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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
That Palin's daughter Bristol is pregnant is not troubling, and, as representatives from both parties have said, should be a private matter (were Republicans really saying this?).
What is troubling is the story (if true) of Sarah Palin's unbelievable irresponsibility in finishing a speech, flying from Texas to Arizona, and driving to a rural hospital to have baby Trig--all after her waters broke. Why was she even traveling from home in the first place? This is a large, wind-popped red flag.
(And I'm not saying I buy the conspiracy theory that Trig is really Bristol's son, that Sarah stuffed a pillow up her shirt or wore an expectant mother suit, etc. I am saying the story of Palin's jet-setting labor makes absolutely no sense, and if confirmed, should give us serious, long, long pause: If she can't even follow EVERY doctor's advice on the health of her own son, will she really care about a pesky lil' thing called the rule of law if she and McCain are elected?)
I have yet to come across a discussion of whether Palin can do a good job as a VP (and so, possible President), and a new mom of a child with challenges, and a mom whose young daughter is pregnant. I'm a father of 2 kids and know how much energy it takes to parent and work. I don't think I could be a good parent and give the attention and energy it takes to hold such high political office. Ms. Palin has a very full plate. What will she put second?
Sometimes on message boards it is hard to tell if something is satire or not, and it's late.
Could you please confirm if you are serious or not?
She's been the VP pick for only 4 days and she's ALREADY embarrassing her boss.
I genuinely feel sorry for her daughter. Poor girl, a week ago, she had her anonymity. Now not only does the whole country know her name, but they know she's pregnant. And she's going to be the Nanny for her disabled infant brother. AND she has to deal with her fears about motherhood and her own future while her mother is gadding about campaigning. That's way more than a seventeen year old girl should have to contend with all at once. A shotgun wedding is such a 1950's solution.
But while I have sympathy for Miss Palin, I'm feeling far less forgiving toward the adults invovled in this situation. Fine, Palin has kids, but ambition seems a lot stronger for her than motherhood, right now. She has two children at once who really need her right now.
As for McCain who was so eager to grab the spotlight away from Obama before all the folding chairs had even been put away in Denver by announcing his "bold" (cynical) VP choice of a politically unknown and seriously underqualified woman governor with no national political chops, let alone international gravitas and political views that are medieval. I hope he has an industrial strength headache, right now. But you wanted this spotlight, Senator McCain. So bask in it. Next winter as you watch President Obama make his inaugural address, just remember, you did this to yourself. Better luck vetting your NEXT veep choice.
I'd like to respect Sarah Palin's request that Bristol be given some privacy in this regard. However, there is no right to privacy spelled out in the Constitution; the Fourth Amendment only protects us against unwarranted search and seizure. In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court found an implied right to privacy, and this decision served as the basis for Roe v. Wade (which Palin and her party would like to see overturned!).
If Bristol is the daughter of a candidate that believes in abstinence-only sex education and doesn't believe in a Constitutional right to privacy, she and her shotgun wedding are fair game for scrutiny by the news media.
Sarah Palin opposes same-sex marriage as well. I don't expect conservative Christians to support LGBT rights, but they really should be teaching tolerance and forgiveness.
Back in 1990, my friend Rankin Fisher, a former Missionary Baptist minister, who also happens to be gay, commented, "No religion can condone homosexuality."
That may be, but no religion can condone sex outside of marriage, either. People are doing these things anyway! Who am I to pass judgment on another?
"All have sinned and all fall short of the glory of God," is how the apostle Paul put it.
Paul told his followers to bless their persecutors and not curse them (Romans 12:14), to care for their enemies by providing them with food and drink (12:20), and to pay their taxes and obey all earthly governments (13:1-7). He mentioned giving all his belongings to feed the hungry (I Corinthians 13:3), and taught giving to the person in need (Ephesians 4:23). He told his followers it was wrong to take their conflicts before non-Christian courts rather than before the saints. (I Corinthians 6:1)
Paul taught "it is good for a man not to touch a woman," i.e., it is best to be celibate, but because of prevailing immoralities, marriage is allowed. Divorce is permissible in the case of an unbeliever demanding separation. (I Corinthians 7)
"This is God's will--your sanctification, that you keep yourselves from sexual immorality, that each of you learn how to take his own wife in purity and honor, not in lustful passion like the gentiles who have no knowledge of God." (I Thessalonians 4:3-5)
Paul told his followers not to associate with sexually immoral people (I Corinthians 5:9-12, 6:15,18). He opposed homosexuality (Romans 1:24-27) and incest (I Corinthians 5:1). He taught that fornicators, idolaters, adulterers and robbers will not inherit the kingdom of God. (I Corinthians 6:9-10)
Paul condemned wickedness, immorality, depravity, greed, murder, quarreling, deceit, malignity, gossip, slander, insolence, pride (Romans 1:29-30), drunkenness, carousing, debauchery, jealousy (Romans 13:13), sensuality, magic arts, animosities, bad temper, selfishness, dissensions, envy (Galatians 5:19-21; greediness (Ephesians 4:19; Colossians 3:5), foul speech, anger, clamor, abusive language, malice (Ephesians 4:29-32), dishonesty (Colossians 3:13), materialism (I Timothy 6:6-11), conceit, avarice, boasting and treachery. (II Timothy 3:2-4)
Paul praised love, joy, peace, kindness, generosity, fidelity and gentleness (Galatians 5:22-23). He told his followers to conduct themselves with humility and gentleness (Ephesians 4:2), to speak to one another in psalms and hymns; to sing heartily and make music to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
Paul told the gentiles to train themselves for godliness, to practice self-control and lead upright, godly lives (Galatians 5:23; I Timothy 4:7; II Timothy 1:7; Titus 2:11-12). He told them to ALWAYS pray constantly. (I Thessalonians 5:17)
Paul wrote further that women should cover their heads while worshiping, and that long hair on males is dishonorable. (I Corinthians 11:5-14) According to Paul, Christian women are to dress modestly and prudently, and are not to be adorned with braided hair, gold or pearls or expensive clothes. (I Timothy 2:9)
My problem really isn't with Christians not being able to follow Jesus or Paul, but with the hypocrisy of saying "I believe," and then ignoring the rest of what their religion dictates when it suits them. Why not just be secular, like everyone else?
It's my contention all of us (Christians included!) really live in a secular society; one in which people merely pay lip service to religious ideals.
Again, Sarah and Bristol Palin (and Christians in general) are fair game for scrutiny by the news media.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
