Posted on 09/05/2008 2:19:09 PM PDT by Between the Lines
Liberals and the media seem baffled.
They especially don’t know what to make of the reaction by conservative, and more specifically evangelical, Christians to the news that the 17-year-old daughter of the Republican vice presidential nominee is pregnant out of wedlock.
The left-wing bloggers who peddled cruel and unwarranted rumors about Palin and her daughter undoubtedly hoped that accusations of a sex scandal and cover-up would destroy her political career. They succeeded only in forcing immediate revelation of a simpler truth -- that Bristol Palin, 17, is five months pregnant, and intends to keep the child and marry the father.
Liberals must have hoped that the obviously not-abstinent teen daughter of a “family values” politician would be too much for conservatives to stomach. However, the conservative base did not abandon Palin. Instead, they reacted enthusiastically to her pro-life, pro-marriage positions and rallied around her.
How can this be? Aren’t evangelicals harsh and judgmental, ready to brand anyone who violates their legalistic standards regarding sex with a scarlet A? Shouldn’t they be writing off Sarah Palin as a bad mother who has raised promiscuous children?
The unfulfilled liberal expectation that Republicans would throw Sarah Palin under the bus is based on three profound misunderstandings of how social conservatives in general, and evangelical Christians in particular, think.
The first of these has to do with “moral values.” Yes, we believe that having sex before marriage is morally wrong (and dangerous -- conservative values are pragmatic, not just moralistic). So Bristol’s choice to engage in that behavior was wrong as well.
But while having sex outside of marriage is bad, deliberately destroying an innocent human life through abortion (no matter how that child was conceived) is far, far worse. That is why conservative celebration of Bristol’s decision to carry her child to term -- under circumstances where many would choose abortion -- outweighed disappointment over her sexual behavior. (Her announced intention to marry the father is also a plus, despite the unfortunate circumstances.)
This situation only underscores the sincerity of the Palin family’s pro-life convictions. Earlier this year, Gov. Palin gave birth to her son Trig -- despite knowing that he had Down syndrome, a diagnosis that leads to abortion in eighty percent of the time. Now, the Palins have again chosen life. When pro-abortion zealots say, “You don’t understand the agonizing personal circumstances that lead to abortion,” Sarah Palin can answer, “Yes, I do -- but I chose life.”
The second misunderstanding is about the role of women. The liberal stereotype of social conservatives, especially evangelicals, is that we think women should be perpetually barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, rather than pursuing careers and assuming leadership roles in the political realm. So shouldn’t a mother of five (including a pregnant teen and a special-needs infant) be a homemaker, instead of trying to govern Alaska or run for vice president?
Well, yes -- if she chooses to. Many intelligent, well-educated, accomplished women do choose to stay home with their children -- and they should not be accused of “wasting” their talents or their education, as they often are by liberal feminists.
But those women who feel that they are able to balance career and family, with the help of a supportive husband, have every right to do so. Some of the most distinguished leaders in the social conservative movement, such as Beverly LaHaye, Phyllis Schlafly, Charmaine Yoest, and Connie Mackey, are women and mothers.
The final misunderstanding is theological. Contrary to stereotype, Christianity is not a religion of condemnation, but of grace. The good news, the gospel, the “evangel” (from which the word “evangelical” comes) is that even though every one of us is a sinner, every one of us can also be forgiven our sins, because Christ took the punishment for them on the cross. “Grace” is God’s unmerited favor -- the love he pours out on his children, not because we deserve it, but despite the fact that we don’t.
So is Bristol Palin a sinner? Yes -- as are we all. And Christians are embracing her with God’s grace and love. Each year they do the same for thousands of other young women -- who are unknown but in similar circumstances -- through pregnancy resource centers. Has Sarah Palin made mistakes as a parent, and suffered heartache because of her children? Undoubtedly she has -- which only makes it easier for every parent in the country to identify with her.
It’s clear that the Palins understand grace. They are displaying one kind -- and receiving another. Such grace is amazing -- but not surprising.
Mr. Sprigg is the vice president for policy at the Family Research Council. He is also an ordained Baptist minister.
Here’s one good thing about modern times. We used to be embarrassed by unwed teen pregancy and shuffled it under the rug. Bristol would have either been shipped off to seclusion or had the child aborted. Furthermore, the shame attached to “turning up pregnant” may have driven many to seek abortions rather than face that shame.
