Okey dokey, so let me get this straight. If it is bio vs bio we have

- Pres candidate graduated 4th from bottom of Naval Academy class
- POW, yadda yadda yadda
- divorced infirm 1st wife for rich blonde Barbie beer heiress who has footed bill for political career
- VP candidate hockey mom, lipsticked pitbull, walking shitstorm
- husband member of separatist organization
- kids cute, but lots of drama

vs

- Pres candidate: raised by single mom and grandparents in modest circumstances
- honors graduate of Harvard Law
- turned down Wall St job to work in community
- marries smart woman from similar modest background
- both basically rose by their own bootstraps against odds
- really cute kids, well-behaved so far

- VP candidate: raised by family of modest means
- overcame tragic family circumstances to raise family
- marries lifelong educator

KKKarl, you sure you really wanna do this?

What I fail to understand that on Tues. night the message in The Repub Convention was service to others - or did I get this wrong ?

Then on Wed. night we have the pit bull with lipstick insult and mock community organizers !

Is something amiss here ?

I feel too old to be figuring out how these incredible and pwerful bogs sites work.. so I know this buried somewhere inappropriately - and probably not acrid enough nor in keeping with the "off limits" pleas of Obama - but hey I am an American and I value free speech - even if noone reads this
OPEN LETTER TO BRISTOL Palin:

Dear Bristol,

I am so sorry that your personal life, as a young women of 17, has become the subject of political discourse in a very difficult election year. At 17 you should not have to stand under the glaring lights of public scrutiny or judgment. As a mother my heart aches for you and all kids who must grow up so quickly, moving it seems from the experiences of childhood to the world of hardened adults.

I empathize so much because I missed my childhood and teen years weighed down with burdens that were not appropriate for a tender and growing young person. Although the specifics of my hardships were different, they were mostly the result of parents who were unable to place me at the forefront of their concerns. Their own burdens overshadowed mine. And so it seems with you – a time in your life when parental support is so important and your life is overshadowed by that of your parents and their struggles to retain their positions in this fierce world.

I had the unfortunate experience also as a mother to watch my very young son die. SIDS. One night he was fine and giggling – my innocent little angel - and the next morning took his last breath of life. The grief of losing one’s child is the most intense I can recall. And as humans do I tried to find some meaning in his death and I did. I became a Christian and the Holy Spirit comforted me in a way that no other human ever had. That experience also strengthened me to always try and put the needs of my other children before my own – no matter how heavy my burdens in this competitive and so often merciless adult world.

I assure you I did not always succeed. I made some choices that I persuaded myself were best for them and I see now that really they were often choices that were good for me... perhaps I thought that if I were happy or successful or a perfect Christian mother - that this would somehow ensure their good fortune in life.

Well, I never did attain perfection as a mother or a Christian or attain the position in life I sought. This is why Christ is so important to me still – some twenty years later – because when I lose my way in this complicated world I can turn inward and listen for that quiet voice of reassurance . As you read the New Testament you must be struck that above all it is a story of mercy – mercy for each other and the Mercy of God.

But, in this world it seems even Christians – and perhaps small town Christians – or just small town folks – can be the most judgmental. They seem to so easily forget Christ’s words that “I come not to judge the world but to save it...no one knows the heart but our Father in heaven.” How does that message get lost that we so must guard ourselves from being open and honest about ourselves with the world – or our small town?

No one can rightly judge you Bristol in the very deep and personal manner of your heart and where it lays. It is not doing or being a certain way that earns God’s love. God’s love is freely given – you already possess it and it is offered unconditionally even in your most trying hours.

The rumors that surround you and your family, the question if possibly baby Trig might be your child, your pregnancy at such a young age, the choice to marry, etc etc. - will continue until some overwhelming evidence persuades many otherwise.

This election year the future of a world nation is at stake. We grown ups are afraid and uncertain of what steps to take to right our lives and regain the prosperity and security we seemed to enjoy not so many years ago. Most of those probing will be searching for hypocrisy in your Mothers words in contrast with her deeds – as her platform seems to be socially conservative Christian expressed as one of ethics, honesty and independent fortitude.

Unfortunately it will feel like harm. If – and this is a big if – baby Trig is your child the very worst that could happen is that you will be free to claim him as your own before the world and your small town finger waggers.... because a mother’s love for her child rises above all else – all condemnation or judgment – as God’s love for us as children – that love is unconditional as yours will be for your yet unborn child.

You are not responsible for the outcome of your mother’s candidacy in any way – repeat that to yourself every night when you pray.. I can’t emphasize that enough. If Trig is yours I doubt those supporting your mom’s candidacy will change their minds.... and if this rumor is true – well it would be clear to everyone that you have been the ultimate good daughter – even at the cost of giving up your child in an attempt to protect your mother and perhaps the child.

I can understand the rationale (if this rumor is true) of a public figure, a mother with conservative Christian belief – to want protect her child from the judgmental crowd of her peers, constituents and fellow conservative Christians. It seems in theory noble. A child with special needs is a tremendous challenge even for the most prepared adults and for a young girl monumental. Many women choose to help raise their grandchildren in support of their young daughters, and it is not uncommon in America to have daughters sent to “birth homes” where they were cared for until the child was born and put up for adoption. Often the town folks and family friends were told their daughter was an exchange student - no one really the wiser to do more than whisper suspicions of the true reasons in diners and hair salons. In your case the whispers are flashed around the world via the internet.

I personally know women whose mother’s chose that “white lie” for them at your age, I also know women who helped their daughters obtain abortions, women who helped raise their daughter’s baby who chose to remain single, women who disowned their daughters and forced them out of the house, women who encouraged their daughter to marry and keep the child. Now these women are all over 50 and all agree – regardless of the choices their mother pushed on them at that very young age (when mothers still have a great deal of influence) - they all wished that they had the maturity and life experience at that point in their lives to have made their own choice true to their own nature. None had an easy road regardless of the choice made and all agreed that life and its very long road – time – healed most of the deep pain they felt being forced to choose a path so young.

That famous quote – “To thine own self be true” ....has echoed in our world for thousand of years because it is the most difficult to understand or follow..... and Christ’s admonition – “let the one without sin cast the first stone,” - of course no one could cast that first stone.... we either sin in ways others can see clearly or we sin in our hearts. No Christian escapes the knowledge that they fall short of the Holiness of the Spirit. This is why Christ’s message is so important.... he has taken on that inevitable sin we each commit sometime somewhere and has paid the price.

Trust God to allow you to be who you are to follow your own voice and make your own decisions, concern yourself not with what the world thinks but follow your heart. Trust God to love you always – just as you shall love your children always – no matter what happens.

Be strong young lady and hold your head up without shame. Remember this time of stress and scrutiny and hold it to your heart – it will inform you of the terrible sin of judgment – perhaps it will lead you and possibly even your mother – to temper the righteous judgment of Christian conservatives and their seeming desire to legislate all people to their views.

Bless you Bristol and may you never grow weary.