A Banner is Unfurled

Eliminating Women, to Prop Up Abortion

2012-01-27T17:04:00.000-08:00

"From a macro perspective, I don't think it's a very good idea for us to be eliminating women. But if you look at it at the individual level, which is what we do, I don't have any right to say that one person's reason is better or worse than another's."

When you advocate for the murder of the unborn, you really lose the moral high ground, and are left to accept the consequences of the lies upon which abortion is based. Not that you could escape those consequences regardless.

MARRIAGE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: Fundamental Goods That Stand or Fall Together An Open Letter from Religious Leaders in the United States to All Americ

2012-01-19T13:56:00.000-08:00

"In short, the refusal of these religious organizations to treat a same-sex sexual relationship as if it were a marriage marked them and their members as bigots, subjecting them to the full arsenal of government punishments and pressures reserved for racists. These punishments will only grow more frequent and more severe if civil “marriage” is redefined in additional jurisdictions. For then, government will compel special recognition of relationships that we the undersigned religious leaders and the communities of faith that we represent cannot, in conscience, affirm. Because law and government not only coerce and incentivize but also teach, these sanctions would lend greater moral legitimacy to private efforts to punish those who defend marriage."

"WHY FIGHT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE? Is There Really That Much at Stake?" by Douglas Farrow

2012-01-17T14:08:00.000-08:00

"Here we have what is perhaps the most pressing reason why same-sex marriage should be fought, and fought vigorously. It is a reason that neither the proponents nor the opponents of same-sex marriage have properly debated or thought through. In attacking “heterosexual monogamy,” same-sex marriage does away with the very institution—the only institution we have—that exists precisely in order to support the natural family and to affirm its independence from the state. In doing so, it effectively makes every citizen a ward of the state, by turning his or her most fundamental human connections into legal constructs at the state’s gift and disposal."

Read more:http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=25-01-024-f#ixzz1jkvkX82S

If you want to become more effective in defending marriage, please read this article in its entirety. It really gets to the nitty-gritty points of debate--the why's and where fore's.

Is Governor Romney a Christian?

2012-01-15T15:59:00.000-08:00

Governor Romney, a hopeful candidate for the office of President of the United States of America, is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Mormons," or members of the LDS Church are Christians. His beliefs (and the beliefs of members of the church to which he belongs) differ, in some distinct points of doctrine, from other religions who claim to be Christian, just as they differ from each other on specific points of doctrine. Naturally, if they all believed the same things, there would be "one Lord, one faith, and one baptism." Someday, there will be one fold. Regardless, we respect others' freedom to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience.

If you would like the official LDS statement of belief regarding the Divinity of Jesus the Christ, please make a careful study of this document. For the record, I will be voting for whomever is selected to go up against the current President, regardless of his religious affiliation. I tremble to think what 4 more years of undermining and trampling on the Constitution, gross power grabs which violate the separation of powers in the 3 branches of govt., as well as galloping spending from overdrawn bank accounts, will do to our freedom.

If you're interested in where the LDS Church stands on social issues, including the official endorsement of a particular candidate, follow this link, where you can search by topic.

"Today's Family: Protect the Power to Create Life"

2012-01-15T15:46:00.000-08:00

The world will tell you that promiscuity is no big deal; that your body is your's to do with what you will, with little or no consequence, and that the heedless pursuit of pleasure is what life is all about. If you've discovered the lies behind that message (and the sorrow or hollowness that eventually follows), for yourself, then perhaps you will appreciate the guidance found in this message, as well as the hope. You will never regret chastity.

May you have a blessed Sabbath.

"Religion Enables Social Morality"

2012-01-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

“It is an irony that as agreement on the moral values and obligations that sustain law declines, governments feel compelled to multiply laws and regulations in an attempt to preserve order. In the long run, however, law alone cannot compensate for the absence of morality and self-control on the part of private citizens.”

"If You are a Father and You Like It--It's Hot" by Nie-Nie

2012-01-13T09:28:00.000-08:00

"father[s], in my mind are men who are committed to their children and wife, they are involved in family life, they show respect for the women in their lives, and they play with their children, teach, fear [which means respect] God [the ultimate Father], and express love vocally and daily."

Yep, I concur. Fatherhood is one of the most important roles a man can take on. It is a stewardship of trust and responsibility like no other. It's equal and most important counterpart? Motherhood.

"Sex-selection abortion tilts population figures against females worldwide"

2012-01-12T16:56:00.001-08:00

So, feminists, it appears that when women around the world are given the choice, they'll abort females. Talk about an epic back-fire. Sadly, some of those who are most anxious to cover up the guilt and the self-betrayal that accompanies foeticide will shrill the loudest at this report, but "the hidden things of darkness" need exposure to the light, regardless, so that others might avoid making the same mistakes, and the deep regret, which someday, all proponents will inescapably face. For those living with regret, there is hope.

"Feminists who devote their energy to the promotion of legal abortion should be required to explain their priorities in light of these figures, which show quite clearly that the unborn children who are killed in the womb are disproportionately

female."

What Comes After Hosanna-Tabor Jan 12, 2012 Matthew J. Franck

2012-01-12T16:48:00.000-08:00

"...With liberty and justice, for all...."

Justice, "equality," and "tolerance" have been so turned on their heads of late, that it's a real cause for celebration, when justice truly carries the day.

"Roberts set the record straight:

It is true that her religious duties consumed only 45 minutes of each workday, and that the rest of her day was devoted to teaching secular subjects. The EEOC regards that as conclusive, contending that any ministerial exception “should be limited to those employees who perform exclusively religious function.” . . . We cannot accept that view. Indeed, we are unsure whether any such employees exist. The heads of congregations themselves often have a mix of duties, including secular ones, such as helping to manage the congregation’s finances, supervising purely secular personnel, and overseeing the upkeep of facilities."

No Fault. No Way...

2012-01-12T16:33:00.000-08:00

No Fault. No Way...

(1st in a Two-Part Series on Divorce)

Over the holidays, my friend Jane spent her time packing up what remained of her perfectly-detailed home of the last 23 years. Thirty year's worth of furniture and personal possessions had already been put out on the street to be sold at a garage sale and she had winnowed the remainder down to all that would fit in the small one-bedroom apartment that she was moving to. Her voice cracked with emotion as she told me "I still can't believe it. For 30 years I gave my all to this marriage - to Todd, to our children. I really did... and although I made mistakes - everyone does - I think I did a pretty decent job. And look at this; I'm literally out on the street."

No-fault divorce allowed Jane's husband of 30 years to walk away from the marriage, no questions asked. It did not matter that Jane wanted the marriage to be saved. It did not matter that Jane had given what many would argue to be the best and most productive years of her life to raising their now-grown children. It did not matter that Jane had only a few college credits under her belt and was qualified for only some very basic, entry-level employment positions. With the down-turn in the economy negatively impacting Todd's company, he had been required to pay her only minimal alimony.

Jane had supported Todd while he built a successful career - one that will continue to pay him dividends for the rest of his life, especially when the economy turns around - while Jane, who is 55+ years, has virtually nothing skill-wise to go forward. Todd walked away from their marriage contract with no repercussions and Jane is left to live what to her is a "nightmare," the family she has given her life to build now in shambles.

Such is just one example of the blight that has been brought into the lives of both men and women - not to mention children - by what advocates of the creation of no-fault divorce called a logical and best practice for ending the acrimony associated with divorce.

