I have to admit it. I didn't want to like the Republican nominee for Vice President, Sarah Palin. So I watched her acceptance speech at the convention with a lot of cynicism...actually looking for flaws...waiting to say, "See? I told you so!"
I had already made up my mind to vote for Barack Obama. I'm tired of what is going on in Washington. I'm ready for a change. And no, that change doesn't mean a change of skin color, though some people believe Obama's votes will primarily be for that reason. I'm ready for a change in the way things are getting done. I'm ready for the current administration to just go...
So when I heard Sarah Palin's speech, I was ready to point fingers and get excited for Obama...knowing her nomination would probably only help him.
I was wrong. As I listened to her, I found myself almost applauding her. I like the way she presented herself. I like her spunk. I like her enthusiasm, and the fact that she doesn't seem to back down from a fight.
I found myself feeling a sense of pride in being a woman as I listened to her speech. I think of all of the stupid things that scare me. Very insignificant things. I have a strong fear of failure...and that fear at times holds me back. As I listened to Palin's speech, I realized that I have nothing to fear. Failure is not that big of a deal. If I fail at something, it isn't the end of the world. I should learn and grow from it.
I tried imagining what must have been going through Palin's mind when she got the call that she was being picked as the Vice Presidential nominee. Surely she has a lot she could fear if she chose to walk down that path. She could fear her lack of experience and knowledge regarding foreign policy. She could fear the bad publicity that has already started to follow her and her family around. She could fear not being able to manage such a stressful job as well as a family which includes 5 children....one with Down's Syndrome and one pregnant out of wedlock. She could fear so many things, and perhaps the fear is there. But what matters is the fact that she is facing the fear and walking through that fear with courage.
Hers is a political Cinderella story. At least that is what the media would have us believe. From hockey mom to Vice Presidential nominee. What woman would not find some inspiration in that?
I still won't be voting for McCain/Palin. I admire them both in many ways. But there is also much I disagree with in regard to what they believe and what they plan on doing or not doing.
Still, that sense of pride is there that a woman is running for Vice President. But I will not be voting for gender or race...but for who I believe falls in line the closest with what I want for this country.
No matter who wins, it is a very historical race to the White House...and one that has instilled in me a new sense of pride in being an American, as well as in being a woman.
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Comments: 30
After I saw her speech, I thought that the Republicans had it in the bag but after hearing McCain's speech, I am back to thinking that what he said wasn't true and that Obama will take it. I hope he does. He may not have as much experience but he is surrounding himself with people who do - he is smart, speaks really well, and will show the other countries that we are not stupid, that we can be amenable to helping them instead of bombing them. I think that he can do a lot of good. He's got my vote.
I just couldn't resist bolding this. Hopefully, some sane individual will see its inanity.
See an excellent article in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/opinion/07rich.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin
McCain I was voting for because I want conservative judges in Supreme Court. But listening to Palin that night ... I felt hope that she would really clean up Washington :)