I’ve been bothered all day by the attacks leveled at Sarah Palin and her family. As I write this, I’m watching the Fox News guys nearly come to blows over her nomination. From the time I woke up this morning I heard about the Left Wing Bloggers and all their tricks. I’m pretty sure I belong on the right wing, and I don’t blog on politics, but I just have to say it: I applaud Sarah Palin. Here’s why.
I value authenticity.
Sarah Palin represents a woman who is changing the world she lives in. She is doing what she believes to be right. And yes, her daughter messed up. Her daughter didn’t live up to the standards they hold, and she is now pregnant. Now she has made a hard choice: to value life and family over convenience and reputation.
Should this have happened in a family committed to family values? Should Sarah Palin be able to lift up her head with a seventeen year old, pregnant daughter? Yes. Because authenticity, as we know, doesn’t mean that we are perfect. It doesn’t mean that we have every move of every day scheduled and planned according to an ideal. Rather, it means we have ideals to live up to, even if we fail once in awhile. It means that the underlying values of life and commitment trump the lesser values of convenience, or appearance. It means that even when we miss the target completely, we don’t turn around and start shooting wildly with no goal in sight.
Authenticity is what makes Sarah Palin able to stand proud before her country and say “We are not perfect, but we know how to do what is right even if it hurts.”
What freedom there is in realizing that missing the target does not disqualify us from the tournament. Like the Palins, we can pick ourselves up and begin making right choices. And like the Palins, we may find that there is a plan for us that is immeasurably more than we could have imagined. How great the Father’s love is, lavished on us.
Authentic.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:34 am
So true! And great speech last night, wouldn’t you say?
September 4th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
It was an amazing speech. There were so many good lines. My favorite was something like this: an eloquent speaker can inspire for a moment, but a lifetime of service can inspire a lifetime. And little Piper stole my heart. Such a cutie.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
But why did it have to go with a kick Obama in the head type speech too? It might be authentic but is that really to be encouraged?
September 4th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
[...] Marla on why she’s hurt by the [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I’m with Duncan. I think the media attention and the slating she got because of the whole daughter being pregnant thing is ridiculous, and makes me angry. But having listened to her speech - I have to say that it really grated on me, it felt more like she focused on slating Obama. That made me angry also.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Good point, Duncan and BK. I wrote my post before the speech, by the way, while I was watching the lead up. My comment, however, was made afterward. Which leads me to a humbling thought: never once while watching did I ponder whether RNC actions were good or bad for the kingdom. This is humbling on two levels. One, that I never even turned my thoughts in that direction to either agree or disagree with you when I want my every thought to be for the kingdom. I guess I am…human and distracted. And secondly, it is humbling when you realize that very little of what passes for politics COULD pass the kingdom test. Which is why I generally avoid the discussion.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
But you gotta admit that Piper is the most amazingly cute thing ever.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I thought the speech was excellent, in form and delivery. I enjoyed the humor. There is precious little humor in politics. She has energized the conservative base. However, I think McCain started that with his interview with Rick Warren. I saw a side of him that had previously not been in the public eye. I hope the convictions he stated in that interview remain throughout and after the campaign season.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I say, stuff Barack, Hillery, McCain and the rest. Let’s have like…Mr T or Arnie for US President…!! (I don’t think Jesus is going to run for President despite Shane Claiborne’s book)