Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times has a brilliant article about tonite’s American Idol finale. She points out the cultural divide between Adam Lambert’s seemingly unambiguous homosexuality and Kris Allen’s worship leading ways. “Glambert” hails from San Diego, while Kris Allen’s trumpets his downhome Arkansas roots. Adam likes to rawk, while Kris turns rap songs into sensitive ballads. These Idol finalists should be engaged in a pitched battle, representing their divergent constituencies. But as roommates beyond the show, they seem to have a genuine appreciation of each others gifts and talents. Powers points out how a painted fingernail has become an unlikely sign of solidarity, a bridge between Christians and the gay community.

Kris and Adam represent the next generation that resist the urge to enlist in the culture war. They are subtly reframing the face of faith and homosexuality, defying the old stereotypes, and rewriting the script about how we should respond to the other. While only one of them will be crowned as the new American Idol, both have modeled a different way of winning–through civility, talent and respect.  I can truly cheer for both contestants tonite--how about you?