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September 22, 2006
Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs, insurgent49

Sarah Palin: A Man's Woman

     Does the name Phyllis Schlafly ring a bell to anyone? She is an Illinois woman who, during the 1950s, ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Congress. In a time when women were smothered by oppression, she stepped forth in hopes of being an American leader.

     She should have been an inspiration to all of us. But behind a bouffant hairstyle and suit-like dress was a woman who voiced the importance of “family values” … meaning that women should stay home with their children and not enter the workplace.

     Despite her popularity, Phyllis Schlafly never did win a seat in office, but she did maintain her social voice in the conservative women arena. In 1967, she opposed feminism and the Equal Rights Amendment so much that she wrote a book about it.

     A woman who strongly opposes women’s rights and their goals toward equality? I don’t get it.

     Well, fellow Alaskans, we’ve got another Phyllis Schlafly on our hands. She goes by the name of Sarah Palin. Sure, on the surface, Sarah Palin seems like a sweet earnest “what’s good for the people” kind of gal. But in the depths of her morality is a woman who might as well be a sexist good ol’ boy kind of man.

     Not only is she opposed to gay marriage (an estimated 10% of Alaskans are gay or bisexual, by the way), but she also opposes choice when it comes to the abortion issue. In other words, she opposes a woman’s right to have a say in what she wants to do with her own body. Women who make-up 49.2% of the Alaskan population.

     Many of Palin’s strongest supporters are women? I still don’t get it.

     I suppose that her anti-choice stance stems from her deep Christian faith. “Thou shalt not kill,” right? Well then, why, dependent upon some circumstances, is she also pro-death penalty?

     She also calls herself a Republican. Like many other modern day Republicans, however, some of her beliefs go against the fundamental concepts of the Republican ideology. Republicans say that they cherish individual liberties … that they want to refrain from impending on the rights of citizens. Hmmm … the last time I checked, a woman’s body was her own and not the property of the government.

     Recently, Democratic candidate Tony Knowles sent out thousands of letters to Alaskan pro-choicers alluding to the idea that Sarah was an anti-choice queen and that any pro-Palin voters should re-evaluate their stance. I’d like to note that Knowles is not exactly the bee’s knees either, but he is pro-choice and this political strategy may have earned him at least a few votes.

     Does the issue of abortion matter in a gubernatorial race? Abortion laws are generally outside the jurisdiction of a Governor. However, earlier this year, the Republican Governor of South Dakota, Mike Rounds, accompanied by his Republican legislature, passed a law banning almost all abortions statewide.

     Who knows how far Palin would take the issue if elected. The real question is … why should a woman vote for a woman who opposes women’s rights? Is it based on a type of Christian faith that also preaches that women should be at home tending the children, and not fulfilling their own dreams and desires?
 
     I still don’t get it.   






      Nova Stubbs is a freelance writer and activist, and is co-founder of Insurgent49. Nova resides in an undisclosed location in downtown Anchorage and may be contacted at nova@insurgent49.com.
- Columnists -

Editor's Desk
by Aaron Selbig

Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs

Red Alert
by Soren Wuerth

Alaskan In Exile
by Neil Zawicki

The
Bramble Bush
by Kevin Morford






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in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership.