Braked Alaska
Since my husband works for a public policy think tank, most people would assume I know a lot about politics. Sadly, I don't.
I know how to conjugate Latin verbs and can solve a chemical equation. I know what a gerund is and can discuss the admirable (and not so admirable) character qualities of Captain John Smith. I can explain the process of mummification, have read the Code of Hammurabi, and have taught four children how to read. I can whip up dinner in five minutes and can do laundry in my sleep. But when it comes to current political events, I'm not always on top of things. I do read WORLD magazine, but usually I camp out on Andre Seu's articles rather than current events. My favorite news source is Tony's News by Osmosis, which is always entertaining but probably not always completely reliable. So, sadly, I'm not much of a political junkie. I'm not saying this is a good thing, but since I have 252 other things on my plate, it's just the way it is.
I do, however, know who is running for president and who the running mates are. When I heard that McCain had announced his running mate and that it was a woman, my gut reaction was, "Uh, oh. That can't be good." But almost immediately after that, I started to hear from so many people what a great pick this was. Apparently Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is one of the good guys. She's conservative, tough, and pro-life. Not only that, she's pretty. I like her. I really do. I especially like her pro-life stance. I like that she has boosted McCain's candidacy and I'm glad that he now has a fighting chance to win.
But, I also think my initial reaction was right on. I don't think Sarah Palin should be the Vice President of the United States. It's not because I think that the highest calling of a woman is to be a wife and mother. I think a woman's highest calling is the same as a man's: to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. The reason I don't think Sarah Palin should be the veep is that before she was asked to be on the ticket she was already a mother. Her calling was already decided.
It's not that she's not capable—obviously she is. I like Doug Wilson's illustration: you can use a screwdriver to hammer in a nail, but that's not what a screwdriver is for. Again, it's not that women aren't capable of leadership, but when God has called a woman to be a mother it should trump any other calling, even vice president.
Again, I don't know much about politics and I'm not completely on top of all the ins and outs. On election day, I'll be voting for McCain and Palin, hoping and praying that Obama doesn't win. And yet, there will be a persistent voice inside me whispering that if McCain wins, I will be taking Sarah Palin away from the people who need her the most—not the American people, but her children.
I know how to conjugate Latin verbs and can solve a chemical equation. I know what a gerund is and can discuss the admirable (and not so admirable) character qualities of Captain John Smith. I can explain the process of mummification, have read the Code of Hammurabi, and have taught four children how to read. I can whip up dinner in five minutes and can do laundry in my sleep. But when it comes to current political events, I'm not always on top of things. I do read WORLD magazine, but usually I camp out on Andre Seu's articles rather than current events. My favorite news source is Tony's News by Osmosis, which is always entertaining but probably not always completely reliable. So, sadly, I'm not much of a political junkie. I'm not saying this is a good thing, but since I have 252 other things on my plate, it's just the way it is.
I do, however, know who is running for president and who the running mates are. When I heard that McCain had announced his running mate and that it was a woman, my gut reaction was, "Uh, oh. That can't be good." But almost immediately after that, I started to hear from so many people what a great pick this was. Apparently Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is one of the good guys. She's conservative, tough, and pro-life. Not only that, she's pretty. I like her. I really do. I especially like her pro-life stance. I like that she has boosted McCain's candidacy and I'm glad that he now has a fighting chance to win.
But, I also think my initial reaction was right on. I don't think Sarah Palin should be the Vice President of the United States. It's not because I think that the highest calling of a woman is to be a wife and mother. I think a woman's highest calling is the same as a man's: to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. The reason I don't think Sarah Palin should be the veep is that before she was asked to be on the ticket she was already a mother. Her calling was already decided.
It's not that she's not capable—obviously she is. I like Doug Wilson's illustration: you can use a screwdriver to hammer in a nail, but that's not what a screwdriver is for. Again, it's not that women aren't capable of leadership, but when God has called a woman to be a mother it should trump any other calling, even vice president.Again, I don't know much about politics and I'm not completely on top of all the ins and outs. On election day, I'll be voting for McCain and Palin, hoping and praying that Obama doesn't win. And yet, there will be a persistent voice inside me whispering that if McCain wins, I will be taking Sarah Palin away from the people who need her the most—not the American people, but her children.
