My friend, Jenny sent in a written opinion to a blog called "
Women Against Palin". Her brother forwarded this opinion in an email to some friends. The wife of one friend responded, and it has snowballed from there. I have cut and pasted their emails in order below, so that the rest of you could read it and know how these 3 people feel, and hopefully get you all inspired and involved.
September 13, 2008 Jenny's opinion written to the blog
WomenAgainstPalin.blogspot.org :
"I'm appalled, I'm insulted, I'm disgusted, I'm livid and I am scared.
Simply because Sarah Palin and I share the same anatomical features, I'm supposed to swallow the white male political pill that she and I share the same views on the world order? Wrong! I won't disappoint the women who risked their lives before me to earn the right to vote and stand equal to men in this country by supporting this 'woman' who wishes to send our civil rights back to the days before women's suffrage. How can we allow her to be in a position to handle the nuclear codes when she's not even clear on the science behind evolution? How dare she be allowed to be in any political position to influence my daughters' rights to decisions about their bodies. I won't focus on her pregnant teen's situation (are you kidding me with that?) but censorship, banning books, firing librarians, religious zealousness, killing animals for sport, and exploiting her own children...this is not the role model I want for my children nor the representative of America I want visiting foreign leaders to fix the debacle left to fester by Bush. I can't believe it was just a few short months ago when the country was quivering with excitement over the possibility of an African American or a woman stepping up to lead our nation and now all I feel over the possibility of Sarah Palin being a heart beat away from the presidency is dread. I'm also angry that instead of celebrating this achievement on behalf of all women, our gender is now pitted against one another. Shame on you Sarah Palin for putting us in this position.
From: Jennifer ____ _____, age 35, mother of 2, Pasadena, California,
(PTA member and lipstick wearer, but not a hockey mom for sure)"
September 15, 2008 This response is from "pro-Palin lady", she doesn't want anyone to contact her so I'm keeping her identity annonymous. Jenny's brother, Jeff, forwarded the email above to a few friends. The wife of one of his friends responded. Here is the email from pro-Palin lady in response to Jenny's email:
"I'd like to respond to this opinion, if I may.
Sarah Palin represents me in nearly every way possible. I never expected to see someone who reflects my perspective, as both a woman and a citizen of this country, running for such an important office during my lifetime. To address a few of the thoughts expressed below, let me say that it is sad that some people think that a woman cannot run a country because she questions evolution. If evolution was scientifically conclusive, it would be known as 'The Law Of Evolution' not 'The Theory Of Evolution.' I am not uneducated, uninformed, nor a religious fanatic, as the pop media is so quick to label me. I am simply a person who is willing to think independently of current political correctness in evaluating the factual evidence.
As for the rights of our daughters to make decisions about their bodies, I am raising my children to understand that there are natural consequences to their decisions and behaviors. If my children choose to jump off of a ledge, they are also choosing to potentially break their legs. If my children chose to engage in sex, I want them to understand that each time they do, they are also choosing to possibly acquire a sexually transmitted disease and to potentially become parents. Their pleasure, recklessness or convenience does not give them the right to destroy a newly created life.
There should be no 'shame' for Sarah Palin's 'putting us in this position' of giving women (and men) a real choice in the election. I find that those who preach tolerance to others are often the most intolerant of someone who has a different opinion or perspective. I believe that people should be able to freely choose who they think best represents them and the way they would like to see our country governed. I would rather have a fair contest between different candidates, than have different versions of the same candidate.
By the way, I know exactly what you mean when you speak of a feeling of dread. I had a deep sense of it right up until the moment when Sarah Palin was introduced.
From: [pro-Palin lady name removed] age [removed], [more info removed], [city], CA
(PTA member and lipstick wearer, but not a hockey mom either)"
September 16, 2008 This email is from Jeff (Jenny's brother) and was forwarded to a few friends of his, Jenny, and mine (the snowball picks up some girth):
"So I forwarded Jenny's email to my friends, and one of my neo-con, fundamentalist friend's wife coughed up this hairball as a response. I forward it to show those who don't understand how McSame and Palin are now ahead in the polls what it is that has put them there.
I am afraid for this country as it has fallen under the sway of those who happily incorporate ignorance, fear, superstition and hate in the heart of secular government and politics - all the while calling it free thinking and tolerance.
