I am an independent voter who has been a enthusiastic supporter of John McCain. I believe that Senator McCain is a principled statesman whose political involvement reflects an astute awareness of politics and government as manifestations of society and culture in broad historical context.

I believe that John McCain has a rare ability to not only focus upon seemingly isolated decisions and issues, but to pull back and consider such things in broader context, in terms of cause and effect. I also admire the fact that he is comfortable in trusting his intuition and his inner capacity for compassion; this combination enables an access to the collective consciousness beyond ones own personal experiences.

His inclusion of Governor Palin for this prominent position in his administration, especially in potential combination with certain members of his present circle, further attests to his wisdom and generosity of spirit. The generosity lies in that he has already intuitively bequeathed several timely catalysts for significant, beneficial political and social change through the inner revolution of individual perception, rather than artificial structure, during the process of his campaign for President, rather than undermining such opportunities through the caution and self-censorship that ambition often effects.

No matter the outcome of this election, Governor Palin's candidacy is a very good thing for American society. Your article addresses only one of many crucial reasons why this is so.

The cold truth is that proponents of eugenics don't believe that an infant like Baby Palin is "supposed" to be here. Some would even claim that Palin is selfish for insisting upon allowing her infant to survive.

For some, there is no reason for a "progressive" society to permit such a reminder of natural diversity and what THEY perceive as "imperfection" to impose itself upon society. Some such people cite financial reasons, national or ethnic strength, etc., but what most of them really hate is having a mirror among them that says, quietly yet clearly---that could be me.

Some believe that they cannot afford to experience the introspection, and even pain, that compassion entails; they believe it will make them weak, make society weak.

For such people, Baby Palin is a reminder of frailty, of chance, of mortality. They fear him, they fear they cannot "go there" without disintegrating, without losing themselves. Baby Palin must be reduced, categorized, as an "other."

And here our troubles began, as one author on racism and genocide has said.

Nobody would castigate a Martin Luther King for entrusting Mrs. King with the care of their infant in order for King to advocate a cause on behalf of that infant, to dedicate his gifts to the struggle for human dignity, to the validation of their infant.

I strongly believe that Baby Palin supports the efforts of his mother and family in ensuring that he exists: not only as a living creature, like all of us, in this realm, but that he exists in our collective mind and spirit. A family, a people, a nation, is judged according to how it recognizes the least powerful among its own.

---Laura Semilian