new make up line that he'd formulated for Hollywood films). Today, Body Painting is a well respected and recognised art form, represented by artists like Guido Daniele of Milan, Jana Sterbak, Rebecca Horn, Youri Messen-Jaschin and Javier Perez.

Unlike tattooing and other forms of body art, body painting is temporary, painted onto the human skin, and lasts for only several hours, or at most (in the case of Mehndi or henna) a couple of weeks. Body painting that is limited to the face is known as face painting.

she looks ok, my wife looks better, check out the painted on abs, seriously. Body painting isn't something new, its been here for many years...

peterprints 3 years, 3 months ago

For a moment let's reverse this whole affair and picture some local Chippendale type and recent graduate from Pinecrest H.S.. He has just posed for a magazine wearing nothing but a bikini with little Happy Faces on it that has been hand-painted on his body. Question #1...Would The Pilot even pick up the story? Question #2... Would the editors feature a photo of the man (Happy Faces and all) on their web site? I have found the answer to another question that has been bothering me: Why the section of the local library devoted to National Geographic magazines has been so devoid of adolescent boys lately. They don't need to get off their duffs and hit the library any more when all they have to do is log on to The Pilot.

None 3 years, 3 months ago

Thanks Pilot for presenting one of God's children in artistic form. Don't they still paint nudes in art classes? What is wrong with the human body presented in good taste. Has anyone seen the reality show Survivor on one of those remote islands with "ladies and gentlemen" running around with little left to ones imagination? Suggestion: turn-of-your-flat screen, it can be too revealing in Hi-Def on Saturday mornings during children's programming!

jboy 3 years, 3 months ago

First it seems that most folks biggest argument that the picture is fine in it's entirety is that it's art. So I ask, does a highly paid photographer who takes pictures of hard-core pornography not consider their work to be art also? Yea, it's art, but that doesn't hold water in posting it.

Secondly, people are mad because a fuss was made about this photo to begin with. So let me ask this, when I choose a movie to watch at the theater, it carries a rating based on it's language content, violence, nudity, and adult content true? When I watch non-cable TV, I'm not going to see full-frontal nudity or topless nudity, save the costume malfunction a few years back. (And note, that made a big fuss with all kinds of apologies and fines.) When I watch Cable or dish TV, I'm going to have a fair opportunity to censor the rating of the show that I'm watching true? So why do we think this website had any less duty than to censor, if no more than at least not posting it front and center, the topless photo?

Is She Pretty? Yes Is She an Adult? Yes Is She Educated? Yes Is it Art? Yes

IS SHE NAKED? Yes, and that's the only one that mattered.

So as a viewer of this site, having no fore-warning of adult content on this site, it would have been only decent of the editors to either crop the photo as a non-adult content shot, or relinquish it behind a warning link for it's content.

There is no reason for us to get mad at each other over differing opinions, we are not in Washington. It is simply a matter that some have different opinions, morals, etc... But we each have a right to our choices. And my opinion is because as a reader, I had no choice to not be confronted with the photo yesterday (from now on, I'll know adult content might be on the Pilot's site), that is simply put what I think was wrong.

MorganHawk 3 years, 3 months ago

To all of you making negative comments about the lovely Beth:

Bethany is the most amazing, smart, funny girl I have ever met. Stop roasting her. She made a decision to pose for the magazine, as did all of the other wives of sports players. Its a shame that she just happens to be from a judgmental, sheltered and most importantly lame town that cant handle a little skin. Get over yourselves. Love you Beth! You go girl!!

MikeNC 3 years, 3 months ago

The article has nothing but positive comments about Beth. She is not only beautiful, but smart and seems to make people happy just to be in her presence. We are fortunate that Beth and husband stayed in our community. I think I see some jealous folks making some of these comments. All the problems we face in community, nation and world....and this nice bright girl gets this kind of negative feedback. BUT...am also glad to see the positive folks weigh in as well.

blondie 3 years, 3 months ago

i think that beth dempsey is a disgrace to moore county, she is a mother not a want to be model. she should be ashamed of herself.she needs to quit diplaying herself as a model and be taking care of her kid.

poncho 3 years, 3 months ago

Well said, Blondie...she is a mother n should act like one, this is something that young, single women do, not a married, "want -to -be- model" mother, and she isn't that young, as a matter of fact, check her out with no make up. Pushing 30 is a tad too old to start trying to be a model. Any woman could have make-up and hair done by the pros and look beautiful, even if they looked ugly before the make-up. Not saying that she is ugly, she isn't..she looks like an average "pushing 30" mom. But, that's her business, the problem I have is that the Pilot choose to plaster the photo on the front page, or even anywhere in the paper. And if she actually does have a public job teaching or otherwise, she should be fired as result of her actions, happens all the time. Why risk ur profession over something so stupid.

