Sunday, July 19, 2009

Sarah's Audacity

At the Republican National Convention


Here is the usual first class discussion going on at VFR, this time on Sarah Palin. I have invested a bit of time on Sarah. The American Thinker published my article on her ("Sarah Palin: Whose family values?"), edited to fit the flagrant Palin adulation at their site, which still didn't save me from over one hundred comments berating my stance on Sarah.

I also wrote a blog on her recently, equating her to a modern world's desire for a goddess, and putting her as the contender.

And previously, I have followed her daughter's ordeal of single motherhood, and the betrayal of the family by the father of that young infant.

The discussion at VFR has many interesting propositions for Sarah's immense popularity (and equally immense hate).

I like what commenter Paul V. had to say:
Never underestimate the hatred of beauty, or for many of those who love beauty, distrust of it when circumstances more properly place a premium on truth and goodness.
And I would add "never underestimate the strength of beauty." Maybe it is simply a phenomenon of charisma (based on looks, personality, and a hidden something which the followers are yearning for), something which John F. Kennedy had, something which got Obama into the White House. Perhaps in our era of televised elections, charisma is easier to disseminate. Perhaps that is the danger - the idolatry that comes from images, from television especially.

That is how I got interested in Sarah in the first place. That incredible vision of her and her extended family, because Levi was also coerced into the picture, which also included a pregnant unmarried daughter, an infant (disabled) son, and a husband who seemed happy enough to be beside his famous wife.

Sarah had the audacity to present us with this image.