Just came across a month old article in the Irish Times by Mary Mullen, an Alaskan expat who has a Downs daughter and will not be voting for Sarah Palin.
In addition to our almost nationalistic love for Alaska, Sarah Palin and I are both proud mothers of a child with Down syndrome.
My daughter Lily was born in Galway 10 years ago. It may be hard to believe, but the early childhood services in Ireland are better than they are in Alaska for people with Down syndrome …
It's the Democrats who care about single mothers and people with Down syndrome. It's the Democrats who designed community programmes for early intervention; it's the Democrats who instituted programmes for integration and it's the Democrats who fought for and passed the law that gives people with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate education in America's public schools …
Democratic administrations have welcomed our children into the world with sound public policies; policies which the Republicans have whittled away and weakened …
I feel extremely connected to Sarah Palin because of my daughter, Lily, and her son, Trig. We belong to the same tribe. Even though she will set the sky ablaze, she is out of her depth. McCain's recklessness in tapping her shoulder was a cynical act which shows the world just how flimsy democracy can be.
Thank God for the seriousness and thoughtfulness of Obama and Biden. I hope America surprises us all and, as my niece says, won't fall for the gorgeous act. We must remember that Sarah Palin won Miss Congeniality in both of her beauty contests, but it takes a bit more than that to help run the most powerful nation in the world.
Like substance and sincerity and a world view.
My Alaska soul sister is an empty vessel - Mary Mullen - The Irish Times - Sept. 5, 2008.
Hat tip @ceruleanbill
My name is Becky Blitch, and this is my blog. Like my life, it's organic, juicy, unpredictable, messy, romantic, fierce, and beautiful.
{ 0 comments… add one now }