Saturday, January 03, 2009

What Will Sarah Palin Teach Her New Grandson?

After watching Sarah Palin during her bid to become the first female Vice President of the United States, I am wondering what kind of environment her new, little grandson will grow up in.

Here was a woman who was a staunch opponent of abortion. In 2006, when she was running for Governor of Alaska, Palin declared that she would not support an abortion for her own daughter even if she had been raped. (source: Huffington Post) So she went before the world embracing her teenage daughter's pregnancy. She also praised the young father for standing by her daughter. This is the same young man who referred to himself as a f------- redneck on his MySpace page with a mother who is facing six felony drug charges.

During the Presidential campaign, The Alaska Governor was mighty proud to also call herself a redneck and failed to reach out to any other segment of the voting population beyond the rural, white southern conservatives.

I won't even go into how she looked as a politician when questioned about foreign policy experience or the shopping sprees she went on with her family to look good for the cameras.

No, this is about Sarah Palin as a grandmother---a grandmother just like me. You see, Gov. Palin and I share something in common. Both of our daughters became teenage mothers and I believe we both want the best for them. But now that she has a little grandson to help nurture, what will she teach him? Will little Tripp see a world that is diverse with wonderful opportunities for everyone? Or will he be proud to grow up as a f------redneck like his dad and grandma with a warped view of the world?

Bristol is still in high school with no announced plans for college. The baby's daddy dropped out of high school but is reportedly taking online courses to earn a certificate while holding down a job. My daughter, meanwhile, has completed her first semester of college and made the Dean's List. Her two-year-old son is growing up healthy and happy with grandparents who are determined to help him understand and appreciate the good in EVERYBODY---regardless of race, creed or color.

I'm a firm believer that children adopt behaviors early based on the attitudes of people in their immediate surroundings. So time will tell as to how little Tripp grows up and interacts with the world. I wish him well.

Alaska Governor Welcomes First Grandchild

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