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For Life

I used to think that I was socially moderate—not liberal. Sometimes I even suspected that I had more of a tendency towards more conservative values. When Barack Obama emerged I supported him because he was different and I trusted him despite my distrustful nature and a general feeling of indifference towards politics. I can thank Sarah Palin for giving me a shove into the next phase of my political maturation and helping me to realize definitively that what I am in my heart is liberal. Contrary to what an Ohio Clinton Puma said on the floor of the RNC, I’m not a one issue voter. I’m not offended and appalled by Sarah Palin because I’m so narrow minded as to judge her on one issue. I’m an ALL issues voter. And in my opinion Sarah Palin upholds at least four major political beliefs and values on a scale that could have an impact on my life if she were to become Vice President of the United States—one malignant brown spot away from the presidency. I was raised by Charismatic Catholic parents and taught that the road to salvation was non negotiable. When I was 12 I enrolled in a pro-life group through my church. At 17 I registered as a republican and in my first years of college my parents would pick me up in the city to make sure I came home to vote on one issue- abortion. As a side note I once hastily ran for president of my class and when asked what I stood for I said I was against the death penalty. So at least I was consistent: I cared for life. Which is more than what I can say for most conservatives. Including this spectre of a modern hardworking woman, Gov. Sarah Palin. I don’t understand women that believe that it should be law that other women ultimately have no choice over their own bodies. What is the difference of breaking through a glass ceiling if our bodies remain slaves to the overwhelmingly Old, White, Men who long to legislate this control. It’s more than heartbreaking that women who rise to power have to either shed all vestiges of being womanly on the outside or else in Sarah’s case on the inside. Her views are that of a man, and not a reasonable man but an insecure, angry, fearful man. Sarah is: Against abortion in all cases including rape and incest She believes in capital punishment She is against gun control She is against educating youth on safe sex and Supports creationism in schools. I have yet to hear someone tell me why it is ok to fight for the life of a zygote but discard the life of a youth or adult that has violated laws that we ourselves created. Why? I don’t know when life begins and I don’t know if hardened criminals are capable of rehabilitation. I do know that enforcing more and more laws and abandoning more people in the process of enforcing these laws is a road to the end of the world. Maybe that’s where people like Sarah have their gaze fixed. Maybe it’s all about reaching judgment day as a righteous individual. Maybe they truly believe in a gate to Heaven where they can tally up who they saved and who they held accountable and at that glorious point be bestowed the rewards of Heaven. But then isn’t that just like the people who do it for their 72 virgins?
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Teresa (not verified) on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 18:44
I totally respect the point of view that opposes the death penalty and abortion. But does it make sense that a murder or rapist has more legal rights than an innocent fetus? In some locations, it is illegal to harm sea turtle eggs. Does that make sense? The same people who defend a woman's right to choose abortion don't equally defend that woman's right to wear a fur coat. And what if that woman wants to abort based on the baby's sex?

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