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Trig Paxson Van Palin: The Child Safely Arrived

Posted by DR. CLARISSA PINKOLA ESTÉS, Deputy Managing Editor, Columnist in At TMV.
Sep 8th, 2008 | Comments

Todd and Sarah Palin have named their little guy Trig, which according to the family, is a Norse word meaning “true” and “brave victory:” The name is in honor of his great uncle, a Bristol Bay fisherman. The name Paxson comes from a snowmobiling area in Alaska which the Palins cherish.

If this little boy’s names are an indication of his family’s hopes for him, their recognition of his gifts yet to be unfurled, then it may well be that this child’s life will present a rare landscape, seldom seen by most, and many many challenges met with true and straight heart.

In depth psychology, the symbol of the fisher and the wild landscape are ancient ones, and are particularly related to la Mer, the fisher being the one who returns day in and day out, to that origin of basic, basic life; the one who is nourished by what he or she finds /catches in the great oceanic life form that rocks so much life. In some of the oldest tales from the Inuit, the fisherman is ever amazed at his finds, and has a heart like a north star– it does not waver.

Though there are health issues of the body, often, and there will be issues of protecting this young soul from those who do not understand, a child with Down’s syndrome, nonetheless, is a treasure in these ways of the ancient fisherman, also. Heart like a North Star. You can count on it.

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jwest

Dr. E,

I’m pretty sure thinking of this type has been outlawed throughout Manhattan.

Better keep this concept of imperfect children being a “treasure” under wraps while traveling anywhere near the Upper West Side.

DLS

Uh-oh. Norse. They're a bunch of White Supremacists!

DLS

"I’m pretty sure thinking of this type has been outlawed throughout Manhattan."

As with C. Everett Koop's two books, "The Right to Live, the Right to Die" and "Whatever Happened to the Human Race?" or books like "Euthanasia is NOT the Answer" (while "Prescription: Medicide" by Kevorkian is a best seller there).

[wink]

CStanley

Aw, c'mon, can't we have a snark free zone? This was a lovely post, Dr. E- thanks.

Marlowecan

Yes, I agree with CStanley. It was a lovely post.

Regardless of what you think of the candidates, I am struck by the fact that all have tried to do well by their children.

The Obamas have largely protected theirs . . . and Senator Obama gained considerable cred across the political spectrum for his classy denunciation of attacks on Palin using her family as props.

John McCain has refused to use his sons' service in Iraq as a ploy. The Obama team has respected his decision to avoid any public reference that might, of course, endanger them.

Biden's experience of family tragedy is, of course, well known . . .as is his devotion to his children. Palin similarly appears quite devoted.

Yes, a lovely post . . . for a brief moment of calm . . . in the midst of an often insane campaign.

Kathryn

Lovely post and terrific comments CStanley and Marlowecan.

DLS

"Biden's experience of family tragedy is, of course, well known . . .as is his devotion to his children."

BIG plus for Biden that is among the many overlooked things about him in particular this past week.

spirasol

I'm not sure what Dr E. is doing here................We can all be seen in the light of our humanity. Even the monsters among us can be found in pictures to be lovingly petting their dog or cat, or baby for that matter.

Below is a link to an open letter written by a resident of Wasilla, Alaska named Anne Kilkenny. It seems plain spoken and attempts to answer the question on everyone's mind: Who is Sarah Palin?
http://www.thepresidentialcandidates.us/about-s...

spirasol

This column, like all other columns, are like streams, that run down the information mountain, finally joining the rivers, and then emptying into the ocean, thousands of bits of information floating out there, some of it as big as an detaching ice berg, others tiny, seemingly insignificant.

If this article, this little trickle, is a small voice for all those who struggle raising "imperfect" children........well, okay, fine, though even that topic is fraught with varying opinion and difficulty. Maybe it means to just point at the incredible hope that newborns bring, whatever type. Or maybe, Dr. E, is impressed by a moment in all likelihood that is devoid of all politics, though this too may be an illusion. We may all share in it, in the sense that we remember a moment where all was apolitical.........only the moment, a baby, the mother, the father, the excitement, the joy, the wonder of mankind!

but eventually it winds down the mountain, and joins other rivers of positive press for Sarah Palin, which will be opposed by other rivers carrying the cries of those betrayed by her. If Alaska were a newborn and could magically speak...........what would she say of her many parents?

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