With some context about Ann Romney’s early life as wife and mother…. Mitt legally sidestepped the Vietnam military draft by entering college and then by marrying and then by having children right away. Back then, for those who knew of these deferments and had family who would sometimes help with college, it was a path many took, and it was considered differently depending on who was looking… the sons of the poor= expendable…. those sons who might amount to something=protected. There is much controversy about this yet as it was noted at the time “No senator’s son…” (in the song,) as well as today. It is still a wound to some.
But, no matter how one sees it, deferments were offered to the college enrolled boys and to married fathers, but not unmarried fathers, only legally married fathers… thus too many fathers who had children but had common law marriages, especially in the South, were drafted and sent to war anyway. Many died, leaving loved children behind. So, just that snapshot. There are many many others of that time to fill out the vast cultural and subcultures’ picture.
Ann Romney, in the Mormon faith did not have a choice to go forth and become a CEO of her own company. In 1970s it was unheard of for a Mormon wife to do anything but stay home. That she raised her children is no more and no less than millions in our nation have done. And certainly what ‘ a good Mormon wife does.’
That Mrs. Romney had what back then was called ‘a good provider’ of a husband, and this is one of the cornerstones of Mormon faith, strong prosperity in business– is also unremarkable. Many many Mormon families have a lot of money, make a lot of money. A lot. Even though the renegade Mormon groups who are polygamous live off all our taxes, re their profound use of foodstamps and welfare payments for each man having sometimes hundreds of children whom he does not support financially. A present father who breeds claiming ‘religious principle’ and does not provide, instead feeds at the government trough for decades. But the Romneys are not that kind of Mormon.
As I understand it, re this current dust up between Miss Rosen re Ann Romney: Mitt made a casual remark that his expert on women in America was his wife. And Miss Rosen responded. Rosen clearly was speaking about the millions of women in America who HAVE TO work to provide, and others who are the MAIN provider, and others who WANT to bring business and income to the family world to augment what would be sub-poverty level income otherwise… none of whom have ‘the help’ Mrs. Romney has had in many many ways over the decades. Miss Rosen was saying that Ann is no expert on all women, not by a long shot. And that is accurate.
Just as an aside about this sideshow diversion: I find Twitter’s potential of being poetic and brief and sometimes life-sparing and life giving as in activism in life and death situation, has devolved into a sewer of half completed remarks and thoughts that are un-nuanced in tone and intent, half of them missing being read, huge parts of dialog dropping out, as is right, people return to their actual works and lives instead of thumbing the crackberry. And I condemn not people’s thoughts, but the thinking that that kind of brevity about important issues is actual conversation, debate, discussion or teaching. That twittering about frail items will bring strong results. It isnt. It wont.
I think that most of us know we do not have and did not live our lives in the vast privilege that Ann Romney has, both as Mitt’s wife and as first lady when Mitt was governor.
Having addressed Governors’ spouses at an annual Governors’ convention and having followed them for several days, I’d say most do not take an interest in politics in the rabid ways their husbands/wives do, most prefer to be with their own friends who are not political, and yes, to deal with the household, and with the raising of children. The spouses cannot count on their political partner to be on the home front with the children in any reliable way timewise.
What governors’ spouses DO do “out there”, is go visit carefully vetted homeless shelters where there are kids, orphanages, turn-teens-around programs, train welfare mother programs, etc. These are approved for them, considered non-controversial, and in keeping with the trope of caring for children. And as always, accompanied by calling the media and photogs in. No good deed without publicity for Gov’ spouses.
Ann Romney is a good Mormon Wife, a privileged woman who has done good with her charities’ works. She will be more like Laura Bush, who was her husband’s wing man, making much over him, and not herself. She will be like Ladybird and be concerned with graciousness and beautification. Which G-d knows, is needed.
BUT/ AND– In all, domestically, where my heart lives, I’m far far FAR more concerned not about two prominent women nattering at one another… but about why my daughter who has had cancer cannot get health insurance at any cost, just turned down for the third time. As a mother, I am far more concerned, FAR FAR MORE, than about whether Ann has maids, or Miss Rosen is ‘out there.’ I’m dead tired of the charade there is decent and effective medical for all. Don’t make me laugh.
Mrs. Romney AND Miss Rosen both have great health insurance. My child, a grown woman who gives much and is a fine woman also, does not, through no fault of her own… despite all the flapping of gums by so many in government to the contrary that we passed some kind of oh so angelic health care legislation, that we have such wonderful access– NOT. Or that we have this wonderful small business tax credit to encourage employers to offer health insurance BUT without putting CURBS on health insurers’ who now jack up their prices to the small employer, sky high. We have been given NOTHING.
I’ve not heard from those who have vast health care benefits, including not Ann Romney nor Miss Rosen. I’ve seen no one privileged with fine health care notice vulnerable others, nor bend to help. So far, we are rowing through a garbage-filled river afire… alone. No Mormons on the hill rushing down to help. No DNC anybody running toward us with oars.
Seriously. Just saying. We go on best we can, which is far less than some of the women of our world, but more like MOST of the women in our world who are underinsured or cannot get health insurance at any cost.
Wrangle Romneys and Rosen and Co. over this one Twittertrash remark, all you want. Waste much time at it. Yet, remember, we are still crouched in the dugout canoe with no help– oh ye who know and care so much about women.
Be blessed, but please, bless us in return… with affordable complete insurance within reach for all vulnerable women, men and children– with no turndowns for having the luck of the draw in an illness–bless us with this for certain and NOW, and we’d follow you anywhere. Get that? Voters who have been granted decency of life and care, would follow you with their votes.
But first, in order to help for reallies, you’d have to bend down to see us, bend way way down into the deepest rivers of culture you do not see in your lives as you live them.
We see you. You do not see us.
Let it be different this time, that is my prayer. Let you step out of your usual life, and comport with the vulnerable. Let you see, at last. And act effectively and quickly. Those are the operative words EFFECTIVELY and QUICKLY. You have been slower than the Vatican to even see the deep and egregious issues of vapid and zero health insurance.
Millions of votes are waiting for whomsoever does not gum-flap but delivers the goods–not some watered down governmental mess cooked up by ‘the least of the least’ in Congress, but as good health care as you Mrs. Romney, as good as you Miss Rosen, have for yourselves. No more, no less.
Parity=votes.
Photo Credit: Fotoreporter