Her.meneutics: Going Rogue: An American (Pro-)Life Woman

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« I Have a Confession to Make | Main | 'The Blind Side' Reaches Across Class and Race »

November 23, 2009

Going Rogue: An American (Pro-)Life Woman

The former vice presidential candidate promotes her new book alongside the pro-life cause.

Alicia Cohn

Since entering the national scene last fall as John McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin has attracted hefty media attention from friends and foes alike. Now her full-time job seems to be making media appearances promoting her newly released Going Rogue: An American Life. Last week she appeared in interviews with Barbara Walters and Oprah, criticized Newsweek's cover featuring her in running shorts, and even stopped by Montreat, North Carolina, for a dinner Sunday night with the Rev. Billy Graham.

Most media coverage has focused on speculation about Palin’s plans for 2012. Several interviewers have asked about her presidential aspirations. Palin told Walters that she wants to play a major part in politics in the future “if people will have me,” although she claims that the elections are not on her “radar screen.” Her claim has led many commentators to question her true motives. But instead of debating Palin’s merits as a political candidate, what if media outlets considered the good she is already doing as an advocate? With personal experience to back her up, Palin has the capacity to breathe new life into pro-life issues such as abortion, end-of-life care, and disability rights.

Palin told Oprah that she enjoys feeling less “handled” since giving up her political titles. She is at her best when focusing on specific issues, and is passionate when speaking about her children. Her descriptions of balancing full-time parenting and full-time politics are an important element of the book, and she talks about applying the lessons of motherhood to politics (to the point of “letting the mom come out” in debates). Throughout anecdotes (changing Trig’s diaper was the last thing she did before speaking at the Republican National Convention) and tougher episodes (two miscarriages, and her teenage daughter’s pregnancy), Palin emphasizes the value of human life, a belief she continues to articulate by way of her media platform.

Palin writes that when she found out she was pregnant with Trig, who would be her fifth child, she felt the pressure of her political responsibilities and understood how a woman could think of getting pregnant as a “problem.” Then she explains the power of right-to-life groups:

If not for those groups providing an affirming voice, it would be so easy to go along with what society wants women to believe: that it’s easier to end a pregnancy than to bring the baby into this world. Society has made women believe that they cannot do both — pursue career, or education, or anything else, and still carry a baby. Pro-life and pro-adoption groups affirm the power and strength of women. Even if it’s just a seed of faith the pro-child message plants in a parent’s mind, that bit of faith can grow.

That was before her doctor diagnosed her unborn child with Down syndrome. On Oprah, Palin admitted that the diagnosis scared her. Oprah asked Palin whether she considered abortion at that point. “Not so much a consideration but an understanding,” Palin said. “It also, though, really solidified my position that, yep, there are less-than-ideal circumstances in so many of our lives. It’s how we will react to those circumstances, how we will plow through them, and make the most of what we’ve been given.”

Palin, who briefly describes her conversion experience (at a youth Bible camp) and writes about the sense of purpose she felt upon entering politics, is matter-of-fact when stating her beliefs and quoting Scripture. I suspect the reason critics cannot accept that Palin doesn’t know what’s next for her is because she is waiting for God to fill her in. “I don’t know if this chapter is ending or just beginning, but You do, so I hand it all over to You again,” she writes at the end of the book.

Palin promised that her resignation as governor “wouldn’t be the end of my work to make a difference.” As she told Oprah, she doesn’t need a title to do that. None of us need a title to follow God, either, but I suppose a title can sometimes result along the way. Time will tell for Palin. Regardless of whether she ever runs for office again, I’d like to see her continue to use her national platform to speak out on the issues she has lived.

Alicia Cohn previously interned at Christianity Today magazine. She has written for Her.meneutics about Anne Graham Lotz, parental rights, journalists in North Korea, Juanita Bynum, the Breast Cancer Bible, and The Stoning of Soraya M.

Comments

Palin has the freedom to believe in what she believes in. The whole point of her book tour, her life is about promoting freedom. You have right to decide if you want an abortion for example. The difference here is that your freedom to decide would be taken away by the government. The point is either the government controls your life or you control your life. Sarah Palin is not the issue. The issue is freedom.

Harold: Freedom comes when we realize that God controls our lives.

I am a Christian woman pro-life Democrat. I believe that Sarah Palin would be a strong voice for the anti-abortion part of the pro-life movement. However, many of her conservative policies hang young poor women out to dry, and place them in situations where abortion seems like the only answer. They don't have political careers or supportive husbands to help them through. I believe that a true pro-life agenda supports the poor (and health care reform!), opposes both abortion and capital punishment, and acknowledges the value of end-of-life counseling. Sometimes we need to let go of life with dignity, rather than make tireless efforts to extend life indefinitely, which is akin to "playing God". Ms. Palin's ruthless and reckless (and untruthful) representation of end-of-life counseling as "death panels" instead of dignity for the elderly do not fit a holistic pro-life agenda. I am glad she chose to carry her baby, I am glad she promotes life in the womb, but until her policies in other areas change, she does not speak for all pro-lifers.

Calling Palin a moron is being too kind. She has a veneer but no depth. She hasn't a clue as to what is really going on.
May her god or any other God prevent her from ever becoming anything in any government. She is incapable of understanding economics. She hasn't a clue about health care all she cares about is her over bloated super conservative and restrictive religion that she thinks everyone should follow.
Not even she follows what she claims to be that which we should all be forced to believe in.
Go away Palin. You ran from your job in Alaska. How long would it take you to run away from any job given you in any administration.
You wouldn't last 5 days under the pressure Hillary Clinton is under each and every day.
Just go away and kill a moose..better than the Americans you would send to war.
Kilty

It is difficult to comprehend the negative comments regarding a fellow Christian who is (from my perspective) seeking to know and obey God with a very clear commitment to the person of Jesus. I suspect it is the same fear that the worldly elite have with someone who threatens their own personal agenda.

I am horrified by the treatment of Sarah Palin by those commenting to online articles about her. And doubly horrified to see the first comment to this article. I assume it is mostly believers who read Christianity Today. How can one attack an fellow believer in such a callous way?

The Sarah Palin haters prowl the internet seeking arenas to spew their vitriol. What has this woman ever done to deserve this treatment?

Based on as much of her life as I know from outside observance, I can find no explanation other than that Sarah, much like George Bush, is hated because of her belief in Jesus. I've never seen anyone respond more graciously than these two who have been under constant unrelenting irrational attack. The indwelling Spirit shines from them both; there is no human explanation for their strength and ability to withstand the abuse without becoming embittered.

I share Kitty's (comment 11/2409 3:42 PM) distress at the cruelty of some of the comments appearing here. Qute unseemly! But I understand how conservatives might be apalled at the what seems like (sorry, Kitty) Palin's dumbed-down approach to serious social issues. Articulate, positive, conservative and yes, Christian, voices would contribute much to the national dialoge. Where are they? To see the faith-perspective reduced to pep-rally slogans and sound-bites and an "issues lite" menu of predictable "mom & apple pie" topics.....well...one wonders if Democrats are funding her! Of course in the interests of full disclosure, I should admit that I hope she runs for 2012 because I think that would help Obama win a second term.

OK, here's the deal. It's easy to say bad things about Sarah Palin. She's an easy mark. But is it Christian? I read the transcript of Bishop Jakes on Larry King the other night and I liked it that he refused to be tricked into saying anything bad about anybody - including Sarah Palin. It shamed me a little. But really, we don't have anything to worry about. Sarah Palin has about as much chance of being president as Donny Osmond has winning Dancing With the Stars. What? Oh, no!

"Palin has the capacity to breathe new life into pro-life issues such as ... end-of-life care.... She is at her best when focusing on specific issues,..."

-- You've got to be kidding. Sarah Palin single-handedly created and actively pushed the most viciously false statement about health care reform of any politician involved. "Death panels," a concept wholly fabricated by Palin out of whole cloth, became a national joke. Her book is devoid of policy analysis. Can you even name any serious policy statements she's made "focusing on specific issues"?

I don't wish Palin ill. I feel about her like the rebbe in the musical Fiddler on the Roof felt about the Tsar. In the opening number, the rebbe was asked by a town's-person whether there was a "proper blessing for the Tsar." He replied: "May the Lord bless and keep the Tsar ... far away from us.

May the Lord bless and keep Sarah Palin ... far away from us!

Ad hominem attacks reveal more about the attacker than the one attacked. After the next three years of Obama, it may be that America will be hungering and thirsting after a leader with genuine character. Intelligence is important, and I think that Sarah Palin is quite intelligent actually, but character is essential. Without character and the discernment which usually accompanies it, intelligence is no guarantee against believing the stupidest things. My hope for Obama is that the weight of the office will bring him to his knees and have him confess that "this job is too much for me. Please God help me to be the leader that America needs." If this were to happen I believe that he could be one of America's greatest presidents, and I say that as one who believes that true conservative values are essentially Christian. If Obama were to become a genuine Christian and look to God for direction, leave Chicago Style politicking behind, I think that I could be supportive of his policies even if they did not quite conform to what I think best.

Does anyone here, I wonder, hail from Wasilla? From what I understand, numerous locals close to Sarah Palin's inner circle--not opponents but people who served on her campaign and her former administration as well as neighbors who grew up alongside her and sent their kids to school with hers--tell harrowing tales of exactly what kind of person she is. Allegations of all kinds of corruption as well as a vengeful, money-hungry, egomaniacal personality surround her. I realize that these accusations are not substantiated, but I believe where there's smoke, there's fire.

By their fruits you will know them. She talks the talk, as many politicians do, but look at the fruits. What, other than her pro-life policy and claim to be Christian, really represents the teachings of Christ?

After reading all these comments, I had to scroll back to the top of the page to make sure I was on the right site. By the title of this page, I am assuming those who comment here would claim to be Christian and for that reason I am shocked!