Stephen Baskerville, friend of UFI and author of Taken into Custody: The War against Fathers, Marriage and the Family, disagrees with those advocates:

No-fault divorce laws were introduced in the United States and other industrialized countries during the 1970s and are being expanded into other regions of the world today. "No-fault" is a misnomer (taken from car insurance), for the new laws did not stop at removing the requirement that grounds be cited for a divorce. But they did create unilateral and involuntary divorce, so that one spouse may end a marriage without any agreement or fault by the other. Moreover, the spouse who divorces or otherwise abrogates the marriage contract incurs no liability for the costs or consequences, creating a unique and unprecedented legal anomaly. "In all other areas of contract law those who break a contract are expected to compensate their partner," writes Robert Whelan of London's Institute of Economic Affairs, "but under a system of 'no fault' divorce, this essential element of contract law is abrogated."

The primary purpose of no-fault divorce law is to empower whichever party wants out, with the least possible fuss and the greatest possible speed - no questions asked. No-fault divorce does not differentiate between forty weeks, or forty years of marriage; making it easier to divorce a spouse of forty years than to fire an employee of one month - as we at UFI often point out. With the almost nationwide implementation of no-fault divorce came a sharp increase in the rate of divorce.

Did no-fault divorce actually lessen the acrimony associated with divorce?

Contrary to what had been promoted as one of the positive aspects of no-fault divorce, it did not take the acrimony out of the divorce process; no-fault law simply shifted the conflict into protracted property and custody battles. Baskerville points out:

"In the United States divorce and custody comprise over half of civil litigation, constituting the cash cow of the judiciary and bringing employment and earnings to a host of public and private officials, including judges, lawyers, psychotherapists, mediators, counselors, social workers, child support enforcement agents, and others."

A University of Exeter study found that in over half the cases there was no recollection of major conflict before the separation. "The assumption that parental conflict will cease at divorce is not only invalid," writes Patricia Morgan; "divorce itself instigates conflict which continues into the post-divorce period."

But the implementation of no-fault divorce brought a particularly severe assault on "the quality, prevalence, and stability of marriage in American life." Brad Wilcox, Director of the National Marriage Project:

"In the 1970s, proponents of easy divorce argued that the ready availability of divorce would boost the quality of married life, as abused, unfulfilled, or otherwise unhappy spouses were allowed to leave their marriages. Had they been correct, we would expect to see that Americans' reports of marital quality had improved during and after the 1970s. Instead, marital quality fell during the '70s and early '80s. In the early 1970s, 70% of married men and 67% of married women reported being very happy in their marriages; by the early '80s, these figures had fallen to 63% for men and 62% for women. So marital quality dropped even as divorce rates were reaching record highs.
What happened? It appears that average marriages suffered during this time, as widespread divorce undermined ordinary couples' faith in marital permanency and their ability to invest financially and emotionally in their marriages -- ultimately casting clouds of doubt over their relationships. For instance, one study by economist Betsey Stevenson found that investments in marital partnerships declined in the wake of no-fault divorce laws. Specifically, she found that newlywed couples in states that passed no-fault divorce were about 10% less likely to support a spouse through college or graduate school and were 6% Second, marriage rates have fallen and cohabitation rates have surged in the wake of the divorce revolution, as men and women's faith in marriage has been shaken. From 1960 to 2007, the percentage of American women who were married fell from 66% to 51%, and the percentage of men who were married fell from 69% to 55%. Yet at the same time, the number of cohabiting couples increased fourteen-fold -- from 439,000 to more than 6.4 million."

So what do we do about it?

We all need to acknowledge that no-fault divorce is a policy error and work to change it. This is a topic that seems to garner little attention from politicians, the media or even among our friends, neighbors, and family. It's almost as though there is some kind of moratorium on discussion of the family and societal devastation brought about by divorce. "Divorce has become an adult entitlement that has to be protected against challenge, criticism or infringement." - Barbara Dafoe Whitehead (Culture of Divorce).

It does no good to decry "the sorry state of marriage" and the "breakdown of the family" unless we are willing to face head on the problems created by divorce, including no-fault divorce. We need to bring this to the attention of policy makers and work to change the policies that undermine the stability of marriage and families in this fashion. United Families International has endorsedSecond Chances: A Proposal to Reduce Unnecessary Divorce as a first step in reversing the damage.

We should support efforts to limit no-fault divorce. Not as an attempt to force people to live together, but as an effort to provide strong incentives for individuals to work at their marriages rather than walk away from them.

"Reforming divorce laws, first of all, means re-introducing fault for violating the marital contract. It will, in effect, restore justice to the legal proceedings. "The alternative to liberal or 'no-fault' divorce is not no divorce," writes Robert Whelan, "but divorce which is granted only...after due legal process to establish fault." The obvious counter-argument, that failed marriages often entail imperfections on both sides, does not justify abandoning all standards of justice. "There is fault on both sides in every human relationship; the faults, however, are far from equal.

To effectively deter divorce, fault must entail substantial consequences. Or stated more positively, innocence must carry substantial protections." - Stephen Baskerville

Conclusion

Unfortunately, a society that accepts unilateral divorce is a society that is willing to sacrifice the welfare of children to the comfort and "happiness" of adults - often to the "happiness" of just one spouse. Couples are now joined under the new dispensation to marry "for as long as you both shall love" with little or no regard for the harm visited upon a still-committed spouse and the children left in the lurch when the marriage is dissolved.

By gutting the marital contract, no-fault divorce has literally transformed the meaning of marriage. The legal innovation of unilateral divorce assisted in the reduction of marriage to nothing but a temporary association of individuals. Baskerville concludes: "In retrospect, these laws can be seen as one of the boldest social experiments in history. The result effectively abolished marriage as a legal contract. As a result, it's no longer possible to form a binding agreement to create a family."

And that is the most disheartening and frightening message of all. Just ask Jane.* *Not her actual name.

For more information and research on the impact of divorce, please visit UFI's website and our Guide to Family Issues: Divorce.

Sincerely,

Carol Soelberg
President, United Families International

"Marriage Right, explained" Posted by On Lawn

2012-01-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

My two favorite quotes:

"If we aren't recognized for our capacity, responsibilities, and rights for how we are born and how we give birth to children, we aren't being recognized for what our relationship really means. Our rights are being taken away and no longer recognized if marriage is neutered to just mean the same thing as the freedom of adult association I mentioned above."

and

"But marriage is a right, it is a right to join with someone in a life long union to express our natural capacity to create children. Marriage is socially the best preparation and guardian of the expression of that right. It is something more than what we recognize as same-sex marriage. And it is something that we need to preserve for the sake of all of our rights."

Please take time to read the entire post. Marriage is a unique union, and can only fulfill the full measure of its creation, when both a man and a woman are present in each union.

"Turning the hearts and revaluing families"

2012-01-09T07:15:00.000-08:00

The phrase,"turning the hearts" can be traced here.

"Keys to Developing Effective Families"

2012-01-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

I don't think anyone grows up thinking, "Someday, I want to have a bitter divorce, a judge telling me how and when I can raise my kids, and live lonely and struggling, ever after (hey, wait, isn't that what reality TV is for?).

Successful families don't just magically happen. Especially not in a 1/2 hour, with 3 commercial breaks.

There are tried and true principles for success. This article lists some astute findings in the recipe for a happy, effective family.

"YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT’S ‘NEXT’ IN RADICAL SEX AGENDA Teachers' union reportedly plans to 'liberate' children's 'identity'"

2012-01-06T10:02:00.000-08:00

“There’s a battle for your child, Whoever fights harder will win.”

If only the NEA cared more about actual academics, instead of investing so much effort in spreading perversion. Those who are the proponents of spreading this filth to children ought to be investigated for illegal activity related to children.

