Okay, Okay. I’ll Calm Down.
Sep 2 2008 | Comments 6
I have to admit to a little scheudenfraude this weekend when I heard about Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol (not a cleanser) getting preg at 17. I mean, after all the Republican blather about abstinence-only education, and trying to destroy funding for sex ed and sex-positive organizations, I thought, Serves her right. Fucking hypocrite. I was all ready for the Democratic attack machine to go full-throttle, and then:
He kind of snapped at me!
He’s taking the high road and I was ready to roll in the mud. Okay. Sorry, Sen. Obama. I know you’re right.
liz | 11:04 AM | Uncategorized
Dear Liz:
No Judgment intended, but it appears your blog has become more about the indoctrination of the liberal democratic agenda, alternative life styles, and issues completely unrelated to mental health than anything else. Personally that is quite fine with me. I think you should always write about what you feel passionate for. But why call it a mental health blog anymore? Believe it or not those with mental health disorders come in all colors, creeds, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, and from a very broad political spectrum. Going after someone’s child for political falter is pretty cheap journalism in my opinion. Whether vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s 17 year old daughter gets pregnant or Dick Chaney’s daughter is a lesbian is somehow relevant to their ability to lead this country is about as petty as it comes in political circles. Of course you would ignore and cast off Obama attending a racist church and hanging out with known terrorist as non-relevant? Seems to me like this blog has become just another whipping post for the far left and has little to do with mental health issues at all. Anywise, that’s my opinion and view on what’s being done here journalistically. I’m sure there will be a crowd of angry dissenters that will back you up every step of the way. But you are losing readers that had hoped for a more balanced approach to mental health issues.
Yours Truly
Stan
Just to link this topic back to mental health. This reminds me of a speech I read just today
http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/MichaelCostaspeech_001.pdf, which talked about ad hominem attacks.
For more info in the guy who read that speech, try here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Costa_(politician)
Might add a bit of context.
Stan,
I think it’s great to see Liz talk about other things. It gives me a chance to know her as someone other than a Person with a Mental Illness. One of the more distressing things about having a mental illness is the way it can gobble up your life, overshadowing all else. Personally, I’m finding that now that I feel better I am talking and thinking about other things besides therapy, meds, symptoms, etc., etc.
Just my take on it. I always enjoy your postings, by the way.
As for Sarah Palin: I find myself wondering what kind of mother is willing to subject her pregnant, unmarried 17-year old child (and boy, she really does look YOUNG!) to the scrutiny of national (and probably international) media for political gain. I shouldn’t even know this girl’s name. But I do. I know way more than I want to and I know I’ll be knowing more. And, while someone in office has the leverage to protect their child (I’m thinking both Republicans as well as the Dem presidents here), a person in a national campaign does not. I’m not even sure they should have, since the whole point of a campaign is for the voters to vet the candidates.
I’m quite disturbed, not by the child’s pregnancy, but by her mother’s willingness to expose the personal business of a minor to such public scrutiny. This was totally unnecessary.
I agree with Sen. Obama that Sarah Palin’s daughter being pregnant is unfortunate, but their business. What this has all obscured, though, is why Palin would get on a plane after her water started to leak in Texas and fly eight hours, including a stop over and then drive another 50 min. just to deliver at some clinic in Alaska. If this is true as reported, it makes no sense and seriously calls in to question her judgement. So now she is going to leave her four-month-old special needs infant to go campaigning, and marry her daughter off to a guy who doesn’t want to get married or have children (so the child won’t be illegitimate?) My personal suspicion is that this is a smokescreen about the rumors about her son’s birth, but time will tell.
@Lisa: While I can appreciate your inability to understand why Sarah Palin did what she did, lets keep in mind this was her 5th child. I think she had more than enough experience in the birthing process and how she handles it better than anyone else. Had her decisions led to an actual rather than potential problem, I think you’d have a leg to stand on. Secondly, I don’t recall reading anywhere that Bristol’s fiance didn’t want to get married nor have children. The family reports that the two were already planning to wed. So on that statement I have to call BS unless you care to share your sources.
@Stan: I partly agree with you; however, I think Sherry makes a good point. I would personally stop reading if Liz’s blog became 100% mental illness discussion 100% of the time. As a reader, however, I do appreciate you presenting your thoughts respectfully.
Last but not least… @Liz: I, too, had to laugh at the apparent hipocracy; however, as a parent myself I know all too well that as my children get older they are going to follow their own beliefs and them differing from mine in no way suggests a lack of conviction of my own.
Take Care!
I have to admit that Obama’s been running a rather classy campaign while McCain has been trying to drag this thing down into the mud and laughing about it at every chance. How’s that speak to a person’s character?
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