I'm sorry, this isn't well researched. It isn't about any current political topics, it is just a rant. I know it will scroll off the listing quickly. That is fine, for I don't like to be a ranter. But I just watched Sarah Palin's Alaska and need to let anyone who is out there know that this is not my Alaska. Also, I fear for what Sarah continuing as part of the political process will do to the fabric of our nation.
Briefly, tonight Sarah took Kate plus eight camping. I didn't even know about Kate plus eight until I learned of it in this context. These little kids looked too young for adults to use them as props. Darn, I am too young to be used as a prop, and I am in my 60's. And they were props. There was the big build-up about bears. The kids were told about the danger of bears, although it was clear that they wouldn't really be in any danger (after all there is a full film crew as well as probably half of the national guard of Alaska somewhere on the set.) Sarah's brother was impressive, he did a good job of engaging the kids on a personal level, showing them things and setting up some games. Sarah seemed to hover on the periphery of things, not engaging with kids much at all and spending a lot of time making self serving pronouncements.
Kate was kind of a dope, huddling under shelter and whining. It seemed that she had been given that role so that she could demonstrate how wonderful Sarah was in comparison. And here is my biggest gripe. Even tho it was fake reality, Kate took her children into an uncomfortable situation. Sarah needed to first thank her for her presence, engage her in what they were doing, and acknowledge that it was a big step to be thrown into a new situation.
That's what real Alaskans do. We are some of the most open hearted people there are. We are proud of our land, but we realize that it takes some time to learn how to navigate it. When Kate commented that the children hadn't had time to put on mosquito repellent, I was appalled. I would never take an adult outside in the wilderness without giving them repellent. And Kate was complaining about getting bitten. But Sarah was too busy worrying about the big drama of bear bites to pay attention to the much greater probability of mosquito bites. She failed to be a hostess, to care for her guest. That is not OK in Alaska.
I've been around middle schoolers a lot. And, I am not the first to see some real parallels between Sarah and the middle school drama queen. This type of girl usually is "popular" but not really very well liked. She gets her way and is given attention because others are afraid of how she can hurt them. She may not even realize this because she is so wrapped up in herself that she doesn't even see others. And others see a chance to get power by affiliating with her, of being in the "in crowd." Sarah hasn't grown up from this position.
And this woman may want to be president. I don't fear that she will win, I still believe in America more than that. But, just as she degrades the image of Alaskans with her false hospitality and snarky approach to life, she will further degrade the political process as she remains in it. She gives everyone a little more permission to pursue their inner bully. She hurts people and sees nothing wrong with that because she cannot look far enough beyond herself to see what she is doing.
I know it is not real reality I watched tonight. But it was a chance to see how Ms. Palin chose to portray herself. I have tried to find charity within my heart, to be kind. But I am more afraid than charitable now. I will probably be sorry I vented in this way in the morning, I have no solutions to offer. I just hope that Sarah keeps TV as her medium and lets our government go ahead with the very serious, very real job of governing all of its people.
Good night, thanks for being here.