I already wrote to inform her of her ignorance regarding what a theory is - I doubt she'll listen as she never has before and obviously thinks she's 'educated' in this area. I did find it bitterly amusing and ironic that she then uses the theory of gravity to try to make a point in her next paragraph.
Andy - can you get a spare room for us when you guys move to Switzerland?
Jeff
PS. should you wish to respond direct my friend's email is [pro-Palin lady and hubby's emails and names removed]"
September 16, 2008 Email from Jenny in response to above email from pro-Palin lady:
"Dear [pro-Palin lady's name removed],
Thank you for offering your perspective. I think, even if we do not agree on the issues, it's good to dialogue in order to better understand each other since we will have to work together eventually no matter who becomes president in order to repair our nation for our children's future.
To attain this goal I feel it necessary to respond to your opinion. First, I see we will never agree with regard to the matter of evolution. I am truly shocked by your denial of the scientific evidence that irrefutably proves its existence. Do you not believe dinosaurs once walked this earth? Do you deny the fossils found linking our species to that of the past? Do you visit museums and find the artifacts housed in them to be fake? Do you believe the greatest thinkers of our time, those educated in the real sciences, are frauds? You see, if your take on creation is based on a literal translation of that found in the bible, than any further discussion with you on this topic is moot. I will say, if in fact this is your position as it is Sarah Palin's, it has no place in our system of government nor in our public schools. If you want Palin to run for President of your church, fantastic! That's an appropriate platform to have if you want to be leader of a congregation of private citizens who solely believe in creationism.
See, that's what makes America great, you can choose to spend your private dollars on educating your children this way at a private institution. But neither should you nor Palin foist your religious opinions on all Americans nor seek to regulate or legislate in this area. We are at war with people who believe just as fervently as you that their religion is the only answer. You see, it is a slippery slope from your stance and Palin's views on 'God's will' to the very terrorists we are trying to eradicate.
Obviously, your religious views also skew your thoughts regarding abortion. As I said before, we live in a place right now where you can choose, as you would, not to have an abortion for you or your daughter. As you say, 'their pleasure, recklessness or convenience does not give them the right to destroy a newly created life.' I've never heard rape or incest described in this way, but again it is your choice. Do not presume to know better than I what I should choose to do for myself or my daughters. You, Palin, McCain, the government have no right criminalizing my choice. You don't want to, so don't, but don't legislate what other Americans can or cannot do. We have very different child rearing techniques. You seem to have a sink or swim approach leaving your kids with only the consequences of their actions without providing them any preventive precautions or arsenal of alternatives. I would never have left my child alone on a ledge where they could possibly break their legs in the first place!
This week, our economy is collapsing and our current administration could have taken steps to prevent it from happening. The people we elect to office need to be able to have a sound scientific understanding of economics and honestly, as admitted by McCain, neither he nor Palin have the brain power for it and we can't wait for someone to catch them up to speed. Palin left her tiny town of Wasilla in debt and even sold the jet she is so proud of for a loss at the Alaskan taxpayers' expense. You are right about one thing; I wrongly attributed shame to Plain. The real person who should be ashamed is McCain for making such an irresponsible and uneducated choice for V.P. I do want to thank you Ida for helping me get involved actively in the campaign to elect Obama and Biden. I'll be organizing a trip to Nevada for friends and family to register new voters and help undecided voters make the right choice. And [name removed], I’m going to let the tanning bed issue…rest (really?)."
September 16, 2008 Pro-Palin lady responds to Jeff:
"Jeff,
It seems like we have very different opinions and very different ways of expressing them. It's one thing to say you don't agree with my views, but your direct response to me and the second email you sent to others were both mean-spirited and intolerant. It's no wonder why people who have a more conservative opinion don't always feel free to share it openly. By the way, in the future, please do not give out my email address to people I don't even know and invite them to contact me.
Thanks, [pro-Palin lady]"
September 17, 2008 Jeff responds to pro-Palin lady:
"[pro-Palin lady],
I assumed since [your husband] had forwarded your email to all of us that you would be open to responses - since my sister, whose email YOU responded to was inviting and expecting responses such as yours. I'm puzzled as to why you'd have a problem with having something you've stated seemingly so strongly circulated for and commented on by a wider audience.