poncho 3 years, 3 months ago

Oh and by the way, I am a married man, not a jealous woman, and ur right, Blondie, she should take care of her kid and spend less time on getting her butt painted, oh wait, maybe Sara Palin lent her one of her babysitters, lol, that's another one that should spend more time with her kids, if u had them, why let someone else rear them? We all need some "our time" but kids grow up fast and before u know it, they r grown up and gone, that's why we spend all the time we can with ours.

weteachers2 3 years, 3 months ago

Let's not overlook the fact that The Pilot gives free copies of this newspaper to our schools! This soft porn graces the front page while you have to dig to find the Honor Roll Lists in the Public Records section along with the felons.. What message does this communicate to our youth about academic acheivement?

commonsense77 3 years, 3 months ago

The pilot has violated the rules set forth by the local American Taliban. She should have had a ḥijāb painted on. The local Ayatollahs are throwing stones... Forget United States of Offended we live in the Islamic Republic States of Offended on the American Continent.

fwm2 3 years, 3 months ago

to commonsense77:

That is a little extreme... as a journalist, I am a staunch proponent of the First Amendment...but not just the freedom of press part either but also the freedom of speech part.....Why can't people disagree and debate on a civil level without letting emotions get involved along with name calling and labeling....because all it does then is end up as a middle school insult fest.

"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

--(first said) by Ewelyn Beatrice Hall, later made famous by Voltaire

commonsense77 3 years, 3 months ago

fwm2, thanks for your opinion sorry you don't have a sense of humor. You proved the point exactly, We are a nation so easily offended.

As you hold yourself out as journalist you might know that François-Marie Arouet (penname: Voltaire, b.1694 d.1778) was dead 90 years BEFORE Evelyn (not Ewelyn) Beatrice Hall (b. 1868) who is attributed to your quote was born. She used the quote in her biography of Voltaire.

Ironically Voltaire used Satire to criticize the catholic dogma and the institution of the French Government

apblue 3 years, 3 months ago

to whoever said she is a teacher.... false, she is not a teacher. she is an educational psychologist.

secondly to the person who said she should be "ashamed of herself" and that she needs to "take care of her child," i think YOU are the one who should be ashamed of yourself for assuming that just because she posed for a picture YOU don't approve of that she is not a good mother. you obviously do not know beth or any of her family. they are amazing and wonderful people. if she wants to pose for a picture, that has no bearing whatsoever on her child. if you want something to complain about, look somewhere else please. there are far more pressing issues out there to campaign for.

fwm2 3 years, 3 months ago

commonsense:

I know what u were saying, I caught the over-exaggeration and sarcasm you used to make your point...I do have a sense of humor... and I am a big fan of Oscar Wilde...as far a attribution of the actual quote in question it is still up for debate...see the link below

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_said_I_may_not_agree_with_what_you_say_but_I_will_defend_to_the_death_your_right_to_say_it

Furthermore...I never said, nor did I mean to imply that it did not originate from Voltaire...but did he ever put it in those exact words, or did the translation of his quote equate to those exact words....that is the question that is unsolved.

Another question I have for you, is does a one-legged duck swim in a circle?

The answer to the later question is the same answer to this question: Has this debate now become debased, languishing on through pure mudslinging and highfalutin, pseudo-intellectual arbitrary arguments from a majority of the parties on one side...and arguments based on mostly emotion and personal values/beliefs on the other?

jcinaberdeen 3 years, 3 months ago

I am a woman and I am not really offended, just somewhat surprised that this was in The Pilot. Wondering how much production costs will go up once this paper has to be delivered in black plastic with only the subscriber's address showing? Hmmm...

On a side note- I will be personally holding auditions for local, hot, young men to be painted by none other than myself and shown on the front page. My painting skills are nowhere near the featured artist's work who appears on this young lady, but I'm POSITIVE my skills will be much better by the time I get to the 15th or 16th applicant.

Interested auditionees should bring themselves, a good attitude, and preferably some double-sided tape. The chances of you winning the appearing shot are increased by the longer and stronger the piece of tape needs to be....Just saying....Hey, it's art!!!! :-) Don't get offended!!

commonsense77 3 years, 3 months ago

fwm2,

You said and I quote:

"--(first said) by Ewelyn Beatrice Hall, later made famous by Voltaire"

That clearly says that Voltaire made it famous after Hall. Also her name was Evelyn not Ewelyn. As a journalist you might want to check facts. You cut and pasted from answers.com. I would suggest that the quality of journalism in this country has led to the level of discourse. We still have "journalist" Obama wasn't born in the US.

fwm2 3 years, 3 months ago

commonsense77:

I don't feel the need to fact check comments, most everyone knows this medium and actual "news stories" are 2 totally different beasts... so that was a sophomoric insult. In fact, I am a multiple award winning journalist...I did not cut and paste...but did use a site to make verify the exact wording of the quote & then linked it to my second comment. So I am not hiding behind the fact that I used WikiAnswers.com (not answers.com) as a source for the quote and the dispute over its origins.

since u wish to harp on it , I reproduced some source content supporting my stance:

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Voltaire - this is a simple source from Wikiquote

http://www.classroomtools.com/voltaire.htm - This is a link to an in depth study done by a student posted on ClasroomTools.com..click and read for yourself to see I have a valid argument.

