Mariah Carey gets recycled engagement ring. So what?

The Mirror is reporting that Mariah Carey -- newly engaged to actor Nick Cannon -- is sporting what looks to be the very same ring he gave to his former fiance, model Selita Banks. See it here. So far, everyone from Perez Hilton to every other celeb gossip blogger has cried, "Tacky!" But quite frankly, it's really rather eco and in good taste. People infuse way too much sentimentality in a diamond ring, which is really just a symbol. The Rage says bravo to Mariah for being secure enough to accept a beautiful ring that may have been worn on someone else's finger. (It's not like it's a thong, people.) In a way, it's her acceptance of Cannon's past and that's both mature and more valuable than any amount of carats.

FYI: The average price of an engagement ring jumped to $3,200 in 2007, up 16% from $2,750 in 2006 -- according to IDEX (the International Diamond Exchange, which did alter its study to include Internet purchases for the first time.)

Photo: Fox Broadcasting