Misconceptions

I have to admit, I have spent a lot of time over the past few hours reading some of the comments posted to the blog since the piece aired on CNN last night. Sadly enough, I'm not altogether shocked. This election season has been passionate and heated from the beginning and the comments regarding Governor Sarah Palin have been proof of that. But I have to tell you, as a stay-at-home mom of two brilliant girls, it has rocked me to the core to see the hate that has been thrown our way. Several of the remarks have lambasted Governor Palin for HER hateful speech and rhetoric... all the while denegrating my God, my beliefs, my children, my sanity and my intellect. I have also been labeled a hypocrite which, above all else, I find highly offensive. So, on behalf of Tami and THOUSANDS of moms in this great nation who share the same views as me, I would like to attempt to dispel the misconceptions...

First of all, a good majority of the comments I've seen have targeted us as Christian women. And I have to say, based on my observations, that some of you may be justified in those attacks. You see, the term "Christian" means "little Christ" and there are thousands of people in our country who confess to be "Christians" and yet do not conduct themselves accordingly. I, too, am appalled by the rampant hypocrisy and judgmental nature of some in the church today. Jesus said that people would know us by our LOVE and I do think we've lost some of that compassion. Just as there are those who support Obama who may not have conducted themselves in a manner befitting their candidate, there are those supporting McCain/Palin who have not acted accordingly as well. I, in no way, condone the comment "Off with his head" or the like... but after reading the disgustingly graphic obscenities lacing the comment boards here, I can't help but wonder if any off-color remarks could have been made at any Obama rallies either. It seems that we are all so quick to judge and hurl insults at the opposing "team" and, you're right, that is not in line with Jesus' teachings of love and acceptance. However, I do believe that we, as Christ-followers, are compelled to stand up and defend His honor and His name and to do so with great clarity and conviction.

Another comment I have seen repeated throughout the blog is that the Christian women featured on the CNN piece are gold-diggers, fat, lazy, etc. That stay-at-home moms have lost touch with "reality". I beg to differ. I have chosen to be a stay-at-home mom because that is what's BEST for my family. I am blessed to have a husband who works hard to support our family. True, we have had to make compromises such as living in a modest home, driving used cars, not eating out as much as we'd like, but for us it works. I am able to volunteer at my daughters' school, care for my home as a haven of comfort for my family and be here when my girls step off the bus. This is a great debate amongst women - whether to stay home or to work in support of their family. I do not begrudge another mom the right she has in making a decision based on what is best for HER family. I honor those who have TWO full-time jobs - a career outside the home and the job of parenting inside the home. And I would appreciate the same respect of my decisions in return. My mother worked throughout the majority of my childhood and I did not ever feel neglected or abandoned. We struggled paycheck to paycheck - she sewed my clothes, bought generic food items, "vacation" was driving to Grandma and Grandpa's house, crammed in the back of the station wagon, eating homemade cheese sandwiches... I have not been raised in the cozy and complacent lap of luxury. So I can empathize with those who have struggled in their decision-making process of working inside or outside of the home. Of course, there are those who have taken both mindsets to extremes - workaholic parents who have not been home to tuck their children into bed for weeks on end and those who have sheltered their children from any and every outside influence in order to "protect" them from the world - neither of which, in my opinion, is beneficial to the child. Jesus calls us to be "in the world and not of it". I have not been insulated from our culture and outside influences. I participate fully in the world around me. And yet I hold dear the rock-solid, unshakeable beliefs upon which I base every decision I make, every step I take - all I do, whether in word or in deed, is based upon the inerrant Word of God and the principles held within those sacred pages. Call it naive, call me a sheep, call me misinformed... but I am convinced that it is TRUTH and it holds for me all the tools necessary for life, love, joy and peace.

I know I have not mentioned much in this particular post about Gov. Sarah Palin and my support of her candidacy because I wanted to, first and foremost, attempt to defend my beliefs (and hers as well) against the insults which have been so readily dispensed. This blog was created as a place where those of like-mindedness can gather to show support for the candidate of our choice and encourage each other in the process. Those who have chosen to lash out with blistering attacks have not weakened our resolve or blurred our focus. I am convinced that we, as adults, CAN participate in a debate over the issues surrounding this election with honesty and candor without attacking each other as human beings. I look forward to discussing the specific issues in future posts and welcome any and all feedback, be it positive or negative. We truly want what's best for our great nation and it is our belief that Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin are key to our future success.