Ms. Warner would like to argue that the “Mommy Wars” are over. But the animosity displayed by both her and Hilary Rosen towards Ann Romney indicates that the war is alive and well, except instead of working vs. stay-at-home mothers, we are now pitting rich women against poor women. According to both Ms. Warner and Ms. Rosen, the choice to stay home and raise children is not really the issue here; instead it is who has a right to comment on social welfare issues. Both argue that Mrs. Romney has no business advising her husband on women’s issues because she is wealthy. I found this fundamentally hypocritical. Ms. Rosen is a millionaire. As an attorney and adviser she has been very successful. She has a doctorate degree. She is white. How can she know what it feels like to work two jobs and barely make ends meet? She has no more in common with these women than Ann Romney does. And according to her narrow assessment, Michelle Obama cannot relate to these women either.
What Rosen’s comments did was reduce women to being single-minded. We cannot all experience everything. This is why we read informative magazines, watch the news, visit our neighbors, volunteer at school, church or civic events. A big part of living a fulfilling life is serving others, and in so doing, we gain insight, compassion, wisdom and empathy for those whose lives are challenging in different ways. A woman who has spent time serving her family, serving in her church and helping her husband as he serves both in volunteer positions and as governor would gain ample experience and insight into the lives of others. To say that she has no understanding and therefore no right to comment or advise is to silence all women who may express concern for those less-fortunate than themselves. We all have a right to speak up about issues that are concerning to us, regardless of our social class, race, religion, educational level or marital status. Instead of fueling more social-animosity, we should appreciate the efforts of all who are willing to stand up and express concern for and offer resolutions to our increasing social and economic problems.
KC Nelson, St. George