Huckabee: Wives Should 'Submit Graciously' to Their Husbands
And they say sexism isn't a problem anymore...
Something like this just pushes my raging feminist temper to the edge. Here is the biggest problem with this. A lot of people agree with Huckabee.. I come across them quite a bit down here in the bible belt. As a Christian it enrages me that my religion is used to oppress people, not just based on their gender, but for many other reasons as well.
Newsweek: Huckabee Agrees That Wives Should 'Submit Graciously' to Their Husbands. What Does He Mean?
In June 1998, the Southern Baptist convention amended its official statement of beliefs for the first time in 35 years to declare that "a wife is to submit graciously to the servant leadership of her husband." And Huckabee, a former Baptist minister then serving as governor of Arkansas, signed a full-page ad in USA Today in support of the statement (along with 129 other evangelical leaders). Now, as the New York Post so poetically puts it, "HOLY HUCKABEE FACES SNIT OVER 'GALS, SUBMIT.'" DailyKos and Andrew Sullivan agree.
It's clear, then, that non-Baptist ears are hearing "do whatever your husband says"--a "Father Knows Best" (if not "Flintstones") philosophy. But to a Baptist like Huckabee, what does "submit graciously to the servant leadership of her husband" actually mean? Seeking context, I called up Roger S. Oldham, the Southern Baptists' vice president for convention relations. Here's what he had to say on the subject:
"Mike Huckabee and his wife in signing this ad in 1998 were reflecting their commitment to their core religious values as revealed in the Bible.
With the exception of the word graciously, this is language coming right out of the Biblical text Ephesians V. It is an imperative addressed to the wife. It's not an imperative addressed to the husband. In other words, the man doesn't walk around and say, "Well, you're supposed to be submissive to me." It's not a club. Subordination is not subjugation, nor is it a statement of inferiority. And "servant," by the way, is not directed toward the woman. It's directed toward the man. She is submitting to the "servant leadership" of him. He is the one who is in the role of servant.
Now, there's no doubt that there has been abuse in interpreting the Ephesians V text. There have been those over the years who have read it that the husband is to keep his wife in constant remembrance that she's to be submissive.
But ideally the Ephesians V family is a family in which there is mutual submission to one another in the fear of the Lord. Therefore, when there are matters of discussion, both husband and wife converse with each other, seeking to find consensus. In those rare instances where consensus is not reached, the wife says, "Okay, you have the responsibility and accountability to stand before God one day and give an account of the decision you're going to make. But I--voluntarily--submit to your leadership is this instance." Now, when that happens, what that does is frees the husband up. He's no longer arguing with his wife. He now has to stand before God."
Sure, that's softer than "submit." But, in the end, the man still gets the upper hand--meaning there's still considerable room for controversy.
How will Huckabee's views on marriage play politically? We know it won't disturb the evangelicals boosting his primary bid. In fact, as an affirmation of faith-based family values, it's probably a plus (especially if Huckabee again calls criticism on this issue an attack on his faith, as he did in 1998).
But much of America might see such strict adherence to Biblical doctrine as sort of extreme, which (along with Huckabee's other "issues") could cause him trouble in the general election. It's one thing to be a man of faith. Most people appreciate that. It's another to say that a wife should agree to give her husband the last word.
I know a lot of "gals" who would disagree.
Link to full article: http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2007/12/14/expertinen...
Keith Olbermann on the subject:
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my mom, the somewhat 'fan' of huckabee that she is
explains this one as "oh, he's a southern baptist minister and that's just what they believe" when i told her about this...hahahaha.
she think's he's the most 'principled' of the Republicans...must be the god thing , lol
-*-a seasick sailor on a ship of noise-*-
the problem with his "principles"
is that he wants to force them on others and i'm just not down with wearing a burka and submitting graciously to any man anytime soon. puh-leeez. my husband will be having dinner on the table for me! lol.
huckabee has a "likeable" personality.. just like bush had one in the 2000 and 2004 election. you should watch "Journeys with George"... really excellent documentary. you'll find yourself hating yourself for actually thinking that bush has a likable personality. it's the same thing with huckabee.
- Ava Lowery
What's the problem?
"is that he wants to force them on others and i'm just not down with wearing a burka and submitting graciously to any man anytime soon."
I don't see the problem with all this
............
see what i graciously submit to is kicking sexist ass
so watch it!
- Ava Lowery
Wow, what huckabee thinks is
Wow, what huckabee thinks is a good idea is really kind of gross. I'm a feminist, and no way in HECK will I ever just do whatever my husband(if I do get married, anyway) tells me to, just because he's a man. Sexists annoy me severely. And I do hate it when people try to force their views on you. It's just dumb.
When I go I leave no trace...-Everett Ruess
Happiness lies in a large measure of self-forgetfulness, either in work... or in the love of others
I must pack my short life full of interesting events and creative activity
Dirt on Huckabee
I saw on (Don't Laugh) PerezHilton.com that Huckabee's son was arrested last year for trying to board a plane with a gun. Also they reported that Huckabee was ALLEGEDLY involved in covering up an incident where his son David killed a dog at boy scout camp, by hanging it!
I don't know but sounds to me like someone has a problem (David). The only question is: Do these things affect how Mike Huckabee will be president, would they interfere with the presidency?
Will people be less likely to vote for him because of these things?
-Jess
~*~*~
"There's something happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear...Stop, children, what's that sound? Everyone look what's going down..."- Buffalo Springfield
omg i love perez hilton!
no lie XD
-*-a seasick sailor on a ship of noise-*-
Major bs for huckabee to
Major bs for huckabee to even mean something like that. This is the US women don't submit to anything. So what if people get married have affairs then try and stop divorce thats their issue but women have the same rights as men, were a few months away from possibly having one as president so do try and tell that to ms clinton huck if she becomes our president.