So, now we (conservatives) promote the values that the Catholic church has always promoted. If a child makes a mistake and has a child in her womb, we don’t discard it, we cherish it. How many grandparents have reacted with shock and horror upon learning that their child was pregnant, only to have it change to delight and doting the moment they laid eyes on the baby?
I remember my young cousin once reflecting with me and her grandmother “Gawd, what would’ja do if ya had TWINS” and her grandmother said, “bring’em home and take care of ‘em.”
It’s really as simple as that.
Because she doesn’t support Planned Parenthood sex “education” in the schools. Therefore, it’s 100% her fault if any girls in Alaska become pregnant, because they couldn’t learn about birth control from their families, books, magazines, TV, or the health department ... and no unmarried girls ever become pregnant in New York or Chicago or Los Angeles, you know, because they’re so good at using birth control and it’s 100% effective.
The daughter is the means to the supposed end. The libs don’t care anything about the daughter, why should they? The only reason they care about her and the situation is to try to destroy the mother who completely terrifies them. We are witnessing the re-birth of the conservative base in the Republican Party.
Pregnancy is not a life sentence. It’s nine months.
I think those are excellent points, ichabod1. Yes, sex outside marriage is a sin. However, it’s a sin even if there’s no pregnancy, or even if the baby is killed before “anyone” finds out about it. The baby is not punishment, but it sometimes seems as if Christians have the feeling it is, that “getting caught” is the real problem.
One thing I’ve been thinking the last week is that most teenagers these days constantly see young people on tv and in movies having sex, but they rarely see a young person who’s going to marry, have a baby, and start family life in a supportive environment. Even among their friends, well, Madison had the “flu,” and then she was out of school a few days, and came back anemic and depressed ...
I hope some young people - other than FReeper kids - are watching this situation and seeing the real-life outcome of foolish behavior.
It does amaze me a little how many liberals expect this sort of silliness to sting. Failure to live in accordance with someone else’s malign stereotype does not constitute hypocrisy. It is, however, bigotry of the first order to hold that stereotype in the first place.
Democrats think they understand us, but they demonstrate over and over that they do not. The one thing they are absolutely sure of is they hate us. This is their loss of course. It is our challenge to not hate them in return.
I find it amazing that people presume that every teen pregnancy is unintended. There must be at least a few that are intentional.
I suspect that it is far more than a few...
Wanting to have babies is natural, and young girls often believe they’re in love and the boy really wants to stay with them forever, instead of just wanting to ...
Her daughter (Miss Madison, now 8 years old) is my/our sunshine.
My sister graduated college and is a career gal now. She'll soon be getting married to a superior guy (a police officer).
My sister made up her mind immediately that Ms. Madison would be born... my sister/my whole family are better people with Ms. Madison in our lives.
The Palins will be blessed with a little person that will make their lives even more full... BETTER.
I had a pastor when I was in my teens who always reminded us that if even ONE person in all of history could live a sinless life then the death of Christ on the cross was for naught. I forget the exact wording he used, but he sure made it clear that sin is part of everyone’s life, period.
Interesting and fascinating. Such openness is rare of a liberal and I’ll bet she pays for it in some way. It’s like looking at one of those weird pictures and when you see the figure of the woman or creature or flower or whatever, it’s hard to look at it again and NOT see the same thing. But when her friends attack her, she won’t be able to reconcile the 2 thoughts.
Maybe someday Bristol can go to Bristol, TN and give the “gentlemen start your engines” command.
Bristol is welcome in TN anytime...
:)
> Pregnancy is not a life sentence. It’s nine months.
Indeed. Marriage, on the other hand, is not just a word... it is a sentence. /joking, really
Almost a Catholic,,,,,,,,not yet, though.
Marriage is a decision.
A husband and wife DECIDE to make it work. They persevere through the tough times with each other, with the children, with money, with communication, with.......my list could go on and on.
Obviously, my humor disclainer had no effect on you. I agree with your sincere sentiments 100%, and have been happily married for many years, through the perseverence that you make note of.
“...with a scarlet A?”
I just used that same term earlier this week with a liberal friend of mine. They just don’t get it!! (Luckily I suppose for now!)
Marriage is one of those things that I feel very strongly about. But perhaps that is because of my husband’s death from lung cancer.
Treasure your days and may the Lord bless you and your family with many children.
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