Roar

Barack Obama was right when he said that we are the ones we've been waiting for, but it we turns out that "we" are the women. And as fast as that, the men are bystanders in the national drama and it's all about the women.

What is is about Sarah Palin that has people so agitated? I don't mean the laundry list of of the details of her God-fearing, gun-toting, social conservatism that we've all been discovering over the weekend - I mean the absolutely visceral reaction to her very presence.

It's because she doesn't seek permission and she doesn't apologize.

These are the traits that you are used to seeing in defeminized women - those who are past the reproductive years, like Golda Mier and Margaret Thatcher and those who fall into the virile female category such as Janet Reno. That bumper sticker that says "I'm Out of Estrogen And I've Got A Gun" is no joke. It's also  reason that women were declared witches, hunted and executed in the most vile and extreme manner possible to imagine - the fear of that power necessitated a response equal in intensity. But to recognize the audacity of a woman's non-dependence combined with the power of a fertility  requires a different mindset altogether. And America - you're not doing very well with that.

In between the outrageous rumor-mongering on the left side of the net this weekend,  one commenter laid it bare and stated that he could not wrap his mind around the thought of a lactating vice president. Imagine that fear: confronting the idea of a fertile, life-producing, life-sustaining woman. We already have the power of life - it may be too much to contemplate the potential risk of relinquishing other types of power. Who knows to what uncomfortable place that might take us all. And how are we supposed to act once we get there?

It's not the men who are solely responsible for this attitude. Some of us cannot bear the anxiety of reinventing ourselves in our own image but fight to keep our comfortable and traditional place in the world - at the grace of others. Those mouthpieces who shout loudest about racism have the most to gain by perpetuating it; likewise those who express such grave concern about Palin's mothering choices and the impact her decision to seek office will have on her family have a self-preserving interest in keeping things just as they are.

The womanization - different from the feminization - of the political conversation is an awesome thing and apparently a thing to be feared for so many.  Compare Palin's presence with that of Hillary Clinton. Hillary, who did what she could with what she had, rode the coattails of her husband along her own career path. I have no doubt whatsoever that she was the mastermind of his career and the success that he had was due in large part to her efforts, both private and public. But her approach to her own public career is based on being allowed to have it. She got the pity vote in NY state for her traditional reaction to the humiliation at the hands of that husband, and as I write this, she is smarting from the refusal of permission by her party to attain her lifelong goal.

This is a turning point indeed. While others were intent on staring at the their  own individual impenetrable ceilings, something happened. We turned around and a woman is standing not on the threshold but is already halfway in the door and she got there without seeking permission from the doorman. So many voices raised now, not in recognition of  the primal nature that got her to that point, but to remind her in the most dismissive and condescending terms that the world would really be better off if she would just politely get back to her place because no one gave her permission to be where or who she is now.

It's a message to us all, born of fear and spoken on behalf of safety for the greater pack. I will not listen.

Comments

[Betsy]

Hmmm. It looks to me like she has a little trouble running her own kitchen.Do you think she might have a prob with even a bigger plate?

Suzette says: "You missed the point. Try again."

[The Proprietor]

All I can say is: amen.

Suzette says: * fist bump *

[pam]

Nailed it. Excellent essay!

Suzette says: "Thank you for your support."

[Joan of Argghh!]

How dare you say it out loud, Suzette? Now they will come for you.

Betsy: Kids fail at math all the time, but we still teach it, because it's True. Math, like life, must be learned. Doesn't mean the teachers we are given are to blame.

Suzette says: "They're coming in through my mailbox!"

[Tammy]

If you truly believe all that you say-then what was with your Hillary bashing? When it's "the lefts girl" its okay to do everything including talk about her choice of pant suits, her husband, her appearance, but not the years and years of work that put her not just in the doorway-but all the way in on her own merit. But when it's the "rights girl" woe be unto anyone who dare question the depth of her resume or anything else for that matter. (Granted she has yet to wear an orange pantsuit)

Ms. Palin was selected for this VP slot. Ms. Palin did not run for this office on her own, nor did she get this opportunity on her own merit. Senator McCain himself said her picked her TO GET THE HILLARY VOTES (and later admitted he also wanted to satisfy "the right").

