I've never subscribed to ANY political party. But if I were to, the Republican party would not be high up on mai list. I don't identify with their general sensibilities or views of society and economic hierarchy. However, I greatly appreciate what Sarah Palin has done (vastly inadvertent) for women in politics. Thank you Sarah.
Ronald Reagan, Strom Thurmond, George W. Bush, George Washington, the list goes on and on for men in politics with reprehensible behavior. Men in politics represent the noble, the greedy, the detestable, and the (nearly) righteous. Truly the spectrum of men in politics is wider than women. Therefore, men are seen as multi-dimensional figures. Of course some of them are bad, of course some of them are ugly, of course some of them will make mistakes, and make bad choices, and force the country into turmoil. Because even though that is part of their character's capacity, so is the other extreme for doing good.
Women in politics aren't seen the same way to the same extent. Our most notable women are Clinton, Pelosi, Chisholm, and Rice. Lesser known politicians are Maxine Waters and C. Delores Tucker. But for the most part (nothing is total of course), women in the history of politics have been respectable do-gooders. This is a nice legacy to uphold. But I am constantly defending Palin. Not because I agree with her book banning, wolf aerial hunting, victims pay for forensic rape kits, charging Alaskan tax-payers to foot the bill for her daughters to see the world, pulling strings to get her in-laws unjustly hired and fired antics. But because she is one more woman sculpting the national, political view. One more woman to crack a ceiling. One more woman to add to the face of women in politics. She has shaped an idea of what women can be in American politics, at this point, for good or bad isn't that important.
Though I'm SURE I will never subscribe to any political party in my life (save, perhaps the Nunya Party*) I have to give Palin her props, just for existing. I 'love' her ideology even less than I 'love' the Constitution (Problem with that? There isn't a dayum thing you can do about it, I'm not going anywhere, and frankly its none of your business). It's none of your business how a person votes AND if they choose to vote or abstain from voting one and all. But I defiantly hope Palin's accomplishment is not as forgotten as those of Geraldine Ferraro.
*http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/51282-nunya-party
Congrats for the achievement that, in my opinion, many Americans are unable or unwilling to achieve. That is an open mind based on right and wrong not right and left. Although I don't agree with your theory of women in politics being more noble than men I like that you can evaluate one person based on more than whether or not you agree or disagree with them. I think politics and the accompanying power and prestige corrupts many people without regard to gender. As you said, males dominant modern politics, so there is definitely more corrupt males than females in Congress and state legislatures but they is probably about equal corruption if put into perspective. Examples of corrupt pinheads in politics of both genders are Congressional leaders Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. Also, Sen. Robert Byrd was a supporter and member of the KKK in his younger days and continues to show racist attitudes to this day. Back in the first part of the 20th century though, the KKK was a major part of the Democrat party so Byrd is really just a normal Democrat. Most Democrats that would be over 90 years old were probably big KKK supporters. Anyway, the American people need to vote these buffoons in Congress out and elect good and honest people. Unfortunately, Americans are too stupid to let many politicians who are not scumbags get elected to Congress or the Presidency. They just keep electing the corrupt career politicians back into office. Teddy Kennedy would be a prime example of this phenomena.
I agree, I think that typically it isn't that women are more noble in politics then men, I believe it's that women are more punished for their failures than men. Women don't fail up, like many men do.
Though I certainly am not a fan of Sarah Palin, and don't believe that her personal actions or political views have aided women's liberation, I do believe that just her presence adds to the cannon.
A little girl who wants to be a politician should not have to be a liberal or a leftest if she doesn't want to be. We as a nation should not have an image of "women in politics" but judge each individual on their own merit. So the more women we have making moves(positive or negative) the closer we are to achieving a level playing field where we can focus on the actions and intentions of politicians and not their gender.
Good stuff.
Love-Health-Awareness-Wealth
Mjh
I understand and agree with most of your blog. I do have a question to be sure I understood. You said "I 'love' her ideology even less than I 'love' the Constitution" Does this mean you do not really like the constitution? Do you mind explaining the reasoning behind this... I promise I am not trying to pick a fight, I am just curious.
There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic.~- Anais Nin
People want to denigrate the Bible because they think its fictional, irrelevant, or can't be proven. I think that the constitution is fictional, and hypocritical. The constitution has failed to recognize and practice many of its statues since its inception, making it untrustworthy. I don't believe that since something is written down, I'm protected. Cuz that hasn't been the case. It also ALLOWS great injustices to prevail, like how, when, and where people are allowed to engage in adult activities. People hold the constitution to be some infallible text. People act like I can't look upon the constitution unfavorably. Telling me to leave the country cuz I voice disapproval of the constitution is like that "Christian" pastor going online perpetrating an ignorant atheist, then coming back to minister to his alter ego. Its hypocritical. If you put all your faith in something (other than spiritual) that's wrong, and its warping your view of life. IT'S JUST A PIECE OF TEXT. It's just a set of laws (some which permit individual states to do horrible things) that a group of people (majority of whom just happen to have been notorious bigots) made up. People worship the constitution and make it seem like I must too. The constitution did not invent freedom or even grant freedom. People act as if you are going against the word of freedom if you question it. My freedom comes from my humanity, ultimately people's worship of the constitution seems to justify the idea the U.S. is better than other countries because the U.S. has the constitution. For the long of it, keep your eyes out for an upcoming constitution blog...
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http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/mai
Peace & Blessings
I look forward to your upcoming blog, your ideas are fresh.
Always with my one question, you said the "constitution has failed to recognize and practice many of its statues since its inception, making it untrustworthy. " isn't this more a people problem perverting the intentions of the constitution which was originally to secure the rights and freedoms of people and prevent the government from going all control freaks on the people's freedom. It is after all just a text on paper, can't fail or recognize anything really.
I do see what you are saying though, people need to wake and get tback to the humanity of it all.
There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic.~- Anais Nin
Whispers awnesty thank you for your encouragement, its appreciated and truly refreshing.
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http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/mai
Peace & Blessings
I LOVE Sarah Palin!!! I am SOOOO excited because I'm going to actually SEE her LIVE and go to a TALK by her next month!!!! EEEK! I totally can't wait!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D
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