Is Sarah Palin a feminist? In a piece titled The Fake Feminism of Sarah Palin, feminist author Jessica Valenti asserts that anyone suggesting that she is should be laughed out of the room. What disqualifies her? The fact that she is pro-life, of course:

“But, of course, Palin isn’t a feminist—not in the slightest. What she calls “the emerging conservative feminist identity” isn’t the product of a political movement or a fight for social justice.

It isn’t a structural analysis of patriarchal norms, power dynamics or systemic inequities. It’s an empty rallying call to women who are disdainful of or apathetic to women’s rights, who want to make abortion and emergency contraception illegal,...READ MORE

At least that’s how I am choosing to interpret the recent news about Kim Kardashian’s recently tweeted complaint about a woman breastfeeding at a restaurant where she was having lunch.

Last Friday, Ms. Kardashian posted the following to her twitter account:

“EWW Im at lunch, the woman at the table next 2 me is breast feeding her baby w no coverup then puts baby on the table and changes her diaper”

Of course, outrage ensued.

The diaper changing part, I can certainly understand. A restaurant table is not an appropriate place for cleaning up babies’ behinds.

But I am intrigued and confused by the idea of Ms. Kardashian being disgusted by a woman who was breastfeeding “with no cover.”

As...READ MORE

As part of a Father’s Day tribute, the people over at The Good Men Project are asking people to describe their dads in two words.

Some responses have been touching:

Blindly supportive, Brilliant and Idealistic, Touch and Caring, Good man

Some responses have been amusing:

Vodka and charm.

And some responses have been sad:

Not home, Neglectful alcoholic

I thought this was an interesting exercise, so in honor of Father’s Day (this Sunday, June 20) I thought we could try it here ourselves.

What two words best describe your dad?

I can go first:

Curious
My dad’s insatiable desire for knowledge and passionate search for truth in all things is something that made a real impression upon...READ MORE

My kids are all a-flutter over this thing.

Have you seen this newly-released trailer to the upcoming (this Christmas!) The Voyage of the Dawn Treader?

I must admit that I am intrigued as well. As a fan of the C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, I am eager to see Walden Media‘s interpretation of The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader.

My older kids and I enjoyed the first two movies in this series, despite the fact that they strayed from the plot of the books on occasion (Hello? Susan kissed Prince Caspian? My boys are still getting over that one).

What I like most about this series of films is the fact that it popularizes wholesome entertainment. Teens and big kids don’t need gratuitous...READ MORE

Governor Charlie Crist’s veto of a measure requiring women to see an ultrasound before getting an abortion was a blow to pro-life forces in Florida.

Anti-abortion advocates and Crist’s Republican critics in the Legislature immediately pounced on the decision. John Stemberger, head of the Florida Family Policy Council, called the veto “profoundly disappointing” and said it’s now “crystal clear that he’s pro-abortion.”

But one good thing to come out of the debate leading up to the veto and the national attention the measure garnered was that it made people think about abortion, talk about abortion, and examine what an ultrasound really is. Even some pro-abortion people were forced to...READ MORE

I’d like to pretend I have no idea who Miley Cyrus is. But can any of us truly claim to have remained immune to the deluge of media from the the pop/television star in recent years?

I think I first saw her face on a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. And then on a bottle of orange juice. And then on children’s sunglasses, packages of cookies, cans of hairspray, and ... every single magazine cover on the planet.

When the dad of a homeschooling family that doesn’t own a television set asked me one day, “Who is this Hannah Montana?” I knew that the young Ms. Cyrus had achieved the ultimate in media saturation. Which is not necessarily a good thing for her. Or us.

After her recent raunchy...READ MORE

It seems a reasonable request.

The Catholic League requested that Empire State Building officials light the famous New York skyscraper on August 26, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

They’ve done as much for dog shows, Mariah Carey, and even the 60th anniversary of communist China. But for Mother Teresa, they say No. In an unsigned, faxed letter, they say No. And they have since refused to answer questions put to them by the Catholic League or in any way explain their refusal to honor the Catholic saint and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

In typical form, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League is incensed. Say what you like about Bill Donohue, but in a...READ MORE

This is a touching video of Andrea Bocelli telling what he calls “a little story.”

It’s the story of how the Italian pop tenor’s mother, while pregnant with him, was advised to have an abortion because he might have some disability.

I always think, when people argue for abortion in the “hard cases” of disability, that they ought to ask the baby’s opinion ...

Do you want to live? In spite of being disabled and perhaps suffering quite a bit throughout the course of your life, do you want life?

Because the human response is always YES. Here, Bocelli’s response is a beautiful, joy-filled YES. And the world has been blessed many times over by his mother’s choice for life.

The cheerful song...READ MORE