Bang Bang You're Wed
I had decided on Friday that I didn't need to write anything about Sarah Palin; not only did her biography speak for itself but better writers and more analytical thinkers than I am have done the job thoroughly.But then the story continued. I thought long and hard. Any of us might find herself in the position of having a teen-aged child dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. That happens. I thought about the amount of compassion and support that such a situation would call for. I knew that if I were in that situation, I'd surely put my own ambitions on hold and decline a most tempting invitation to pursue a new job so that I, as a mother, could provide that compassion and support. I'd choose not to let the world -- literally, the world -- know of my daughter's or son's difficult situation.
I'd been concerned about Sarah Palin's views ever since the announcement of her candidacy on Friday. There were a lot of problems, each of which might warrant an individual blog post. I didn't take the bait. I'd leave that to the deeper thinkers and the better writers.
But then came this, direct from Ms. Palin herself:
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family," they added.
Sarah, listen to yourself. "The young man she will marry." She's seventeen years old, for crying out loud. Give her a break. Isn't it enough that you've made Bristol's situation a topic for the pundits to exploit? Do you have to compound it by hauling out the shotgun (no matter what your views on gun control might be)?
I'd pretty much restrained myself from writing the above. Again, others were handling it very well. And then I read the following excerpted from this morning's New York Daily News:
Bristol Palin's pregnancy was an open secret back home
BY NANCY DILLON, VERONIKA BELANKAYA and TINA MOORE DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Tuesday, September 2nd 2008, 7:34 AM
Levi Johnston.
Bristol Palin.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
He's a superhunky bad-boy ice hockey player from cold country; she's a chestnut-haired beauty and popular high school senior.
Doe-eyed Bristol Palin, 17, and ruggedly handsome Levi Johnston, an 18-year-old self-described "f---in' redneck," have been dating a year, locals in Wasilla, Alaska told the Daily News.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Besides his hard play on the ice, Levi Johnston was also a bit of a hell-raiser off it - another reason Bristol may have been smitten.
State troopers popped Johnston last year for snagging some king salmon out of season in Moose Lake, records from Alaska wildlife enforcement show. He had to pay $370 bail.
On his MySpace
"I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing," he says on the site.
He also warns that if anyone messes with him, "I'll kick ass."
The Web site, before it was removed, appeared not to have been accessed for a year.
On it, he admits to having a girlfriend.
On the part where it asks about children, he wrote, "I don't want kids."
. . . . . . . . . . . .
And I needed to write.
Do we really want someone who is advocating her 17-year-old pregnant daughter marry this man (who may well have very fine qualities that no one has yet discovered) in the position of potentially making irreversible decisions for us?
I don't.
Comments
A woman - not a qualified person or a person who can stand up to the scrutiny - individually or as a family - because that is what our politics have become - family vs family, not person vs person...
Nonsense. I did time at a conservative Baptist junior high then went on to a Catholic high school (don't ask). The more pressure you apply to kids, the more enticing the opposite end of the spectrum is. Hence why Bristol is now carrying the child of an irresponsible self-proclaimed "f***in' redneck."
Ray
The point I was making, which you seem to have missed, is that I disagree with Sarah's decision to (1) Tell the nation and the world that her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant, (2) In the face of that situation, decide to run for national office rather than being there to support her daughter, and (3) Advocate that the daughter at 17 marry this young man who obviously lacks the maturity to make the deep commitment marriage and childraising entail. And I haven't even touched on the fact that Sarah's apparently decided to spend the next two months on the campaign trail away from her infant son . . . .
If you'll reread the post, you'll see it doesn't really support your comment. But thanks for visiting!
But you know what? My parents, they lost so much. I'm thankful my Dad drilled into my head about "not getting pregnant" even if he did freak me out because I wasn't even thinking about that (too early!). He was. Drilling it in, drill here, drill now. Karen's head. That's the spot. Don't get pregnant.
I think we'll have a better sense about SP after she speaks tonight but I feel like I know all I need to know. I will keep in mind she was chosen for the purposes of MARKETING and not because she was the most qualified.
And shucks, the "right" sold us on a War so maybe they'll be effective in selling this latest product.
Politically Depressed Love, *karendianne./ Living Life at LeeHaven
For the daughter's sake, I hope that this isn't a forced marriage. I did wonder if they were going to marry, why didn't they marry already?
Quite frankly, I'd probably be a hard nosed mother in this situation: you've decided to be an adult, so act like one and get an apartment, get the baby things together, etc. because you need some practice before that baby arrives.
I wish I had a blog. If I may comment to a couple of commenters:
re: the boyfriend being "clearly not ready or inclined for fatherhood" and "poor Bristol"
There is absolutely nothing to indicate that Brisol Palin is either mature, ready, or inclined for motherhood. Nor will birthing a child make her so. If the Republicans don't win, I put my money on Sarah & Todd adopting the wee one.
re: "snooping" into one's background"
I would not want that for myself either. I choose not to run for public office and thereby don't forfeit my wishes on that subject.
re: "not going the abortion route"
More than enough evidence that Sarah Palin is using her pregnant daughter in the spotlight. If McCain/Palin take office, our country will head in a backward direction such that women in some states have NO choice.
It's all about choices, and what little (truly) we do know about the choices Ms. Palin has made is disturbing.