My opinion will not change the future. It will not change Sarah Palin’s decision to or not to run for President, regardless I can at least be honest enough to say that whether or not we love her, she is a forced to be reckoned with and she has changed the image of pro-life women, women in politics and the potential of the 'non-elite' in politics for ever.

FACT: She immerged as a confident, beautiful, intelligent woman in favor of preserving the lives of innocent babies, and she made the entire nation stop and listen. I believe THAT is what this article is talking about. When last has the pro-life movement had such an audience or spokesperson?
FACT: She immerged in heels, skirts and highlights in a way that no woman in American politics on the national scale has ever done before. (Don’t believe me? Check out Hillary and Pelosi’s wardrobe). She is of a new generation that realizes that looks and brains can go hand in hand. Regardless of whether or not you agree with her message, why is that not seen as liberation for women?
FACT: She is not the same as previous politicians. She immerged on the scene not as a lawyer or a person padded and prodded by lobbyists and others. She immerged as a mom, a former mayor and governor. Since when do we give more trust to professional politicians and lawyers than to real-life people who want change in their national and local governments? She is mom to a soldier, mom to a single mother, mom to a disabled child – why can we simply give her the respect she deserves as someone who has allowed us to see that not only the ‘elite’ need run our states or governments?

I pray that as Christians we would learn to take the plank out of our own eye and despite differing political beliefs learn to love and respect people as Christ did.

I too, had to do a double take at the title of this blog when I started the read the harsh commentary on Sarah Palin. I guess its a good thing if a Christian Blog attracts all kinds of people...but in all honestly, the few times that I hop over here to read an article, I am always a little surprised by the comments that seem to be more on the liberal side of the fence. Of course, we have a right to get on ANY blog and make a comment...I"m just surprised that one titled Christianity Today would have a non-Christian audience. But I suppose that it good for an interesting debate. Back to Palin...I understand if you dont think she is up to a political job, or if you disagree with her stand on issues. But the venom that is thrown at her..wow. Its just a fact of life that one political party will sling mud at another, but it seems that sometimes people don't know what to say, so they just say - "She's stupid!" They jump on the bandwagon and repeat things that they've heard, or they begin to think that Tina Fey's portrayal was real! The previous commenter was right - the comments that are made tell more about the person commenting.

I agree that there isn't a justification for one Christian to make the type of personal attacks that several posters have made. It is one thing to disagree on policy. I suspect that I disagree with many of Palin's policies.

I would like to note, just for the record, that much more vicious things have been said on this site about Obama, also a brother in Christ. I am all for keeping the conversation civil and Christian, and hopefully keeping it open for people of diverse political opinions.

Obama - a brother in Christ?

Thank you all who posted your unchristian liberal hate posts.I'm shocked at how many of you have drunk the liberal kool aid and who believe whatever crap the liberal media feeds you. It has completely confirmed for me that this is not the form of "christianity" I am looking for. I'll move on and look for people who actually think for themselves.

Those who knock Sarah Palin do so out of emotion and not from facts; because if they know the facts they would not be able to criticize her. Her ACTIONS and results in Alaska speak louder than words as to her integrity!

Secondly, I have read the comments here and I must say with all conviction that, if you are "pro-death," how are you going to justify that before Jesus, who is LIFE!

Lastly, need I remind everyone that the god of this world is Satan! Every earthly government will fall in the endtime because their god is money. The proof of this can easily be seen because BOTH the Republican and Demacratic parties have destroyed this country out of greed!

Jesus and HIS Kingdom was, is, and always will be the issue!

I guess I am just an average American stay at home mom with 3 kids, live in a small town, some college (AA Degree + 155 credits), married 21 years to a husband who works hard and serves in the National Guard; what do I know about politics? I know that I love Sarah Palin!! She like me is first and foremost a Mom! I have always said it takes a MOM to run a country. Why a Mom? Have you ever tried to feed a family on a $10 dinner plan, bargin shop for a Homecoming dress for under $30, wrangle 3 kids 9 sheep 2 dogs 3 cats 1 Llama and 8 chickens? Mom's coach sports teams, deal with the bullies at school, lead the booster clubs at school, volunteer for community programs and church activities. We deal with unruly teenagers ( Talk to me like that again young man and I WILL take your bedroom off.), cook dinners, keep a clean home( ok there is dust and my bed is unmade) pay the bills and still have time for our husbands. We are running a small country called "Our Family". We do it with pride. We do not take any crap off of bullies or their parents, we resolve conflicts between kids and family members, deal with In-laws (that right there is a Noble Peace Prize)and love our country!! A mom is the perfect choice for President!
Sarah, keep up the good work and I hope one day to call you Mrs. President

Christine, Katelynn and Ace... well said.

After reading the comments above,I paused and prayed for
those who had bitter unchristian remarks.I do not approve
everything Palin does.But,as a woman of God I want Him to
control my tongue and my pen and my e-mail.

What disturbed me the most was the "liberalized" mind of
the christian women.Where have we failed to have such
women in the church?Where have I failed to touch a
christian woman's life?

Lord have mercy on me.Lord forgive me.

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