When Palin Says Country First, She Means It!
There’s been a lot of debate over Sarah Palin and whether she can “do it all” as a Vice Presidential mom. It’s become a hot topic over the last couple of days, but it’s nothing we haven’t heard before. My wife works and she has had this same discussion with other moms many times. Being the soft-spoken, politically-correct Democrat that I am, I tend to keep my mouth shut regarding the subject. But I do have my own opinion and after seeing Sarah’s speech I was inspired to write this little post.
Being raised in a Christian household, I was taught the Bible has the answer to any situation you can face. While it may not always give you the exact answer, through prayer and studying there’s enough to get you on the right path.
Here’s a post from gotquestions.org regarding women in the workplace. I heard a similar response in a family ministry Bible study my wife and I attended a couple of years ago:
Whether or not a woman should work outside the home is a frequent question. The Bible does have instructions regarding a woman’s role. In Titus 2:3-4, Paul gives these instructions as to how a young married woman is to be trained by older women: “…train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the Word of God.” In this passage, the Bible is clear that when children are in the picture, that is where the young woman’s responsibility lies. The older women are to teach the younger women and to live lives that glorify God. Keeping these responsibilities in mind, the older woman’s time can be spent at the Lord’s leading and her discretion.
Proverbs 31 speaks of “A wife of noble character.” Starting at verse 11, the writer praises this woman as one who does everything in her power to care for her family. She works hard to keep her house and her family in order. Verses 16, 18, 24, and 25 show that she is so industrious that she also moonlights with a cottage industry that provides additional income for her family. This woman’s motivation is important in that her business activities were the means to an end, not an end in themselves. She was providing for her family, not furthering her career, using her degree, or working to keep up with the Joneses. Her employment was only a sidebar to her true calling—the stewardship of her husband, children, and home.
The Bible nowhere forbids a woman from working outside the home. However, the Bible does teach what a woman’s priorities are to be. If working outside the home causes a woman to neglect her children and husband, then it is wrong for that woman to work outside the home. If a Christian woman can work outside the home and still provide a loving, caring environment for her children and husband, then it is perfectly acceptable for a woman to work outside the home.
Is this a double standard when it comes to men/women in the workplace? Most would probably say yes, but traditionally women have been the ones holding the home together. As a Christian Conservative the family has to take the above explanation into consideration. Women have made some major strides in our society and her accomplishments should not be ignored. But I wonder how much time she had to really talk to them considering McCain’s fast-paced selection process.
Parenting is a hard job and it can take a lot out of you. Much has been said about her daughter and much to everyone’s dismay Christian girls can become pregnant also. As a parent you can teach your kids what to do, but it’s up to them to make their own decisions when you’re not around. Palin seems to have accomplished a lot with five kids, which in my opinion makes her a remarkable woman. But at the same time, I’m not surprised by the media reaction and it should have been expected that all of this would happen. She allowed John McCain to place her family in this position and that is a judgment call that I do question. Can a Vice Presidential Religious Right Christian Conservative mom adhere to the above Bible passage? Is taking into consideration her having a pregnant daughter and special needs child sexist? Is this type of thinking outdated and irrelevant? Remember, this is not your average job. This is the second most powerful position in the country. If we don’t ask how it will affect her performance, who will?
I think what bothers me the most is that Republicans make Democrats out to be immoral baby-killing, unpatriotic soldier-hating, lazy ass hippies who want to rob the rich to give to the poor. The reality is that both sides have issues and fall within the realm of hypocrisy. Republicans are pro-life, yet are willing to cut social programs that help the families and babies once they’re born. Democrats want to raise taxes on large companies, forgetting that they’ll only outsource the jobs and save money for the CEOs by laying off the working class people. And its funny when John Kerry was running for President, being a war veteran wasn’t enough. But for some strange reason, it is now.
I love this country and I’m all for making the lives of people around me better, but my main priority is “Family First”. I guess in the end, it’s really a family decision. If they can make it happen, then kudos to them. But I know that if my family felt my goals in life would get in the way of me being a father, then it’s my duty to put those dreams and the country on hold.
What do you think?
