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September 6, 2008

Palin’s rise to the top in politics doesn’t come without a price

By Lynn Saternow

By Lynn Saternow



As I listened to the late Harry Chapin belt out “Cat’s in the Cradle” on the radio the other day, I couldn’t help but think of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

If you don’t know the song, it’s about a father who spends a lot of time working as his son is growing up and misses most of his life. The key part of the song is:

“When you comin’ home, dad?”

“I don’t know when. But we’ll have a good time then, son, you know we’ll have a good time then.”

Of course the boy grows up, and when his dad is retired and wants to see him, the young man becomes too busy for his dad. The family discord had come full circle.

When the song was written in 1974, it of course referred to men. But in 2008, women have taken a much bigger role in all aspects of society. Which also means they sometimes may put aside the importance of family because of work.

We’ve heard Republicans spout off about how the Alaska governor Palin will appeal to people who believe in “family values.” Really?

You’re talking about a woman who thrust her pregnant 17-year-old daughter into potential national ridicule because of political ambitions. As if a young, pregnant girl doesn’t have enough pressure.

But on a good note, it did bring to light to a major problem of teen pregnancies on the rise and reasons for it.

I saw a psychiatrist talking on television about the problem. He said that some young girls become pregnant because they are seeking someone to love them and someone to nurture because they don’t feel that love at home.

I had to wonder if such could be partly true with Palin, who has been on a rapid-fire political climb the last few years, and with many other working mothers. Especially single moms who are forced to spend time away from their children to put food on the table.

Maybe that’s another reason we need in sex education in schools. Kids don’t get it at home. Some parents find it difficult to talk about with children or even worse, can’t find the time. Palin, who preaches abstinence, is against sex education in schools. Hey, how’s that working out?

No one believes in women’s rights more than I. Holding down jobs is a source of pride and fulfillment for women, just as it is for men. And they should have equal opportunities. But I also know that the important thing for both men and women is the ability to balance family with work.

While I hate to admit it, moms are a heckuva lot more important than dads to a family. That’s one area where men will never be equal to women. Not unless we start carrying babies for nine months inside us, that is.

Luckily, with my job I have been able to be part of most everything my sons and grandchildren do. I take greater pride in my wife, LaVon, who has served for many years as city manager of Farrell, but despite the enormity of the job, our family always comes first.

Palin is the mother of a young boy who has Down’s syndrome. Anti-abortionists make a big deal out of the fact that she chose to have the baby rather than abort. That was her choice, and in America, we all should have freedom to make choices. Abortion is one of them.

However, we also need to live up to what comes with those choices. Such babies require a lot of care. How could the vice president of the United States possibly have time to care for that baby?

I admire Sarah Palin for her abilities in rising to the top politically and it appears she has done a good job as governor of our biggest state. Her admirable rise to become a vice presidential nominee is another case of breaking the proverbial “glass ceiling” that has held women down for many years. But at what cost?

I can’t get the words out of my head:

“When you comin’ home, mom?”

“I don’t know when. But we’ll have a good time then, son, you know we’ll have a good time then”



Lynn Saternow of The Herald writes this weekly column for the Opinion Page.

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