The revelations about Sarah Palin and her family are – well, probably not going to amount to much, much to the dismay of people in all parts of the political spectrum who just don’t want a non-traditional vice presidential candidate.
A few folks don’t know of families with a petty thief, convicted felon, bankruptcy, addict, pregnancy out of wedlock, affair, a child re-doing a grade, or you-name it. There are very few perfect families and fewer yet perfect individuals. There are a few individuals who have never ever had to be in contact with flawed people and I dare say that plenty of them have probably run away from those flawed people rather than walk a moment with them.
That does not mean we have to accept the flaws with open arms. Convicted felons, some addicts, kids who just want to have bad grades – are not people we should hold the banner of success over. But, the fabric of life is made up of individuals. Some people run into snags in life – and the ones who need to have the banner of success held over them are the ones who overcome and move on.
The felon who becomes a model citizen, the kid who realizes that academic excellence trumps being a hoodlum, the mother who raises an initially unwanted child to become an active participant in the world and the addict who turns around and lives a clean life may be far better role models than people who maintain high expectations and scrutinize everybody – driving people with weak constitutions into the shadows.
Now, living for the moment and succumbing to passion will get you into trouble. For some its the extra piece of cake. For others its alcohol and then driving. For others its a swing under the sheets outside of marriage.
If you don’t personally know a person who has screwed up in a major way, you live in a very small circle.
Does Sarah Palin’s husband’s DUI 20 some years ago matter? Not if that’s his major offense. Is her daughter’s pregnancy going to derail Palin’s run for the VP slot? I don’t think so. I feel bad — right now — for the girl because her child and her soon-to-be husband will radically change her life. But then again, maybe she’s going to be a terrific mother and that life will be enriched beyond measure.
The Palin’s it turns out, are a family like so many others. If you have a wide circle of friends you know what they’re going through. And that’s more than you know about some other families in politics.
Does it matter? Yes, because we can relate to it.
