SHAYALON.COM

As i sit here, John McCain, Republican presidential candidate, has chosen Republican Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

I am, ironically enough, kind of pissed that he chose a woman. 

Me, I’m a strong feminist.  I cannot express how happy I am that a woman has been chosen.  It’s not the first time, Geraldine Ferraro was chosen for the VP back when Mondale ran for pres in the 80s.

I’m pissed because the Republicans did it.  The republicans.  The party which coined the term “feminazi”.  The party filled with religious women who believe that a “woman’s place is in the home.”   The party that opposes a woman’s right to choose, has chosen an woman.

I can’t help but think of a republican woman in the same way that I think of a gay republican or a black republican.  Republican’s have historically opposed equal rights.  So a woman, who’s rights are still pretty unfree, supporting that party strikes me as a tad traitorous.

Women have come a long way since they were graciously given the right to vote by men in 1920.  In which direction, is however the question…

Women have a contested and limited right to choose abortion as an option.

Women have no right to say how they use their bodies.

Women must have their upper bodies covered in public, whereas men can just peel off their shirts at any time.

Women still make less in the workplace.

Women are still kept out of professional sports.

Women are still kept out of many military situations.

Women are not allowed to be clergy in some very big religions.

I have to run to class.  I’ll be back on this topic…

Back: Ok. 

So, we’re not “okay” or even “close” on women’s equality.  And republicans haven’t helped matters at all because they tend to try to block every social change that women try to make.  Their views are anachronistic and not looking as though they’re gonna get any better.

Another issue, and another reason that this is such a bonehead pick by McCain is that the woman has NO experience.  She’s a first term governor of Alaska and before that was mayor of Wasilla, AK a town of 9,000.

That cool, if you’re not going to DIE SOON.

Now, I hope that McCain lives to the ripe old age of 300.  But he won’t  He’d be the oldest president to serve if (god forbid) he’s elected.  He could easily die.

That would leave Palin in charge of the free world.  She’s been a governor for a short time, and a mayor of a tiny little town.

Bad Idea.  BAD BAD BAD idea.

From what I’m reading, the idiot branch (the ones who are threatening to go to McCain) of the supporters of Hillary Clinton, are being offended by his choice…so I guess they’d better vote for Ron Paul.

Interesting news.

Good speech by Barak Obama last night.  Brought tears to my eyes a few times.  Tears of hope. 

He mentioned “our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.” and even seemed to put himself of the side of supporting gay marriage. Referring to the differences between Dems and Republicans he said:

“We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country.  The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang-violence in Cleveland, but don’t tell me we can’t uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals.  I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination.  Passions fly on immigration, but I don’t know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers.  This too is part of America’s promise - the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.”