The (San Jose )Articles

2012-01-04T17:38:00.000-08:00

The Articles

Abortion is not an international right.

"An Introduction to Religious Freedom"

2012-01-04T10:24:00.000-08:00

What is freedom of religion?

Contrary to what some may assume, religious freedom is not simply the freedom to worship or to believe the way one chooses, though these are essential parts of it. Neither is it just for religious people. Religious freedom is actually deeper, broader and more important than most realize.

At the most fundamental level, religious freedom is the human right to think, act and express what one deeply believes, according to the dictates of his or her moral conscience. In fact, religious freedom has always been understood in conjunction with “freedom of conscience” — the liberty to develop and hold moral convictions and to act accordingly. So while religious freedom encompasses the liberty of religious belief and devotion, it also extends well beyond that, incorporating the freedom to act — to speak freely in public, to live according to one’s moral principles and to advocate one’s own moral vision for society. The breadth of religious freedom and its relationship with freedom of conscience helps explain why religious freedom is important for everyone, not just for people of faith.

A New Visual For Mapping Your Family Tree

2012-01-03T15:27:00.001-08:00

Not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but want to make a fan chart? Simply go here:

https://ident.familysearch.org/cis-web/pages/registration/registration.html

Remember, your whole family tree is made up of both men and women. Only marriage between a man and a woman celebrates that fact, and requires equal representation from both sexes, and officially links you to all your ancestors. What will your fan chart look like?

18 Years Ago, Today...

2011-12-28T21:50:00.000-08:00

(And they lived happily, ever after)

...my husband made me a wife, and I made him a husband, as we made a marriage covenant for Time, and for all Eternity, before God and witnesses, legally and lawfully recognized by the state in which our union was solemnized. Eighteen years is awesome, but it's only the beginning. When we got married we were just a couple of poor, under-grad. college kids. Literally, we got married on faith, and we lived on love (and student loans). We had our struggles--meager income, a chronic illness for me, years of college left to complete, cross-country moves....Our first child was born 1 month after I graduated with my B.A. Our second child was born 6 months before my husband finished grad. school. Yep, we lived modestly, and struggled like any young marrieds, but those were good days, building our family, strengthening relationships on both sides of His and Her family tree. Now, we are not just 1+1=2; we are 1+1 = 7. We are parents of 5 wonderful children, whom we fully validate as individuals with their own needs, strengths, talents, and areas where they need extra help. We work hard to instill in them good values through weekly attendance at Church, Boy Scouts, the Young Women Personal Progress Program, family night once a week, community service, and daily family and personal scripture study (oh, and lots and lots of prayer--which makes a noticeable difference!). We encourage integrity, virtue, civic duty, education, and good moral values, such as those found in the 10 commandments. We are not perfect individuals, nor are we a perfect family, but as husband and wife, and father and mother, we do our best to live up to our commitments to each other, our offspring, and our extended family, as well as societal standards for marriage. We honor our children's right to have a relationship with and receive care from both their mother and father, and not just on the odd weekend, arranged by a judge, but every single day of their lives. Only marriage between a man and a woman guarantees this right of society's most vulnerable citizens. While it is true that the govt. may confer marriage benefits on some (but not all) sex-segregated unions (those who pretend such a union is the same as a marriage between a man and a woman), sex-segregated unions cannot, in turn, confer the same benefits and advantages on society, as does that of a public marriage between a man and a woman. (Hey, this is a political blog--you didn't think you'd get off without a little soap-boxing from me, did ya?)

Oh, and did I mention joy? The biggest blessing of marriage and children is joy. When I look at my kids, and see their father's features, mingled with mine, and know that these precious children are mine forever, and I get to enjoy the privilege and thrill of watching them blossom and reach for their full potential, well, there's just nothing better in life. Knowing my husband is fully committed to me and our children is priceless, above any treasure on earth. The price for joy is sacrifice; sacrifice of selfishness, above all else, and where better to learn to live for others than in marriage and family? Getting to joy is a process, and it doesn't happen overnight. But in marriage and family, it can be found, worlds without end. In marriage between a man and a woman, the whole is clearly more than the sum of the parts.

18 years down, eternity to go.

"Parents Have a Sacred Duty"

2011-12-18T21:51:00.001-08:00

THE RESTORATION OF MORALITY AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

2011-12-18T21:43:00.000-08:00

"Extraordinary effort will be required to protect religious liberty. Our doctrine confirms what both political philosophers and Founding Fathers advocated. Doctrine and Covenants 134:2 reads, '…no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience…' Religious conscience is grounded in one’s belief in being accountable to God for conduct. The effort of secularists or governments to coerce conduct in conflict with religious conscience leads to social disunity, and is a primary reason why religious liberty is essential for civil peace.[28]
The role of religion in blessing a secular society was set forth succinctly by Alexis De Tocqueville in his classic Democracy in America. He stated, 'The greatest advantage of religion is to inspire…principles. There is no religion which does not place the object of man’s desires above and beyond the treasure of earth, and which does not naturally raise his soul to regions far above those of the senses. Nor is there any which does not impose on man some sort of duties to his kind, and thus draws him at times from the contemplation of himself.'[29]"

"Moments of Startling Clarity: Moral Education Programming in Ontario Today" by Dr. Stephen L. Anderson

2011-12-14T08:28:00.001-08:00

This article highlights the fruits of morality in a vacuum: students who could not bring themselves to make a judgement call on an act of brutality. If there is no absolute "right," then how can one acknowledge, let alone defend themselves or others from absolute "wrong?"

This article has the answer.

Afton’s Snow

2011-12-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

Death is a part of life, and each life is worth preserving (including the unborn), no matter how imperfect or short it may be.

2011-12-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

Different Forms of the Family

By Tom Christensen

Where there is life, virtue, optimism, and progress, traditional families abound. As a wise leader has stated, "If we ask ourselves what has held our nation together, what has given it the strength to endure and the spirit to achieve, we find the answer in our families and those basic family values of work, hope, charity, faith, and love."

The traditional family is the oldest and most important social institution in human history. Article 16 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by unanimous consent by the nations of the world, proclaims the family to be the "natural and fundamental group unit of society entitled to protection by society and the State" and recognizes the prior rights of "men and women of full age...to marry and found a family."

The issue today is not whether the family will survive, but what type of family will survive. Unfortunately, single parent families are forming at five times the rate of two-parent families in the US. Although there will always be a mix of family forms and all are worthy of some respect, certain kinds of families are statistically more stable and beneficial to society than others. Like a business, some families, by virtue of the way they are staffed, managed and organized, perform at a higher level and produce better results.

Traditional families are the ideal. They are based upon time-tested natural formulas, and the benefits are obvious. No other form comes close in terms of producing responsible, resourceful, respectful offspring. The traditional family is the most self-reliant, requiring the least amount of governmental intervention and financial support.

What follows the breakdown of the natural family?

To help encourage citizens to form stable families conducive to a free society and the rearing of children, the traditional family historically enjoyed special status under the law. However, the current global trend is to adopt laws, contrary to natural law, that repudiate sexual norms, reward childbearing outside of marriage or legalize and pay for abortions, shift parental responsibilities to employees of the state, and grant the same legal status to all family forms. The result is social chaos and an unprecedented escalation of drug and physical abuse, divorce, suicide, delinquency, poverty, crime, illiteracy rates, etc.

