Inaugural Post

So, this blog came about after countless sessions of back-and-forth commenting and posting between The Single Mom and The Hipster on Facebook – both lyric battles and serious social/political debates. While trying to decide what to post first, I remembered I had yet to respond to one of Hipster’s comments. It began when I posted this, after Sarah Palin resigned:

Dear Sarah Palin,
People aren't as disappointed with your decision as you expected. We never thought you were qualified in the first place. Also, please buy a dictionary. Those words don't mean what you think they do.
Sincerely, America

Also - ALIVE fish "go with the flow" too. Only salmon swim upstream, ya dink.

Hipster’s response:

I think you're just upset that Sarah Palin has never had an abortion, she's very attractive and her husband's not a sissy. Ha! Seriously, what are you all so upset about with her? She's not your governor and she's not your vice president. (Obama and Biden won, remember?) In fact, she's actually a female and a mother who's accomplished quite a lot in a predominantly male environment without having wealthy and well connected relatives open doors for her. I would think true feminists could admire that on some level, even if the New York Times doesn't say it's a good idea. Ha!

So, here I go:

As a feminist, I don’t agree with someone simply because they possess a set of ovaries. Is a feminist any woman who can succeed while simultaneously raising a family? No. That is a byproduct of feminism. A feminist is someone who wants to change society so that all women can succeed while raising a family, or not raising a family. A feminist is someone who wants men and women to be on equal footing. Just because she's a woman does not mean she's a feminist, nor do I look to her as one.

Sarah Palin isn’t my governor or my vice president. Am I supposed to like her because she lost the election? She wanted to be my vice-president, and she positions herself as the 2012 republican candidate for president. The fact that she wants to hold the highest office in this country, and simultaneously deny equal rights to a great deal of its citizens, angers me. What she stands for angers me. Being the leader of this country, to me, should be about ensuring equality and rights to all, even those you disagree with. She has made it pretty damn clear she only cares about the rights of select groups of people.

I know you were joking in your first sentence, but I still feel the need to respond. Sarah Palin hasn’t had an abortion, and I respect that. She made the decision that was best for her. She defends it, and I defend her choice because it is just that – a choice. Why should she be allowed to take away my right to choose, simply because I wouldn’t make the same decision she did?

Palin supported, and continues to support, a 1998 amendment to the Alaska constitution banning marriage for same-sex couples. As governor, she refused to officially acknowledge “National Coming Out Day.” However, "Alaska Taiwan Friendship Week," "Christian Heritage Week," and "Biomedical Technician Week," all received official proclamations. She supported a ballot vote to deny benefits to the same-sex partners of public employees, because “honoring the family structure is that important." Just so long as long as your family looks like hers.

I disagree with Palin on most issues. However, I don't advocate taking away her rights or denying her rights because of that discord. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said in return.

I just now realized how long this post is. Since it’s the first on this site, I’ll put it to bed. Coming soon: Palin's views and policies regarding rape victims, sexism, racism, “real americans,” and ethics violations. - The Single Mom