Real America: Letter to Sarah Palin

Dear Governor Palin,

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of the United States of America. You see, I'm troubled by the tone that your campaign message is taking. Yesterday in North Carolina, you said:

"We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C. We believe" -- here the audience interrupted Palin with applause and cheers -- "We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation. This is where we find the kindness and the goodness and the courage of everyday Americans. Those who are running our factories and teaching our kids and growing our food and are fighting our wars for us. Those who are protecting us in uniform. Those who are protecting the virtues of freedom."

Madam Governor, I understand all about pandering to a certain type of voter, and I see that you are doing that here. However, I also think that you have crossed a line that is so obscenely offensive that I cannot sit by without addressing you on this.

I am used to hearing about the average American as someone who is not me. Someone with the values that are grown in a small town. Someone who longs for the old days when the pledge of allegiance was recited every day in school. Someone who shakes their fist at taxes and shakes their head at those horrid welfare mothers.

True, I don't fit into that box, but I take offense to the suggestion that I am somehow less patriotic, less supportive of my country, and not a "real" American for holding convictions that are contrary to yours.

Yesterday my family and I gathered at a rally to welcome Senator Obama to our city and to hear him speak. We had to park blocks and blocks away and in the grass, and then join a line that stretched for blocks in order to wait outside where we wouldn't be able to see the senator speak, but would be able to hear his words and stand with the crowd. As my husband and I crossed the street to join the line waiting to get close enough to hear, we noticed across the street that there were protesters. Some held signs stating obscenities like "God Hates Fags". One of the women ahead of me in line mumbled something about the grace of God and Jesus, and I remarked loud enough for her to hear that I don't think God hates anyone. She turned around and smiled at me and agreed with me saying "God is love", apparently not minding that we obviously belong to different faiths (I happened to be wearing my turban at the time).

We approached the building crowd, and the absolute diversity of the gathering was astounding. There were some who looked like hippies, some who looked like yuppies, black people, white people, hispanic people, asian people, young people, old people. We stood together, united in one thing. We all love this country.

The speech was exhillarating, uplifting, and after hearing your remarks on small towns being the real America, I wasn't surprised when Mr. Obama said that he wanted to bring every kind of American together. When he said this, my spirits soared.

In school, children are taught that America is the great melting pot, and that our diversity is to be cherished. What is a shock to many (like myself) is that these values don't seem to have permiated the adult population.

Ms. Palin, I understand that as human beings we are limited in our world views by our own experiences. Perhaps you have never dealt with issues of diversity during your life, but I'm not going to speculate on what has created your world view. What is obvious to me though, is that you are dismissing the validity of a huge portion of the population.

My husband is a teacher who goes to school every day to teach young children. Some of these children are from homes broken beyond my own comprehension. My husband is a true American. Those children are real Americans. My parents owned their own businesses for years. Later, when my father went to work for other, our family fell on hard times due to the fact that we are not the religion of the majority. My mother stayed at home with us from the time we were small until I left for college. Now my father stays home with my youngest sister and attends college, while my mother works full time. They are real Americans.

I have a passion for this country that I don't think I can express. I am honored to live in a place where I can dissent, protest, and live outside the mainstream. I am free to practice my religion, parent as I see fit, and hold the political views that I believe are right. So, Ms. Palin, I take offense to your comments that you enjoy the "real America" the parts that are "pro-American". Small towns are absolutely part of the patchwork that makes up this country, but the rest of us are no less real because we don't agree with you. Our passion and our vision are no less valid than yours, and I hope to send that message to you loud and clear on November 4th.

May the long time sun shine upon you, all love surround you, and the pure light within you, guide your way on.
Sincerely,
A Missouri Mother for Change