Rather than supporting and encouraging family forms most beneficial to society, lawmakers at the United Nations lump all families together. Many UN delegates refuse to speak of the family in the singular but only the plural "families" encompassing every possible family deviation. Any attempt to meaningfully define the family and address the needs of the traditional family proves divisive. The European Union, for example, refuses to address family issues unless all parties agree to expand the definition of family and marriage to include all conjugal relationships and to make abortion a human right. UN political correctness and failed social engineering often trumps the basic needs of countries and desires of children and adults.

In essence, UN delegates from the Europe and other developed nations seek to make the rest of the world miserable like themselves. Religion is stone dead in many of the nations of Europe and Scandinavia. Without a moral foundation in law or society and with generous welfare benefits and high marginal tax rates, the younger generations shuns marriage and parental responsibility.

Sweden leads the world in the percentage of single-person households. Prominent married men in Europe often support mistresses and father "love children." The weekly German magazine Stern reports that "18 percent of all German males older than fifteen seek the services of prostitutes on a regular basis." The daily activities of men and women are virtually identical. Abortion and sterilization are mainstream practices as nations depopulate. Babies are carted off to child-care shortly after birth. Most children are "only children" who do not have or do not know their father, siblings, aunts and uncles, or grandparents. Euthanasia of the old or infirm is legal and commonplace, while most die alone in subsidized housing. The government is involved in virtually every aspect of life.

Whether gay or straight, married or single, religious or atheist, liberal or conservative; no honest and informed person would want to live in a world devoid of traditional families. Sometimes people do not appreciate what they have until they lose it.

A few years ago, I accepted the "Family and Peace Award" in behalf of United Families International from the World Association of NGOs in Budapest Hungary. In my acceptance speech, I spoke briefly of the need for capable fathers and mothers and child-rich families. I closed then, as I do now, by quoting a few lines from the English novelist, Storm Jameson, in her 1966 work, The Early Life of Stephen Hind:

Some withered nerve in her brain twitched slightly, she softened, smiled, and told him a story about her grandfather who had been a page at Queen Victoria's coronation.
"That was another world," he said.
"Another civilization," she corrected him, "the one I was born into. It has died. I say: died, not vanished, because it was a living organism. A civilization based on the family. What has taken its place is not alive; an atomized society, without security, without warmth, a chaos of fragmented mechanical relationships. O, I know as well as you do, that in my world all was not well, there was ignorance and poverty. But the right way was not to tear that world down and replace it by anarchy. The family base should have been extended, cherished, encouraged."

Tom Christensen, former CEO of United Families, is a successful father, attorney, and politician. He has written extensively on the natural family and has addressed UN delegations in behalf of UFI in Istanbul, New York, Nairobi, the Hague, Lisbon and Geneva.

Occupy Wall Street - Afterburner with Bill Whittle - Three and a Half Days

2011-12-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

"Thou shalt not covet." If only our current administration had got that memo.

"Traditional Family Law: Connecting Marriage with Children" by Helen Alvaré

2011-12-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

"...[T]he path of divorcing marriage from children—a path taken to its logical end by same-sex marriage—not only disadvantages children, but is already helping to effect troubling social divisions between the more and less privileged in the United States. The persistence of such divisions could begin to suggest, falsely, that the well-off and the poor, the more educated and the less educated, the majority and various minorities, do not share the same fundamental nature where marriage and parenting are concerned. Second, such a strategy would highlight the relatively recent willingness among scholars and lawmakers to come to grips with the fallout of “disestablishing” the interrelated goods of marriage and effective parenting, and to begin proposing reforms. This is not the time, therefore, to ignore or deny the robust empirical foundations of such reform efforts, via legally redefining “marriage” to exclude its intrinsic orientation to children. A brief look at our Supreme Court’s longstanding positions on the meaning of marriage (in this first of a two-part series), followed by a look at the whirlwind of family law developments from the 1970s to today (in the second part), will suffice to sketch the argument I am proposing."

~~~~~~~~

Hey, whaddayaknow? It's my 500th Post!!! Thank you. Really; You're too kind. ;)

Love and Marriage:Why Does “Gender” Matter in Tennis but Not Marriage?

2011-12-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

Sex/gender still matters in New York State – at least in professional tennis. In marriage, it no longer does. Any two adults, irrespective of their sex, can now get married – but don’t try any of that sex-doesn’t-matter silliness down at the courts. Tennis takes maleness and femaleness seriously. This is understandable, of course, because tennis features the big serve and television revenues. Marriage, on the other hand, only features the coming together, for better or for worse, of the two halves of the human race.

Alexander Tsiaras: Conception to birth -- visualized

2011-12-02T11:58:00.000-08:00

Every human being is a miracle of dazzling mathematical complexity, from birth to death. This is the story of you, me, and every human being on the earth. I feel deeply, deeply privileged to have been the mother vessel for 5 of these miracles.

Liberal Violence Rising | CNSnews.com

2011-11-21T22:46:00.000-08:00

While necessity is the mother of invention, sloth and envy beget mediocrity and upheaval – the twin siblings of secular-socialism. It is in this vein that a rebellious and increasingly violent spirit of incoherent anarchy continues to fester in urban centers across the nation.

"Is religion special?" Michael W. McConnell

2011-11-21T14:30:00.001-08:00

"Religion has been unique from the beginning of our constitutional experiment. But in a world swirling with competing ideologies and secular analogs, why does it remain so today?

Religion is an institution, a worldview, a set of personal loyalties and a locus of community, an aspect of identity and a connection to the transcendent. Other parts of human life may serve one or more of these functions, but none other serves them all."

"BE A SHINING LIGHT"

2011-11-19T21:45:00.000-08:00

When I read the headlines, it's easy to see that looking at behavior now, and comparing it to that of thousands of years of history, human nature hasn't changed much. Can human nature change? I believe it can. There is a better way, but it takes a combination of humility and courage and one absolutely essential ingredient that cannot be left out: Faith in the Almighty.

Enjoy this bit of encouragement, and carve out some time for a hallowed Sabbath.

"Above all, we need mothers and fathers who will preserve the sanctity and safety of the home and the integrity of the family in which faith in God and obedience to His commandments are taught as the foundation of a productive life."

"Why Didn’t We Grow on Trees?"

2011-11-18T07:54:00.000-08:00

"Same-sex marriage has become a major wedge issue in our society. The related issue – at what age and from whom children receive information about other behaviors in society – will become even more salient in the public square. Our position is simple and strong: Same-sex marriage undermines the institution of marriage and the family – how can a change in the definition of marriage do anything but? – and it undermines the belief that our rights and freedoms come from God, thus contributing to the power and growth of government.

Weak families and large government. Now there’s a formula for success."

~~~~~~~~~

No government, whether they derive their power to govern from the consent of the people, or they take it by force and oppression, or any construct in between, has enough $$ to compensate for the consequences of the breakdown in the individuals unions of a man and a woman, who not only conjoin the sexes but support each other in the care of their offspring.

"A Measure of Sanity": Prop. 8 May Be Defended in Court

2011-11-17T11:52:00.001-08:00

Some positive news for voters in The People's Republic of CA.

"I was the perfect abortion candidate."

2011-11-16T13:37:00.000-08:00

"Let us not forget that deeply hidden in the rhetoric for choice is the glaringly incorrect proposition that the life choices of the preborn infant have already been made. The welfare-fed daughter of a convict and an uneducated teenaged mother is better off aborted. She'll just feed the cycle of poverty and abuse in the future. Her choices are already made. She will fail. As a survivor of the trenches, I am here to say that such thinking is absolutely incorrect. More than that, I am here to debunk the false logic of the pro-abortion campaign. I hope that you will join me in the campaign to save the lives of our children. Share these articles. Joining together we will change hearts and minds."