Now that I proved this point I will proceed.

Quite frankly, ur "know-it-all" brashness amuses me, as does the fact that u are taking this so personal when u are the one that said the people of this country are so easily offended.... I also find it interesting that u chose to nitpick the typos and argue with me over a technicality....

I will say it again; Voltaire's beliefs were in line with the quote in question, but judging from the vast majority of sources I found, it is a fairly given consensus that Hall summarized Voltaire's feelings on this subject by coining the actually quote as I worded it.

However, like so many people in this day & age, u lack foresight. Thus u missed my whole point & insteadopted to throw mud, rather than engage in an intellectual debate....as is evidenced by the tone and content in ur correspondences...

U failed to even address any of the points I made in my posts other than those concerning the issue of "who said" that blasted quote.

Who even cares really? The quote itself is what I wanted to get across to U...Also ur last sentence is unintelligible to me. Are you saying: 1. That we have journalists that still propose Obama was not born in the US; OR 2: That Obama, the journalist, was not born in the US & he is still president. Or 3: something else?

In all earnestness though, I do truly and most sincerely apologize for making such an egregious error in my misspelling of Hall's first name. This was immensely embarrassing for me and I deeply bemoan the erroneous nature of my comment's content... (oh yeah...and if u believe that I got a bridge I'd like to sell u....believe me it's a steal of a deal)

Then, u have the audacity to tell me I might want to check my facts before I make a post...is that right?

Well in concluding, I will I tell u this: Next time u should not be so hasty when choosing to get caught up in a stone-skimming contest with someone, lest you find yourself over-matched, out-classed, and in over ur head.

Riprock 3 years, 3 months ago

I find it enlightening that there are 64 comments about the Beth Dempsey photo but only one about the school attendance lines that will affect far more children for far longer than the SI photo.

As for the "low-down, shameful and pathetic" Pilot, thanks from all the guys out there!

CSmithson 3 years, 3 months ago

Riprock,

Great point. Our school system budget exceeds $100 million, but beyond a few parents concerned about losing a school program or getting redistricted, nobody seems to be keeping an eye on what our Board of Education is doing.

Their decisions can and will have a much greater impact on our children, our community, and our economy than some picture in Sports Illustrated, but few seem to care. Perhaps that's why the board has been able to get away with so many poor choices over the years.

ranndino 3 years, 3 months ago

The small town, close minded mentality of bdavis and other whiners on here is what's killing this country and preventing it from achieving progress. Your priorities are all upside down. While you've spent an enormous amount of time and energy complaining about a picture of a beautiful woman covered in paint to such a degree that if you weren't told she was naked you wouldn't even know you praise our young people for going into the military where they get sent to some country they know nothing about to maim and kill people they've never met. Somehow violence is not only accepted, but praised while extremely classy, professional photography of a beautiful young woman is worthy of scorn.

Also, anyone who has called this soft core porn has absolutely no clue what they're talking about. This is about as far from any kind of porn as it gets. I pity the children that have to grow up under your parenting and supervision. They're going to have major problems in life because of their parents twisted priorities and absolute inability to deal with reality. You people should go look at your daughter's Facebook photos, if you think that you've been somehow able to protect them from any kind of sexual imagery. I can guarantee you that seeing a picture like this one is the least sexual of what they've been exposed to. This is art, regardless of whether you're so close minded that you're unable to recognize it as such. You would probably have a heart attack if you saw what kind of extremely hard core porn your daughters have been exposed to and are emulating with their male and female friends.

I can also tell you from experience that girls who come from families of extremely uptight, moronic parents like you are the ones who become completely wild and out of control so keep deceiving yourselves. Girls that come from open minded families are at peace with their sexuality and don't feel the need to go against what their parents have taught them.

citizen 3 years, 3 months ago

@ ranndino Wow, quite the rant. I'm sure that your tirade against the close-minded, whining morons with all their twisted parenting skills will help them get their priorities straight now. And thanks for imparting this wisdom with such compassionate language.

