September 2nd, 2008
I vote every year.
I’m the geek that was excited the first time I was old enough to register to vote. I’m still geeked about voting every single time the polls are open.
It’s my privlidge as a citizen of this country and I don’t take it lightly.
However, with that being said, I don’t get all political. I don’t follow much and I ask several people who are well versed in politics on both sides of the fence to explain to me why they are voting the way that they are and I make my decision that way.
And I’ve never talked about polotics on this blog, nor have I debated with anyone over a political candidate or issue.
I never planned on partaking in either however, I’m a bit stirred up over some things going on in this election.
The buzz on Twitter about the announcement of the VP candidate was exciting to follow. I never chimed in. I don’t. I’m not educated enough to talk about it. It would be like you having a battle of wits with an unarmed person.
What’s the point?
However, I have to speak up about something and I’m going to try and keep this as non-partisan as possible.
Palin’s daughter, her unwed, seventeen year old daughter is pregnant. Why are we judging a woman on this? Why are we judging her experience and intellect on this fact? Why are we judging HER based on the decisions that HER DAUGHTER made?
Some might say that she doesn’t have good parenting skills. Perhaps, but I don’t think that’s really the case.
Let me give you a little background on me.
I was raised in a two parent home of a middle class family. My mother is a nurse and my father a military officer. I had everything that I needed, alot that I wanted (except that ez bake oven, I never got one of those) and the instruction on life that every child should receive.
I was taught many things such as how to balance a check book, how to save money, how to budget, and most importantly, that I should not have sex until I was married. These things were ingrained in me. My parents did everything that they could to ensure that I was a contributing, functional member of society and could stand on my own two feet when I flew the coop at the age of 18.
Even though I knew, even though I was taught, even though they took the time to show me right from wrong, I decided, as most teenagers do, that I knew everything, my parents were stupid, and that I would live my life the way that I wanted to.
At 19, I was a single, unwed mother.
Did you get all that?
It didn’t matter what my parents taught me. It didn’t matter what the school system taught me about sex. The only thing that mattered was that I was living MY life the way I wanted to.
Period.
My father will tell you that he failed me as a parent. It pains me to hear him say that, I mean, my stomach falls to the floor everytime I think about it.
He didn’t fail me as a parent. He raised me the best way that he knew how, provided me with all the tools that I needed to live on my own and I made the decision to live my life differently.
I accept the ramifications 100% of all of the decisions that I made, but do not blame my father or my mother for the way that my life turned out.
So why are we judging Palin for her daughter making her own decisions? Why are we dragging this through the mud? And what bearing does this have on the election?
Before Palin is the Governor of Alaska.. before Palin is the VP candidate… Palin is a MOTHER.
And if you’re a mother, than you know that we worry about the decisions that our children will make. We hope that the examples that we’ve set will carry through and that the choices they make will reflect the influence that we’ve had on them.
I pray every day that my daughter will not make the mistakes that I do. But I also know that despite what I teach her, what she learns at school and at church, that the reality of it is, she could end up pregnant at the age of 17 or earlier.
I shutter at the thought.
But if she does, does that mean that I’m not able to do my job? Does it diminish my intellect? Am I suddenly less of a person than if she waits until she’s married and of age to have children?
Palin, like me, is a mother. In addition to her career, she’s faced with providing and mothering her children. I bet if you ask her, mothering is much harder than campaigning for the vice-presidency.
In all honesty, while I’ve seen the comments about how this announcement from the McCain camp will drive voters away and how he’s handed the presidency to Obama on a silver platter, I have to disagree.
For once, I’m taking notice. I’m researching. I’m learning more and more about a woman who is a lot like me.
For once, there’s a candidate that I can relate to.
And I have to wonder how many more people out there feel the same way?
Until next time…
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