So much for the ridiculous excuse for abortion: Every child a wanted child."

U.F.I.: "Does same-sex behavior meet the criteria of a civil rights issue?"

2011-11-14T21:03:00.000-08:00

"Is same-sex behavior innate, immutable, and unchangeable? If it cannot meet this standard, then it does not qualify for a civil rights classification."

"Can God be Killed? Secularization’s Successes in Contemporary America"

2011-11-14T07:49:00.000-08:00

Well of course not. But consider the following:

"Free agency had been the energy for our national will. Today the pattern of a life lived in America is likely to reflect self-absorption and not cooperation, which means our agency, is now a growing form of addictions and obsessions. Television is full of death. But it is all death ripped from its formerly religious context of being alone with God, in the judgment.
A Secular Age, a Spiritless Age, is a culture at sea without a rudder.
Our culture now makes Jewish mothers of us all.
Unshaped desires lead on to random
choices. What is at first random over time becomes habitual, too risky given the bad habits which culminate in a life-long ineffectual character. Shall the youth of Christendom falter? It depends partly, I suspect, on contesting secularity."

(If you're not sure what ultimately happens to a people whose God is their own intellect, I highly suggest you read The Book of Mormon~Another Testament of Jesus Christ. You'll get your answer. If you'd like a free copy, go here.)

Why the Defense of Marriage Act is Still Necessary; Secularizations Creeping Successes

2011-11-14T07:13:00.000-08:00

"DOMA provides an important statement of the family policy of the United States....'Were it not for the possibility of begetting children inherent in heterosexual unions, society would have no particular interest in encouraging citizens to come together in a committed relationship. But, because America, like nearly every known human society, isconcerned about its children, our government has a special obligation to ensure that we preserve and protect the institution of marriage.”

Keep in mind that marriage between a man and a woman is an opposite-sexed union, and that every citizen, regardless of their stated sexual orientation, already has the right to enter into it.

Our govt. doesn't regulate and license every loving relationship; for example, siblings of either sex don't require a license to enjoy their private relationships with each other; nor do parents and their children, nor do private friendships require govt. regulation. It is not requisite that the govt. license and regulate every romantic relationship either, as is evidenced by the fact that polyamorous relationships aren't legally recognized. It is not unconstitutional to recognize and treat different kinds of relationships, differently, and same-sex unions are a different kind of relationship than opposite-sexed ones with distinct and unique implications, regardless of sexual orientation which, at its core, has NOTHING TO DO WITH defining marriage or establishing marital eligibility.

"[R]edefining marriage will inevitably create conflicts between the law and religious liberty, DOMA’s definition of marriage is an important bulwark in protecting this right."

This is already evident in states which have redefined marriage, such as New York, Mass., and in foreign countries like England and Canada. Haven't heard about that? Check out the blog for the National Organization for Marriage. They've documented the progressive loss of freedoms of speech and religion thoroughly.

"DOMA provides that states will not be forced to recognize same-sex marriages contracted in another state. This is an important protection of federalism and of pluralism among the states."

"[F]ederal laws that reference marriage were enacted on the understanding that marriage retained its ordinary meaning of the union of a man and a woman."

For example, paternity law is directly tied to the assumption that a married man is the father of any children produced by his wife. If marriage can include couples where there is no husband, then no married woman can assume the protections of paternity law; furthermore, no man can make the legal assumption of his own paternity, if marriage can exclude him so handily, by recognizing the union of two women (one who might be the mother of his child), which is an inherently non-fertile union. Same-sex "marriage" wreaks havoc with a child's right to both a mother and a father.

Freedom hangs on the thinnest of threads; interesting, isn't it, how the lynch pin to our freedom is marriage between a man and a woman. But it is the only public union which ties both parents to their offspring, unites the sexes, and provides a legal tie to both halves of a person's biological family tree, ancestors to posterity, roots to branches.

In Honor of All Our Vets--God Bless You For Your Sacrifices, We Will Not Forget

2011-11-11T17:13:00.000-08:00

Salvo Magazine - Cohabitation:Marriage Lite or the New Concubinage?by Alan F. H. Wisdom

2011-11-10T13:06:00.001-08:00

Hat tip to the Ruth Blog for the following:

Salvo Magazine - Cohabitation by Alan F. H. Wisdom

Hmmm. I had not thought about it this way, although I've long noted that a woman's right to "free love" as promoted by modern feminists, leaves women holding the bag (the diaper bag, that is).

"What’s Marriage Got to Do with the Economy? "

2011-11-09T16:30:00.000-08:00

"[I]nsofar as the family is a major generator of human and social capital, and a major engine of consumption, I think it’s fair to make the case — as we do in The Sustainable Demographic Dividend – that strong families play a key role in “sustaining long-term economic growth, the viability of the welfare state, the size and quality of the workforce, and the profitability of large sectors of the modern economy.”

(Naturally, marriage in this article is assumed to be the exclusive domain of a man + a woman, as that is the only union which provides children with both a mother and a father--the optimal setting for raising a child.)

"Truth and Tolerance" Dallin H. Oaks

2011-11-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

Some gems:

The philosophy of moral relativism, which holds that each person is free to choose for himself what is right and wrong, is becoming the unofficial creed for many in America and other Western nations. At the extreme level, evil acts that used to be localized and covered up like a boil are now legalized and paraded like a banner. Persuaded by this philosophy, many of the rising generation—youth and young adults—are caught up in self-serving pleasures, pagan painting and piercing of body parts, foul language, revealing attire, pornography, dishonesty, and degrading sexual indulgence.

~~~~~

Since followers of Jesus Christ are commanded to be a leaven—not to be taken out of the world, but to remain in it—we must seek tolerance from those who hate us for not being of the world. As part of this, we will sometimes need to challenge laws that would impair our freedom to practice our faiths, doing so in reliance on our constitutional rights to the free exercise of religion. As described by an attorney supporting a Lutheran school in a case now before the United States Supreme Court, the big concern is “the ability of people of all faiths to work out their relationship with God and one another without the government looking over their shoulder.”¹⁰ That is why we need understanding and support—including your understanding and support—when we must contend for religious freedom.

