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OPINIONS
Mark Caserta: Palin lives out her Christian principles
John McCain shocked the country last week with his vice-presidential pick. We're all still learning about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her qualifications to be not only the vice president but also president of the United States should she be called upon to do so.
One thing's for certain: Sarah Palin has a stellar outlook on life.
On her perspective on important social issues, she passes with flying colors. Gov. Palin has deeply held pro-life views and gave birth to her fifth child in April -- a child, most studies have determined, that 80 percent of mothers choose not to allow to enter this world due to a pre-determined special-needs condition: Down syndrome.
In a society where we have chosen to pick and choose when and where we will allow a child to live or die, Sarah Palin stands out as a true Christian conservative and devout mother who cherishes life.
The Palins have five children: Track, 18; Bristol, 17; Willow, 13; Piper, 7; and now Trig.
Sarah and her family first learned of her baby's condition four months into her pregnancy. When she received the phone call from her doctor asking her to come to the office so they could discuss results of recent testing performed, she knew her fifth child would somehow be different from her previous four. Sarah insisted on being told over the phone and received a diagnosis that presented her with some potential life and career changing developments.
"I've never had problems with my other pregnancies, so I was shocked," Palin told the Anchorage Daily News.
"It took a while to open up the book that the doctor gave me about children with Down Syndrome, and a while to log on to the Web site and start reading facts about the situation."
"When we first heard, it was kind of confusing," Palin said. She said the revelation was "very, very challenging," and initially she felt sad.
According to People magazine, upon hearing the news, her husband, Todd, quickly said, "We shouldn't be asking, 'Why us?' We should be saying, 'Well, why not us?' "
The couple's sound Christian faith and beliefs precluded them from making any decision other than welcoming this child into their lives.
Trig Paxson Van Palin, named after his great-uncle, a Bristol Bay fisherman, joined the Palin family in April.
In a statement issued after Trig's birth, his parents said, "Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."
Modern technology is a blessing from God. How we choose to use it is up to us. Many choose it for life, while others choose it for death. Sarah Palin and her husband were given that choice and chose life for little Trig Paxson Van Palin.
Fulfill God's purpose in your life, Trig. Your parents gave you a chance.
Mark Caserta travels the country as a business consultant. He is a native West Virginian and resides in Cabell County. He is a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.
