Once again, after criticizing Sarah Palin, I am forced into a rather uncomfortable position of defending her. I am, of course, referring to the inconceivably asinine blog posting by a one Faux Conservative Andrew Sullivan that I happen to read about over at Robert Stacy McCain’s blog. Now I will spare my readers a lowbrow attack of the man’s sexual preferences, I will leave that sort of nonsense to other people. However, I will bring up the fact that this man should be deported from our Country, as he does have a horrible drug habit.
Now to get to the part that I really want to write about —- As some of you know, I live with my parents, it sucks, yes, it is quite lame, and yes, I do hate it. I love my parents; I just wish I did not have to see them everyday. However, it is my situation and I deal with it the best that I can, and we do get along unbelievably well. Now to my point —— someone else lives in this house, with me and my parents. Her name is Martha Hayes. Martha Hayes is my Mom’s middle sister — Mom being oldest, Martha being the middle sister and her other sister Shirley being the youngest. Martha is disabled, Martha is mentally retarded, or as the politically correct police like to call it, developmentally disabled.
You see, Sullivan’s comment struck me as the a-typical cynical beltway politico type of comment from someone who has never had a person like this in his or her family. While I might not be a huge fan of Sarah Palin, in a political sense, it has never been personal with me and because of this, I have always avoided criticizing her family or kids or even her husband. Admittedly, I was not amused when Sarah’s daughter came up pregnant; mainly because I felt she had betrayed many in the Conservative Christian community and in the social Conservative circles. However, this comment by Andrew Sullivan goes well beyond what I feel is just acceptable criticism of Sarah Palin’s politics; this is borderline psychotic obsession with Sarah Palin and her child Trigg. I believe that if the Atlantic had any shred of decency, they would terminate his employment.
Because you see my friends, I understand Sarah Palin’s feelings towards her baby. I know what it is to have a disabled person living with you. I see it every day in this house. It is not for the faint of heart, it take a special someone to have to deal with the person and have to do the tough work. Admittedly, it is not something that I could ever do. My Mom, bless her heart, does it every day, without complaining. She does it because it is the right thing to do. We are our Brother and Sister’s keeper, and my Mom knows that, Her Mother knew it too, when she raised those three daughters without complaining.
So, when it comes to Sarah Palin and her child, count me as someone who does get it.
Thank you for this – as the mother of a child with Down syndrome, it is a fine line that is walked with “that” word. Our family tends to not get too upset if we hear it used in a joking, totally non-offensive way – and yes, EVERYONE can tell when it is being used that way.
However, the way that Mr. Emanuel used it is the way that too many people use it – to denigrate someone. When he said it, it was obvious that he uses that word in that context so often that he doesn’t even think about it. When it is used that way, it IS hurtful.
Ms. Palin was absolutely correct to hold Mr. Emanuel accountable, as well as Mr. Limbaugh – he may have been using it to make a point, but it still was hard to listen to him saying the word over and over again.
Bless you and your family – I am sure that your aunt gives you joy in many unexpected ways every day; I know that Rebecca has made our lives better than we ever deserved!
Thank You Teresa.
May God Bless You and Rebecca!