~~~~~

We do not abandon the truth and our covenants. We are cast as combatants in the war between truth and error. There is no middle ground. We must stand up for truth, even while we practice tolerance and respect for beliefs and ideas different from our own and for the people who hold them.

~~~~~

“The word tolerance does not stand alone. It requires an object and a response to qualify it as a virtue. … Tolerance is often demanded but seldom returned. Beware of the word tolerance. It is a very unstable virtue.”¹²
This inspired caution reminds us that for persons who believe in absolute truth, tolerance for behavior is like a two-sided coin. Tolerance, or respect, is on one side of the coin, but truth is always on the other. You cannot possess or use the coin of tolerance without being conscious of both sides.

How You Can Fight Pornography This Week

2011-11-06T20:56:00.000-08:00

Did you know?

Under both the Reagan and Bush I Administrations, vigorous prosecutions of the nation’s top pornographers not only led to a dramatic decrease of pornography, but also a significant change in the nature of pornography. The porn industry stopped producing violent-themed pornography such as rape films, as well as themes involving children. In recent years, however, all prosecution of the existing obscenity laws has stopped, essentially giving pornographers a free pass to produce as much of the hardest types of pornography possible. As a result of not enforcing the law, hardcore pornography has now become the majority of available porn and individuals are suffering from a plethora of harms.

Porn is a vicious blight on society. But it's man-made, and we can stand against it. Will you?

2.1 Kids: Stable Population

2011-11-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

My husband & I have 5 children. You're welcome. ;)

"Crisis in Europe: Not Enough Children"

2011-11-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

Mosher pointed out that the UN Population Fund was set up in 1968, “at the height of the hysteria over overpopulation.”

“The future of humanity passes through the family,” said Mosher. “If you allow the family to dissolve, if you allow the birth rates to go to 0, a country has no future. There are countries that are committing collective suicide.”

Full article here

Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance

2011-10-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

The HRC wants to silence your free speech & send you into the closet for your religious beliefs. Don't let them. This is war (though not a new one, and not exclusive to our own country); freedom of conscience and agency are at stake.

Help Defend the Defense of Marriage Act

2011-10-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

Please click the DOMA button on the side bar, to help preserve the definition of marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman, who are not close kin.

"Discriminating Discrimination"

2011-10-27T13:35:00.000-07:00

(Hat tip to Opine, for this insightful article.)

"...[A] demand for legal recognition of SSM (same-sex marriage) cannot be based upon simple liberty; for it entails not simply the right to be let alone, to be allowed to be oneself, but the demand that the rest of society embrace one's actions and declarations."
Enforced SSM sails directly athwart the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion, speech, and association: If we're forced to equate same-sex couples with opposite-sex couples for purposes of marriage -- speaking of them as married, suppressing any religious-based criticism, and compelled to let them live together as if married, even in a room I might rent out within my own house -- then dissent from liberal orthodoxy is criminal, upon penalty of prosecution or administrative punishment.
It's easy to draw the line between freedom of association and the right to defend oneself, one's loved ones, and one's society on the one hand, and the peremptory demand that all of us espouse the absurdity that same-sex relationships are identical to opposite-sex relationships.

"Ten policies for renewing family life"

2011-10-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

Some good points, worthy of discussion. Clearly, the breakdown of the family in our society, is cause for alarm. There isn't enough $$ in the world, to substitute costly and ineffective govt. stop gap programs for the natural benefits of a happy, functional family headed by a mother and father.

What Population Control Advocates Aren't Telling You

2011-10-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Currently 79 countries, representing close to 50 percent of the world’s population, have below-replacement fertility rates. No industrialized nation still produces enough children to sustain its population over time or to prevent rapid population aging. It is counterintuitive, however, because even in areas where birthrates are dramatically below replacement level, the absolute number of people is often still growing–giving the appearance of rampant population growth.

see also,

"Birth dearth: over 60 million fewer children in developed world than in 1965"

Why Are We Letting Kids Be Held Hostage to a Government Monopoly? By John Stossel

2011-10-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

Let's all say "YES!" to school vouchers!

It's Halloween--Want to Know Something That Will REALLY Chill Your Blood?

2011-10-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

Check out UFI's post on the UNCRC. If it chills your blood and raises your hackles, consider writing to your representatives in Congress, while they still have the power to represent you....

"Large Families are Treasures" By Tom Christensen

2011-10-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

(In honor of the baby to be born this month which will officially give us the 7th billion person living on the earth--welcome, little one! Who knows what talents you'll bring to bless the earth...)

"...[A]cademic and educational funding problems, high bankruptcy rates, juvenile delinquency, and sprawling neighborhoods are not caused by large families..., but are more often the result of moral and financial irresponsibility, family breakdown, poorly conceived curriculum, immigration and land use policy, etc. There are better ways to revitalize educational systems, tax structures, economy, natural resources, and neighborhoods than to cut back on the size and inherent strength of the world's families."

Testimony Submitted by Elder Dallin H. Oaks Senate Finance Committee Hearing October 18, 2011

2011-10-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

“Where we now are” is midway in a discussion of whether the charitable deduction—so essential to maintaining the private sector of American life—is to be retained intact. That private, non-profit sector has always been an important counterweight to the powers and potentially repressive influence of governments. The private sector is essential to preserving pluralism and freedom in our nation.

Perpetual Education Fund, of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints

2011-10-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

This is a concrete example of the practical application of religion. And for some, the "miracle" of a better job is as mighty as parting the Red Sea.

For more info., go here.

It's important to note that, “PEF is not about the money,” Allen said. “It’s about integrity and self-reliance. PEF is not primarily a ‘loan program’ and it’s not just about ‘getting an education’ per se. It’s the result of the training that we’re after. It’s really all about helping people get jobs so that they can come out of poverty and serve. It’s a leadership program where loans are made to help people become more effective leaders in their homes, communities, and in the Church.”

Religious Freedom and Liberty Is Not Just for Churches

2011-10-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Yep, religious freedom is important, even for atheists. :)

The Link between The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Planned Parenthood By Brenda Zurita

2011-10-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

A careful reading is warranted. I do not give to the Susan G. Komen fund for the reasons mentioned in this article.

"Love Her Mother" by Elaine S. Dalton

2011-10-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

"How can a father raise a happy, well-adjusted daughter in today’s increasingly toxic world? The answer has been taught by the Lord’s prophets. It is a simple answer, and it is true—“The most important thing a father can do for his [daughter] is to love [her] mother.”¹ By the way you love her mother, you will teach your daughter about tenderness, loyalty, respect, compassion, and devotion. She will learn from your example what to expect from young men and what qualities to seek in a future spouse. You can show your daughter by the way you love and honor your wife that she should never settle for less. Your example will teach your daughter to value womanhood. You are showing her that she is a daughter of our Heavenly Father, who loves her."

Costs of the occupiers (OneNewsNow.com)

2011-10-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

"They flash peace signs while celebrity supporter Roseanne Barr calls for beheading financial industry workers and fellow marchers call explicitly for "violent revolution" or for Obama to "Send SEAL Team 6" to Wall Street.

Then they huff and puff (preferably in a creepy uniform chant they call the "human microphone") that we just haven't taken the time to understand what they're all about -- as they hawk $20 "Eat the Rich" polo shirts and license their protest photos to Getty Images.

Viva la revolucion! Up with people! Stop the greed! (Cha-ching. Cha-ching.)"

An outrageous apology (OneNewsNow.com)

2011-10-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

"Let's put this in perspective. One father, outraged over the newspaper's apology (which, you'll see in a moment, gets much worse), posted this comment:
"My daughter just started [Junior Kindergarten] this fall. She is the most beautiful and innocent child imaginable. Friends, parks, chocolate milk, forts, stickers and unicorns -- these are the things that occupy her thoughts. She will not stay this way forever -- nether should she -- but the thought of anyone discussing this material with her at her age, literally rips me apart inside. It is mine and my wife's role to address these topics with her when the time is right and she has reached an appropriate level of maturity."
What a picture: From "friends, parks, chocolate milk, forts, stickers and unicorns" to transexuality and gay pride parades. It's easy to share the father's indignation."

"School apologizes after student suspended for saying homosexuality wrong" BY KATHLEEN GILB

2011-10-13T11:12:00.000-07:00

Free speech wins again!

Mike Adams: How America Fell - RIGHTLYCONCERNED.COM

2011-10-11T12:54:00.000-07:00

Remember that ancient Tower of Babel, that fell to ruin, so long ago? Guess what--"progressives" are back at it, brick by liberal brick. Do you think the end result will be any different, this time around? Methinks not.

Like to know more about Babel, and the mindset of people who would build such a tower? Look here.

Ultimately, America will survive, but only when "progressive" ideas have been rooted out, their falsehoods exposed to the light of day, and the foundation of sand they are built upon, replaced with the bedrock of enduring Truth.

"A Few Good Moms"

2011-10-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

Somebody has to carry them to term, feed them, rock them, sing them to sleep and get them to the fun part of their lives. Somebody has to take the delicate, crying bundle away from their exhilarating chaos so that the chaos can happily proceed uninterrupted.

[Yes, that would be an actual woman--no man can take her place in that critical role...]

...

"...[M]y existence, while seemingly mundane and not very glamorous, makes a family."

All I can say is, "AMEN SISTER!"

And, like this author, I can say with 100% certainty (even after a difficult day), it's completely worth it.

Study: Modern economies 'rise and fall' with nuclear families - Washington Times

2011-10-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

Countries should strive for “sustainable fertility” of at least two children per woman or a total fertility rate of 2.1, the report says. Among developed countries, it adds, the U.S. is an “outlier” with its relatively stable 2.0 fertility rate. Elsewhere, “the average woman in a developed country now bears just 1.66 children,” New America Foundation scholarPhillip Longman writes in the report.

Marriage also matters, the report says. Children raised in married, mother-father homes are the most likely to acquire the skills and behaviors conducive to becoming a “well-adjusted, productive” workforce. Also, “men who get and stay married work harder, work smarter, and earn more money than their unmarried peers.”