Governor Palin didn't have to "seek permission or apologize" as you say- Senator Clinton held the door open for her and Senator McCain waved her through.

We should all be delighted at the possibility of a woman as the VP or even the President, and we should all want her to be a highly qualified, capable, prepared woman who arrives in the door and all the way into the White House on her own merit. Senator McCain has continually implied that she is the token woman and that should infuriate us all, left, right, center or whatever label you choose.

Suzette says: "Hillary bashing? No no no. Let me go on the record here , in case you missed it before, that no one is more bummed out by Hillary's disappearance from the national spotlight that I am.

My blogging about Hillary is strictly to her 'choice of pant suits, her husband, her appearance' and also her daughter. Her ideology, political machinations and past performance are somebody else's business, not mine.

FYI - I do believe that all VPs are selected by the presidential candidate, is that not so?"

[Da Goddess]

Beautifully stated.

I've read posts, from other women (decidedly Left of center), where Palin's been described as ruthless and manipulative. Why haven't any of the male candidates been called these names? And the Left certainly didn't say it about Hillary. Frankly, I'm sad that any woman would say this about another woman. Sure, there are females amongst us who are these things, but to apply such labels to politicians who happen to be women? It just makes me sad.

I love everything you said and how you said it.

Suzette says::" Did you ever think you'd see the left urging women to stay home and take care of their families instead of pursuing a career? The irony is delicious.

Great quote from Margaret Thatcher -"When they attack one personally it means they haven't a single political argument left."

[The doorman has a name]

& it's top-billed.

Let's take a moment to thank Walter Mondale & Geraldine Ferraro.

Suzette says: "I thank Geraldine, and for more than throwing in her lot with Walter."

[Richmond]

Excellent post. Very valid points and frankly -I am PSYCHED about Palin!

Suzette says: "Psyched is right. Looking forward very much to her speech at the convention.:

[Mrs. Who]

Excellent, excellent post. Perfect summary.

Suzette says: "This , I think, is the beginning of something good."

[dogette]

One big difference between Hillary and Palin is that Hillary has a long, well-documented history of being a con woman and a liar. She's crooked as the day is long, IMHO, and always has been since the early days in Arkansas.

Hillary got the Senate job because of Bill. And ran for President because Bill owed her.

Palin came out of the blue, but cleanly. I admire that.

Suzette says: "It is absolutely correct that Hillary rode Bill's public coattails. In her race for senate in NY, a state full of NOW memebers, no one mentioned that one single time."

[Jim - PRS]

Bravo! Nicely done.

[Betsy]

The rules of engagement are becoming clear.Hurrah, Tammy,for your recognition of the cracks in the cieling that have Hillary's initials on them. Sarah Palin will have to work hard to write her own I'm sure.In that respect, I'm on her side.
Now, as for Hillary's orange pantsuit goes,her peeps picked that color from several suits held against the background color at the convention center.
I personally feel a part of the "sisterhood of the traveling pantsuit" stemming from a need in the sixth grade when girls HAD to wear dresses to school with those awful girdles and pantyhose. When they finally allowed us to wear PANTSUITS to school,I felt there was a crack in the kickball cieling. For once, I could be free in the playground.
On a lighter note, Sarah Palin does seem to suffer from "cankles" that I believe also drove Hills to give up dresses.And I think she should fire Marge Simpson as her hairdresser.I hope it happens before her big speech tonight.

[toxiclabrat]

I read today's NYTs on line. Something about the fact that she wanted certain books banned from the library. Also fired the librarian.
Then changed her mind on both accounts....
When someone starts attacking books, then I get scared.
My jury is still out on her.

[Karan]

I agree with the basis of your argument regarding the sexism in politics. Many of the same criticisms being flailed around about Sarah Palin were used when Geraldine Ferraro was the VP candidate and then again when Hillary Clinton was a serious national candidate. Men don't seem to like it when we tread near what they consider their territory. Hence burned witches.

However, I think that Hillary rocked on her own merits and only started to fall apart when she started campaigning like a man. hehehe