Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

Ok.  Politics aren’t really my thing.  I honestly don’t believe my vote matters.  (You really don’t have to argue if you disagree, I sincerely doubt you’ll change my mind.)  If, however, I were one of those wealthy people politics actually cares about or one of the powerful people politics tries to appease, I would make it clear that meanness is not a virtue.

I watched bits of the Democratic convention and I’ve watched bits of the Republican one.  Neither one is completely guiltless on this front, but last night as I watched Guilliani and Palin I reached my limit.

Adults should act like adults.

Grown-ups should not act like bullies.

National leaders have no place engaging in teenage-style, snarky, half-truth-focused, almost-dishonest, cynicisms.

I think I could have liked Palin.  Her background is, in many ways, something I like and am familiar with, but last night she was just too much of a “mean girl.”  I didn’t like mean girls in Jr. High or High school.  I don’t like them now.  (And no, it’s not because she’s a woman - this type of behavior was as unappealing in Guilliani last night as it was in Palin.)

Somewhere along the line I remember being told that “you don’t raise yourself up by tearing other people down.”  That doesn’t mean that candidates can’t honestly argue and question one another’s positions (indeed, I hope they do!)  But it does mean a certain modicum of kindness should be maintained.  These people are hoping to be our children’s role-models.

Oh, and on an entirely different note - I just got the coolest yarn/knitting T-Shirt… after only a month and a half of being on back order!
Grace and Peace,

`tim

Ok, Let me be clear, first, I don’t think Palin was a brilliant choice for McCain.  Whatever.  It doesn’t really matter what I think (and I really don’t care, I don’t think McCain’s going to win anyhow).  Secondly, I agree with both candidates that (in general) candidates’ children should be off limits.  Children shouldn’t be punished by the fact that their parents have chosen to be in politics.

But this simply doesn’t pass the “snort test.”  The “snort test” is when something is so stupid that you immediately snort, rather than even bothering to argue with it.

Now that the public knows of Palin’s impending grandmother-hood, the “right” is desperately trying to spin the situation in a way that might help them.  I’ve already heard the argument that she’s ‘has lived out her pro-life credentials’ by deciding to have a baby whom she knew (prior to delivery) would be disabled.  Actually, I don’t think that gives her “pro-life credits” (but that’s a different story.)  Now the argument is that “the family lives its prolife credentials” (CNN.com) since her daughter is going to have her baby.

Here’s the where the snort test comes in.  A teenager keeping a baby that’s already 5-months along (well after the time when any doctor performs abortions) isn’t “living its prolife credentials” it’s living with the natural consequences of the decisions they’ve made (many decisions).  Come one.  We’re not that stupid.

There is a certain amount of “spin” that intelligent people will buy into (or at least not snort at) but this crosses that line.  How about leaving the girl out of the campaign (like both sides said they’d do - and Obama seems to have kept his word on) rather than trying so desperately to turn a difficult situation into a laughable political spin?

[Quotes and story-link from CNN.com]

Grace and Peace,

`tim

Do you know how difficult it is to find Greek and Hebrew alphabet fridge magnets?!  Let me tell you: it’s nearly impossible.  Hebrew has been easier than Greek (which I have yet to find - if you know somewhere please e-mail me).

We’ve been working on all three alphabets with Phia and she’s finally starting to recognize the letters for the “English” alphabet so we figured it was about time to get her going on the others - a more difficult prospect that we originally thought.
I did finally find the Hebrew though.  At a website called OyToys - isn’t that great?!  I love people who have a sense of humor.

Grace and Peace,

`tim