September 4th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Perhaps only people without children, or whose children have grown and are no longer at home, should be allowed to run for high office. Hillary Clinton would have been perfect in this sense: she had the parenting experience, but no longer had child care obligations. Obama has young children at home — so much for “Family First”. This is one reason why it’s expected that older, experienced, people run for the top leadership positions. The empty-nesters have more time.
I agree that both parties seem to be full of crap when it comes to economic promises. The so-called fiscally conservative Republicans have borrowed the country into deep debt that will take generations to climb out of, but the Democrats are promising tax cuts and tax credits for the “middle class” and paying for it by taxing the rich and companies. The companies move (and take jobs with them) and the rich find tax shelters. Besides, there’s a reason we tax the middle class: that’s where the real money is.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:28 am
yagottaloveit, thanks for your comment. You have a point about Obama, but at least he’s had experience with having to manage a family from Washington. Last night Palin made a smart comment about the role religion played in the lives of the people she served. I’m just stating what that role should be.
You’re right about Clinton. But people tend to not question men and fatherhood as much as they do mothers. It’s like there’s lower expectation from us or something. I feel when you look at it from a Biblical standpoint, the expectations can be set and the family can work it out from there. Having it all can be done, but not at the expense of your kids. My wife was telling me about an interview with Michelle Obama on Oprah where she talked about Barack’s dedication to his girls. If the family is okay with the way things are working, then great.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Great post Theo! I won’t speak towards Sarah Palin because I don’t know her personal relationship with Christ but I do know MILLIONS of Americans talk the talk but don’t even stand to walk the walk when it comes to Christianity or Christ-like beliefs. I believe somewhere around 70% of American say they believe in God and around 60% of Americans identify themselves as Christian. Yet, we allow and encourage all types of immoral mediums (physical and otherwise) to come into our worlds every day; myself included. In Ephesians, Paul said we’re not just wrestling with flesh and blood but principalities and powers. We, as a country, allow our lusts, our wants, and things that aren’t really important to become the focus of our lives. At one point, our country at least did a good job of showing a good face, but we’ve become much more laissez fare and PC about accepting all different types. Much of those types aren’t in line with God’s will.
I think Sarah will do well in her position assuming the Republicans win, but as we all do, her party will shape and augment what is moral around her career choice instead of vice versa.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Thanks Darrell. It was tough putting this together because I didn’t want to question her relationship also. The purpose was to tell what I’ve learned and to present it to the Repubs who are quick to throw religion in the face of the Dems.
All these terms and labels we use are really getting on my nerves. Just yesterday I heard someone use the term Progressive Christian. We are a country of labels. That’s what led me to write this post.
http://www.theotalks.net/2008/07/are-you-black-or-african-american
But last night Palin showed her toughness and it’s time for Obama to go on the policy attack.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I don’t understand how the republicans are so much more christian because they oppose gay marriage and abortions but are down to go to war and kill anybody and if you say otherwise your un-American.
There is a double standard with men and women totally so lets get that out of the way.
If that were Hillary and she still had young kids the republicans would rip her apart for not putting “family first” and for her daughter being pregnant.
And am I the only one who thinks they’re pimping the baby? Everytime they mention the baby it’s brought up that she has down syndrome or its how the baby has special needs. It kills me to see the kid used as a tool.
I’m so sick of political games.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
TheDad, that’s for the comment. I said the same thing last night about the baby! Palin in her speech “reached out” to parents with special needs children, promising to be a “friend in the White House”.
She forgot to tell them it would take tax dollars to do that and Republicans don’t believe in social services programs. And sadly after the war the U.S. won’t have anymore money to create those programs. Leaving the parents to adhere to Republican values and pull themselves up by the bootstraps.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
This whole espisode points to the 2 sets of rules between black and white.This woman is unqualified, undeserving and unworthy of high office. Unqualified, because she has no interest in major news isues,ie, the war in Iraq. Undesserving, she was part ofa qroup willing to part from the USA and make Alaska a seperate country, undeserving, daughter knocked upped,leaving her special needs child for chance, and rumors of cheating on her husband, the husband with a trak record that includes a dui.She is rumored to have cheated on her husband. Now ask, what if she were black, or her grandbaby father, black, if she were black, she would not be running, and if her grand baby,s daddy was black, she would quickly become pro choice. There is no problem with her gender, just with her