~~~~~~

You might also be interested in the following:

"The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

...[W]e warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."

and

"Babies Win Wars"

"There is NO International Human Right to Abortion"

2011-10-09T20:56:00.000-07:00

Excellent news. I'm also glad to hear that neither CEDAW, nor the UNCRC seem to have been signed by the U.S. They are equally nefarious documents, bent on usurping parents' rights to make basic decisions in raising their children, and supplanting them with the authority of the State.

"Children" NEIL L. ANDERSEN

2011-10-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

It is a crowning privilege of a husband and wife who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for these spirit children of God. We believe in families, and we believe in children.
"When a child is born to a husband and wife, they are fulfilling part of our Heavenly Father’s plan to bring children to earth. The Lord said, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”¹ Before immortality, there must be mortality.
The family is ordained of God. Families are central to our Heavenly Father’s plan here on earth and through the eternities. After Adam and Eve were joined in marriage, the scripture reads, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”² In our day prophets and apostles have declared, “The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.”³
This commandment has not been forgotten or set aside in The Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.^4"

The Week in Review: Constitutional Religion Takes TWO in the Chin

2011-10-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

On religion, the Court no longer can trace its holdings back to the constitutional words governing a case or controversy where the words of the Religion Clauses are at issue. Worse, similarly the Court has no logical path back from its religion holdings today to treating the Religion Clauses as guidelines.

In the present age, the Supreme Court may, in a random outcome, decide a case with a pro-religious result—that is the fact. But there is no language or logic from the Constitution to the Court’s religion holdings nowadays.

