Palin knows who she is

"If she goes to the White House, Sarah Palin might liberate women and men alike who yearn for authentic feminity and masculinity...."

Alaska Governor and Republican Vice-Presidential running mate Sarah Palin is dubbed Zamboni by Ellen Goodman in her column in today's Cumberland Times-News. Goodman applies the term disparagingly to symbolize Palin's effectiveness in wiping the Republican slate clean of party members' comments regarding working mothers. The best party line, though, quoted in Goodman's article, is Palin's own: "To any critics who say a woman can't think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I'd just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave."

Known for shaking up her own party, Palin didn't mince any words that time; and she surely seems to be shaking up the nation now as a political powerhouse headed for the White House.

She turns the liberal view on its head. Sarah Palin clearly can "think and work and carry a baby at the same time" -- we saw her do it on stage after delivering her blockbuster speech at the Republican convention -- and still be a woman. Her authenticity is appealing and attractive on levels rarely seen today.

The liberal left accuses her of contriving an alluring act: They say her unstylish eyeglasses and hair piled up carelessly or pulled back frumpily are blatant props to flaunt her latent sexualitty. They deride her genuine good looks and disrespect her attractiveness to men, who apparently find her to be beautiful. To women, she is a refreshing and real role model: Sarah Palin knows who she is; and her values are those of a massive population of women in our country who have repressed (or forgotten or denied) heir authentic innate qualities and exceptional contributions to society as women -- working or not, mothers or not -- under the oppression of extreme feminism and elitism.

If she goes to the White House, Sarah Palin might liberate women and men alike who yearn for authentic feminity and masculinity -- and the complementarity and mutual respect that come with them -- in our human relations. Could Palin's influence generate a renewal of civility in our society? Could she bring about a new feminism that treasures authentic feminity?

A Catholic News Service article published in the Catholic Review on September 4 quotes Palin as saying that she and her husband felt "privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives” in their consideration of her last pregnancy with a Down syndrome baby. The article notes that "more than 90 percent of women who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome choose to abort the child." Palin's decision to welcome her baby won her praise from Anchorage Archbishop Roger L. Schwietz, quoted as saying that Gov. Palin gives "public witness to the fact that every child is a gift."

The article continues: "Gov. Palin's pro-life credentials received another test when the fmaily disclosed Sept. 1 that 17-year-old daughter Bristol, who is unmarried, was five months pregnant and planned to marry the father of her child." Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life, is quoted as saying in a statement: "The Palin family is displaying courage and constancy...in welcoming this new life."

The CNS article notes that "Palin says she was baptized Catholic but has always attended nondemoninational Christian churches."

by Nancy E. Thoerig 09-13-08