"Annie Get Your Gun" in The White House?
Well, my classroom is set up, classes are underway, and I am ready to blog again. Sorry for any inconvenience to my subscribers. I'm ready, but I'm also worried. Many things have happened in the past few weeks that have pushed me to utter frustration. I sit at the computer to write and I just don't know where to start. For example, I have waited many years to see a woman candidate be nominated for this country's highest offices. I anxiously awaited the day, because I always thought that peace would be closer at hand if a woman were making the life or death decisions. I figured once the "macho" thing with all of its inherent testosterone was taken out of the equation, intelligent problem solving to settle differences would follow. Never in a million years however, did I expect that the first woman to reach this height would be a woman who felt comfortable leaning out of a helicopter with an automatic rifle in her arms shooting a wild animal who had to rely on its legs to get away.
Some people view this kind of thing as equality, but being equal to men was never the point for me. I think a woman leader shouldn't strive to be equal, but rather, to be better than the men who held the position before her. Of course, Sarah Palin is not running for President, but anyone who uses that to reassure themselves need only look at her and Senator Mc Cain together. She looks like his granddaughter and he looks like he's ready for the nearest rocking chair. Fact is, I don't want anyone to be a heartbeat away from the presidency who feels comfortable shooting anything, even if it is eaten afterwards, and if Palin and her running mate are elected (by the grace of the people, Sarah) she would be only a weak heartbeat away from that office. So... I worry. I worry about how many more young men and women will be sent by old men to far away places to give up their lives. I worry when I hear leaders refuse to even consider talking before sending troops to settle disputes. I worry that our selfish dependence on oil will drive us to ignore what really needs to be done to ensure a better world, or for that matter, any world, for our grandchildren. She refers to this war as "God's mission". What is this, the Middle Ages? She's sending her son off to war, and I am the one worrying. What's wrong with this picture?
For more on Enlightened Grandparenting visit Nona Nita's Nook
and click My Path Productions for ideas that support conscious living.
Some people view this kind of thing as equality, but being equal to men was never the point for me. I think a woman leader shouldn't strive to be equal, but rather, to be better than the men who held the position before her. Of course, Sarah Palin is not running for President, but anyone who uses that to reassure themselves need only look at her and Senator Mc Cain together. She looks like his granddaughter and he looks like he's ready for the nearest rocking chair. Fact is, I don't want anyone to be a heartbeat away from the presidency who feels comfortable shooting anything, even if it is eaten afterwards, and if Palin and her running mate are elected (by the grace of the people, Sarah) she would be only a weak heartbeat away from that office. So... I worry. I worry about how many more young men and women will be sent by old men to far away places to give up their lives. I worry when I hear leaders refuse to even consider talking before sending troops to settle disputes. I worry that our selfish dependence on oil will drive us to ignore what really needs to be done to ensure a better world, or for that matter, any world, for our grandchildren. She refers to this war as "God's mission". What is this, the Middle Ages? She's sending her son off to war, and I am the one worrying. What's wrong with this picture?
For more on Enlightened Grandparenting visit Nona Nita's Nook
and click My Path Productions for ideas that support conscious living.
Thank you. What I worry about, too, is her attitude toward women's choice. Who expected the first woman candidate for this public office would take us backward instead of forward?
Reply to this
It is very disappointing. What is really unbelievable is that there are people out there who believe that overturning Roe v Wade would end abortion, as if there were no abortion before Roe v Wade. Of course those are the same people who pretend that banning sex education and birth control would stop premarital sex and out of wedlock births. I would hope we know enough history to realize how ridiculous that argument is.
Reply to this
Well, Senator Biden thought that FDR was president in 1929 and that FDR went on television in 1929. FDR was not president in 1929 and there was no television in 1929. Talk about a heartbeat away...
Reply to this
Thanks for your comments. Glad to see you are still reading. I wasn't aware that Biden made those comments, but to tell you the truth, this doesn't bother me. My reasons for objecting to Palin as a possible future president has nothing to do with recall of historical events, but rather, all to do with the issues that she has vowed to support, or in some cases, not support. I am convinced that the time has come for us to elect officials that reach for the negotiation table, rather than the rifle; who are committed to fueling our future with renewable resources, rather than scouting out more oil that will only delay the inevitable; and who respect the right of each person to choose whether or not they want to bring a child into this tenuous world according to their own conscience. People wonder whether Obama and Biden will really be able to do these things if they got the opportunity to serve as president. We, of course don't know for sure, but I look at it this way: In a soccer game, you never make the goals you don't shoot for. Since the Obama, Biden team is the only team aiming for these goals, my choice is clear.
Reply to this