[Rhodes22-list] political - sort of

[Herb Parsons]

Why does that add to the drama? Actually, I think it exemplifies EXACTLY 
what she stands for.

I'm the father of a daughter that was in much the same situation, 16, 
pregnant, unmarried. Do I feel that I somehow failed as a parent? Not 
really. At some emotional level I probably felt that, but in reality I 
knew that all of my children failed to meet my standards of what they 
should do in some areas (hell, I fail in that myself), and far far 
exceeded them in others.

Katie did both.

She continued with school (in a different school) while she had her 
baby. I held him in my arms as she gave her valedictorian speech. One of 
her goals in her speech (with the help and enthusiastic encouragement 
from her older sisters) was to see if she could make me cry (a good 
cry). She did.

FWIW, my child married the baby's father, now has another beautiful 
daughter with him, and life goes on. We love that child as much as we 
love the other grandchildren our kids have given us.  All parents can 
really do is their very best, send the kids on their way, and pray for 
them. I firmly believe that as I watch my girls grow, I'll seem them 
make mistakes, bad judgement, and just flat out do some things wrong. At 
the same time, I believe that each one of them will make better 
decisions overall than I, and be better women than I was a man. If they 
do, I'll feel I succeeded.

Here's the facts in Palin's case. She raised a family, and did her best 
to impart her family values on to them. That's what all good parents do.

She personally believes abortion is wrong. She stood by her beliefs when 
she became pregnant with a downs baby, and decided not to abort the child.

Now her daughter has disappointed her in some of her own choices, but 
not in keeping the child. Hooray for the daughter, but why would the 
choices of a 16/17 year old daughter be "political fodder"? Because 
there are those that will use any issue as political fodder when they 
want to tear down others.

I think it says a lot about that person, and little about the candidate. 
And yes, I'm including the author who is salivating over this as being 
"better than the soaps". These are real people, and her daughter has 
nothing to do with the election.

But, I'm not surprised at the sentiment....

john Belanger wrote:
> and now to ad even more drama, her daughter (17)is pregnant. who's the father? this is better than the soaps!!
> john b
> s/v 1969 venture 21
>
>
> --- On Mon, 9/1/08, stan <stan at rhodes22.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> From: stan <stan at rhodes22.com>
>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] political - sort of
>> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Date: Monday, September 1, 2008, 3:00 PM
>> If I knew they wanted a state beauty contest winner I would
>> have offered Rose who was Mrs. Virginia in the Mrs. America
>> finals back in 2000BC so has lots more experience plus would
>> make John the younger. 
>>
>> I just don't get any political respect - Hillary
>> ignored my Hail Mary call on 4 and 10 midway through the
>> game and lost being a contender and now we are going to have
>> Mrs. congeniality a heart beat away - but what the hell,
>> it's a step in the right direction from our current
>> pres. and vp.....I agree, you've got to love this
>> country.    
>>
>> ss
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