josephew 3 years, 3 months ago

Great The Pilot has moved into the 21 century.Thanks

poncho 3 years, 3 months ago

colesue, I know the family you are refering to, and yes, that parent did actually allow underage drinkng at their house, although he "took the keys of each teens car, so there would be no driving while intoxicated" he was commiting a crime, buying booze for minors, and yep, he did get his front treeth knocked out as well as a broken nose, after giving another mans daughter booze. Good for him, he deserved it. It takes a community to rear a child, everyone needs to help with the neighborhood children, I personally help out all I can...if I see a kid messing up, I do call them out on it. Example, a kid driving reckless, if I see it, I have a talk with them as well as inform the parent. And want others to do the same for my kid, please inform me if you see my kid making mistakes, thats what its all about. This is way off the subject, I know, but back to the painted pic in the pilot, I think its inappropiate

TheManning 3 years, 3 months ago

Bdavis and company,

I think that you have way too much time on your hands to spend this much of it focusing on this article and laying judgment on Mrs. Dempsey. I have been a friend of Beth's for many years and she has remained one of the most driven people I know. She is a fantastic Mother, Wife, and Person. She comes from a tremendous family that instilled in her strong faith and stronger morals and in her 26 years she has accomplished much more than most of her peers will in a life time. This picture is much more tasteful than many ads in the Sunday paper and certainly more flattering. Mrs. Dempsey had a baby just about a year ago and was asked months later, to pose in a world renowned sports magazine which should be a testament her hard work and inspiring to all women.

kjwhauling 3 years, 3 months ago

This is some very exciting conversation lol its almost better than the hole fight between NBC late nite TV...LMAO

NCgirl 3 years, 3 months ago

WOW, the energy spent writing these comments about that girl's photo is amazing!!! Although, that's what blogs are all about....."He Said, She Said". OR, in this case, maybe it's..."She Said, & then She Said, again".

My only comment about the 'photo' is, I wish I looked that good in a bikini OR that good without a bikini (whichever)!

phstresident 3 years, 3 months ago

Beautiful young woman, who is by all accounts of those who actually know her, a wonderful wife and mother. Congrats on the selection to be in SI and please let me know if you have a sister!

jessicamh 3 years, 3 months ago

hah you crazy adults who think so negatively of this photo. you know that your children get on your computer at night && look up all the porn they can && then delete the browsing history && do a system restore right? hahaha think about that versus this photo. you cant see her private parts so what the big deal?

Hortiphile 3 years, 3 months ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

ladylane 3 years, 3 months ago

One reader stated they will spend their money on sports illustrated do they not have a swim suit issue? It's OK because she's young and pretty. I'm sure that's one of the problems the body does change after time so don't be jealous. If you needed the money and could do it you would. If she has it let her flaunt it. Mothers look good too.

jr27356 3 years, 3 months ago

i dont see a problem with it , she is not nude ,she has a layer of paint on

moderatemike 3 years, 2 months ago

30,000 children will die of starvation today. That's something to complain about.

None 3 years, 2 months ago

So what happened to my "eye candy" comment for old folks? Pilot censorship?

newstime 3 years, 2 months ago

This just will bring more sex offenders & rape. If u think it's art, put it in the entertainment page then. Front page should cover the most important news. And yes there are children who read newspapers especially if they have to cut out an article and write a report for their english or language arts class!

peterprints 3 years, 2 months ago

Remember the movie "An American President" when US President Michael Douglas orders a retalitory cruise missle attack on the Libyian Defense ministry? While his underlings are contemplating the political plusses, the President (Michael Douglas) reminds them that in 15 minutes all the night janitors in the building will be killed. Folks, there are serious issues to be faced and the issue of Sports Illustrated isn't one of them. When the story first appeared, The Pilot received a lot of comments pro and con which is fine. After all this time the story, however, is still on their website because they want you to keep focusing on this "hot nipple (excuse me) hot button issue" which builds their advertising image to their sponsors. Move on, Guys...this is what news media has become...inflame the people, give them an opportunity to comment and then sell their e-mail addresses to all the folks that created the problem in the first place. Wait a minute...isn't that called Capitalism?

samogilvie 3 years, 2 months ago

Though a bit taken aback by all the comments here, I thought it important to say that I think Mrs. Dempsey has many fine attributes and is every bit the All-American, girl-next-door that many of us find wonderfully appealing. When meeting the public in her part-time job in Blowing Rock a few years ago, she was quick to praise her home community and spoke of her desire to return there one day. It is rare to find a young woman with her combination of intelligence, high moral standards, personality, humility and physical attractiveness, and any region should be proud to have such a fine ambassador. I commend her parents and all the people in your area that played a role in her development for a job well done.

Sam Ogilvie, Wilkesboro, North Carolina

ASU88 3 years, 2 months ago

I think Sherman Williams or Benjiman Moore should sponser her on a world wide tour! I bet that she didn't even need a primer coat!

runorbike 3 years, 2 months ago

Ok Pilot, this is OLD news, please remove the article from the website. Talk about beating a dead horse.

SI Swimsuit Issue Features Local Woman

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