I'd suggest maybe if you're not comfortable with having your ideas discussed that you shouldn't put them out there? I think expression of your ideas is valuable in constructing a dialog about what's going on in this country - and thus I exposed them to a wider audience. There's too much at stake to let viewpoints like those you espoused in that email gain more sway - we've suffered enough as a result of that kind of thinking (and I firmly stand by my characterization of that kind of thinking as stated in my forward of your email) for the last 8 years. I'll tolerate your personal beliefs as long as they remain personal (even though I strongly disagree with them) and respect and defend your right to hold them as long as they cause no harm to others. Having them appear in government and having people adversely affected as a result merits no tolerance. Hiding behind the word tolerance to attempt to legitimize evangelical activities aimed at dictating personal morality based on narrow religious beliefs for an entire diverse population is disingenuous and cowardly. In fact your use of the word tolerance in this context is particularly inappropriate as you are the one forwarding the position that it is right to limit personal freedoms in order to force your own personal religious beliefs on an entire nation of people - that's not tolerance, it's the antithesis of tolerance. It's also completely contrary to the principles on which this country was founded. That's exactly the kind of thing that can't be tolerated in an egalitarian society.
I'm very uncomfortable with your statements regarding theories, as it appears you don't have an understanding of what a scientific theory is yet you make statements claiming knowledge of them, which you then use to support your other views. If you'd like to become more informed on scientific method, and the meaning of theory I'd be happy to talk about it with you and/or point you to resources which could correct some of your misunderstandings about them. But make no mistake, the theory of evolution isn't a guess, or pop science as you call it - it's an established scientific model describing the generation of life on this planet supported by voluminous, consistent, flawless evidence and analysis - more so with each passing day and discovery. I can also give you pointers to vast resources detailing this fact and debunking the few poorly constructed and flimsy attempts at creating doubt about the veracity of this scientific theory.
Sorry that you received unexpected responses and for any perceived personal offense.
I do not apologize for loathing the bald faced attempts to force fundamentalist Christianity (and the moral dictates thereof) down my throat and the throats of every other person in the U.S. I do not apologize for loathing the bald faced pandering evident in foisting such a backwards, dishonest, unintelligent, corrupt, narrow minded, petty, vindictive, uncouth, unaccomplished, vapid female candidate for Vice President upon us in a nakedly cynical attempt to trick women into voting for the Republican ticket simply because they have the ability to bear children in common with this yokel of a hockey mom and setting back the women's rights movement about 60 years thereby. I will oppose all such attempts vehemently, unabashedly and unapologetically whenever I encounter them - particularly when one who participates in such repugnant behavior is attempting to secure the highest seat of power for this country we all live in.
Jeff
PS. I am including all the people I forwarded your original email to on this one too as I figured they should continue to receive your thoughts in fairness to you. Please let me know if you wish to discontinue the circulation of your ideas for discussion and I will cease doing so."
It was the first and only time that I've been to Vegas and gone to bed before midnight, and having had only one beer. This was not a trip of leisure. We were all business. We woke up at 6am (another first for any Vegas trip), and managed to get showered and ready in an hour with only one bathroom and 2 towels between the three of us ladies. Impressive, no?
We left the Sienna Suites at 7:30am and headed to the park were we were going to meet other Obama supporters. Jenny remembered to bring clipboards for us. Thanks, Jenny!
We got our information packs and hung out for a short while. Here's one of the walls inside the office with the Obama artwork made by some children. Too bad these kids aren't old enough to vote. Our mission was to get people to vote early and give them information on the dates and locations for early voting. We also had literature, and cards for other people who might be interested in volunteering.
So we hit some neighborhoods on the outskirts of Las Vegas, about 6 or 7 miles from the strip. The houses we visited were either super spread out, or in tight cul-de-sac clusters. Most people weren't home, but when they were home there was always an interesting story to tell from our interaction with them.
Debby knocked on the door at the house above. She talked to the man who answered the door and as she was walking away, he handed her some trash and asked her to throw it away on her way out.
One of the houses we visited happened to be Penn Jillette's house (the illusionist/comedian). How cool is that! We rang the buzzer to be let into the gate, but no one answered.
It wasn't a fancy neighborhood, there was more gravely space between houses than there were houses. So it was unusual to see this compound style residence in the middle of the desert.
The food was alright. I had a tummy ache the whole rest of the night though.
All in all, we felt really good about the contribution we made. I don't know if we had any effect on the outcome of this election. I hope someone we talked to, or left literature for, found our efforts useful and try to find out more about the candidates and see that Obama really is the better choice for this country. And if they don't, fine.