I am concerned as a citizen about how long pinning hopes for religious liberty on just a cultural drift from our once religious past can be counted on to protect religious rights.

~~~~

For further light and truth, please enjoy this article.

7 Billion People: Everybody Relax!

2011-10-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

For more light and truth, please enjoy "Strengthening the Family: Multiply and Replenish the Earth"

2011-10-05T09:09:00.001-07:00

2011-10-05T08:49:00.001-07:00

Just for Fun: Marriage Quiz

2011-10-02T23:13:00.000-07:00

Just for fun:

Pop Quiz:

1) T or F The govt. licenses and regulates all loving relationships.

2) T or F It is the prerogative of "we-the-people" to license and regulate love.

3) T or F All loving relationships should be classified as marriage and be licensed and regulated by the govt.

4) T or F All adults can get married to ANY consenting opposite-sexed person of their choice (be careful--this is tricky!)

5) T or F Brothers can't get a license to marry their sisters because we-the-people are homophobic.

6) T or F Legislation exists which explicitly states that a person who claims to be gay can't get married based on their sexual orientation.

7) T or F On an application for a wedding license, you must state your sexual orientation.

8) T or F In states offering SSM, same-sexed siblings can't get a marriage license because we-the-people are homophobic.

9) T or F A state-licensed marriage is a private relationship which is nobody else's business.

10) T or F The govt. should give me a marriage license and legal and financial benefits that come with marriage, for every loving relationship I have, because I demand one. Not giving me what I want is bigoted and phobic, T or F.

Extra credit:

Please explain how changing marriage from an opposite-sexed relationship with a consenting adult who is not close kin, to a gender-segregated neutered public union will affect how the courts handle issues of paternity, specifically the presumption of paternity (a law derived directly from marriage laws). Give actual examples as to how this will affect women and children legally, emotionally, and financially.

Extra-extra credit:

Explain why the govt. chose to license and regulate marriage in the first place, what the exact eligibility requirements are, and why the govt. chose those requirements in the first place.

Easy A guys!

Court sides with Idaho gospel mission

2011-10-01T22:41:00.000-07:00

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you....

"Marriage is Not an Injustice" by HLI Staff

2011-10-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

"...[C]an the law only achieve justice if it has afforded homosexual relationships the same status in the law as heterosexual relationships? Or alternatively, has the law achieved justice if it treats homosexual relationships the same as heterosexual relationships?"

"The answer is ‘no’ in both cases, because justice is a state where people have received what is actually due to them. To confer the same status to gay and heterosexual relationships is to refuse to acknowledge the many benefits heterosexual relationships provide to society that homosexual relationships simply cannot provide."

"If corporations, the armed forces and military academies, the government, the bar and the bench, schoolhouses, and every corner of society benefits or would benefit from the presence of females alongside of males, why is the same not true for parents?"

...

Common sense!

"U.S. - US New York Panel Wants Taxpayers to Foot the Bill for Gender Reassignment Surgery "

2011-09-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

Um, NO. Self-mutilation is a violent act against the self, and such a mindset should not be treated as anything other than a cry for help. But if an individual is determined to pursue such a course, they ought to do it on their own dime. Any doctor who aids and abets this is guilty of breaking their oath to do no harm.

STOP CA SB48

2011-09-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

URGENT: Last Chance to Stop SB48 -- Sign the Petition Today!

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 AT 5:41 PM

Dear Marriage Supporter,

I need your help. Almost four years ago, many of you helped the National Organization for Marriage collect signatures to give the people of California the right to vote on marriage. Today, the volunteers at Stop SB 48 have given Californians another critically important opportunity to decide what is taught to your school-age children.

There are just a few days left to stop SB48 -- the bill signed into law by Governor Brown earlier this year that would force schools to teach students (even kindergartners!) about homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism as part of a social science curriculum.

Please click on the button below and follow the instructions to print and sign the petition right away, and then return it to StopSB48 campaign offices within the next 7 days.

The StopSB48.com coalition has done a great job gathering the needed signatures and are almost there! Still, they need our help, and we’re asking you to make this a priority. It takes a little over 500,000 valid signatures to put SB48 on the ballot, and StopSB48.com reports they are getting closer every day as bags of signed petitions are pouring in to the Stop SB 48 offices. But elections officials will be going through these petitions with a fine tooth comb, and it’s important that there be need plenty of extra signatures to make sure we don’t come up just short.

Please visit StopSB48.com right now to get started:

Click here to download the petition (make sure Page Scaling is set to "none" when you print the petition)
Click here to download instructions
Sign the petition
Ask 5 friends to sign the petition
Return the signed petitions to Stop SB 48, 660 J Street, Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95814 within the next 7 days.

Please do whatever you can today to help spread the word. Take petitions with you to church on Sunday. Forward this email to family and friends. We’re on the verge of success, but can’t do it without your help.

Thank you for your support of this historic effort.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown
President
NOM California PAC

Observers see gay agenda threatening religious freedom :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

2011-09-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

Proponents of same-sex “marriage” cannot win “unless they get us to agree to our own inferiority. Otherwise we are too many to stigmatize.”

I find it interesting, too, that while homosexual activists (the group leading the charge to neuter marriage and introduce sex segregation in the public) trumpet their own inferiority complex (hence all the protestations such as "good as you"--if a person really feels that way, they don't have to advertise it, as in, "Methinks [they] doth protest, too much") some would like to create one for those who believe in the Judeo Christian principle of chastity--abstinence before marriage, monogamy during marriage between a man and a woman--chastity being an important common-sense virtue, eminently beneficial to the public good. Such self-deception to further personal gain is selfish, not to mention troubling, isn't it? Reminds me of this:

¶Woe unto them that call ^aevil ^bgood, and good evil; that put^cdarkness for ^dlight, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

All human beings have intrinsic worth. But not all behaviors, do. Not all are worthy of protection, least of all instruction. And sexual behavior is always a choice with inescapable consequences. Neutering marriage won't change the intrinsic offensive nature of homosexual behavior, no matter what cloak of deceit is chosen. A virtuous life is the path to self-esteem and peace of mind. Sexual promiscuity can only lead to disappointment and regret.

"Manipulation of the UN System to Promote Abortion Must Stop!"

2011-09-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Supporter of the Family,

We are deeply concerned about recent developments at the United Nations regarding the promotion of abortion. Various entities within the UN system have ramped up their abortion propaganda campaign despite the fact that UN documents call for protection of life “before as well as after birth.” One of the main strategies abortion rights activists are using is to manipulate the UN system by twisting provisions in existing treaties that UN member nations signed onto decades ago.

One of the most egregious examples of this is a carefully crafted report the UN Secretary General recently submitted to the UN General Assembly. It was written by a United Nations “Special Rapporteur,” Anand Grover, on the “right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” (UN Special Rapporteurs are supposedly unbiased experts in their fields.)

Sounds nice doesn’t it? Everybody has right to health, right?

Well, according to the UN almost everybody does, unless you happen to be a human being residing in your mother’s womb. In that case, you are considered by one UN Committee to be a source of cruel and inhumane torture to your mother who has a right to abort you so she can have better health.

I am not making this up! That is exactly the logic of the UN.

Mr. Grover’s report, which will be considered by the UN General Assembly, claims that laws restricting abortion violate a woman’s “right to health,” which, he says, includes a right to “sexual and reproductive health.” He further claims that this supposed “right to sexual and reproductive health includes an unrestricted right to abortion, which he says includes a right to have governments make abortion “accessible” to all women.

In other words, his report carefully builds on itself using circular logic in an attempt to establish a right to government-funded abortions for all. He labels laws that limit abortion “impermissible barriers to the realization of women’s right to health” that “must be eliminated.” He further claims, “States must take measures to ensure that legal and safe abortion services are available, accessible, and of good quality.”

You would think that a UN expert charged with outlining what the world must do to improve the health of its citizens might focus on nutrition, clean water, sanitary conditions, inoculations, combating major diseases and things that are causing people to die en masse.

But no, Mr. Grover’s report is focused almost exclusively on legalizing abortion and promoting other controversial issues.

His report directly attacks national sovereignty and religious freedom when he states, “Public morality cannot serve as a justification for enactment or enforcement of laws that may result in human rights violations.” [Read: if they restrict abortion or comprehensive sexuality education.] The report also falsely claims that all laws must be “evidenced-based,” which is UN-speak for saying laws cannot be based on religious and moral values.

This runs counter to Article 29 (2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the right of nations to establish laws that meet “the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.”

His report also slams abstinence education and promotes condoms and sexual freedom, telling governments they must abolish parental consent laws.

He then falsely asserts that “comprehensive education and information on sexual and reproductive health is an essential component of “the right to health” and “the right to education.” Click here to read our report on the serious harms of the kind of “comprehensive sexuality education” Mr. Grover is claiming is a human right.

In support of his position Grover references a controversial report by another UN Special Rapporteur on “the right to education.” This report was so controversial it was rejected by the General Assembly. It was rejected by member nations largely because it claimed governments are obligated to provide comprehensive sexuality education that is sensitive to “sexual diversity” among other things. (Click here to read our policy brief on this outrageous report on the “right to education.”)

If all this isn’t bad enough, a UN committee monitoring compliance of states parties to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment just told Ireland it must enact laws to legalize abortion to be in compliance with this treaty. (See page 7 of this document.) This, despite the fact that Ireland protects the unborn in its constitution.

So now the UN considers pregnancy to be cruel and inhumane!

Whatever happened to motherhood being entitled to special protection as called for in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

This continues a pattern of UN committees trying to reinterpret carefully negotiated UN treaties to somehow include previously undiscovered rights. They are just inventing such things out of thin air because these UN treaties say absolutely nothing about abortion.

In yet another abuse of the UN system, about half of the UN member states that just came under UN scrutiny through the UN’s Universal Periodic Review were questioned regarding their laws restricting abortion even though the treaties they are bound by say nothing about abortion.

Again, this is just one more way the UN system is being abused and misused to promote abortion.

Finally, a resolution on maternal mortality that was just negotiated by the UN’s Human Rights Council openly promotes the legalization of abortion, claiming this is the best way to save women’s lives.

The debate around these negotiations included many false assertions such as where abortion is legalized fewer women die. (Click here to see our policy brief on maternal mortality that refutes many of the false claims made during these negotiations.) It was reported that when delegates complained about the false claims and objected to the pro-abortion language their positions were largely ignored in the final draft.

This widespread abuse of the UN system to promote abortion must be stopped.

We will be working with UN member nations over the next several months to counteract these dangerous developments and expose these abuses of the UN system. This aggressive promotion of abortion runs counter to the laws and cultures of many of these UN member nations and has no basis whatsoever in international law.

We will update you soon and tell you how you can help us stop this onslaught.

Sincerely,

Sharon Slater
President

"Fighting Anti-Trafficking in Cambodia"

2011-09-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

Who can truly thrive in a society where there is no virtue?

This article discusses some of those for whom I feel truly deserve empathy, who are treated as less than human, who need someone to champion their cause, to be their advocate, to re-enthrone Virtue.

(Part 2, here)

Hiring and Firing: The Separation of Church & State

2011-09-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Interesting article:

'Most important' religious freedom case

Published: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 3:13 p.m. MDT

By Michael De Groote, Deseret News

"If the United States discredits the idea of a ministerial exception, it will permit the U.S. government a significant intrusion into the spirit of religious autonomy that the original founders wanted to break away from."

Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance

2011-09-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

Cool new web-site designed to support those who support marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman. From the website:

Since Prop 8, we have grown concerned about the increasing number of reports from people whose persons, property, and/or livelihoods have been threatened because they oppose-same sex marriage.

...

If you have been threatened, harassed, or made to feel afraid because you believe in the great, foundational truth of Genesis –we are born male and female and called to come together in love to give children mothers and fathers—Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance is here to help you: you are not alone.

Education - US Texas School Punishes Boy for Opposing Homosexuality By Todd Starnes Published September 22, 2011 | FoxNews.com

2011-09-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

Dakota was in a German class at the high school when the conversation shifted to religion and homosexuality in Germany. At some point during the conversation, he turned to a friend and said that he was a Christian and “being a homosexual is wrong.”

This is the part where a wiser teacher would have shifted the conversation back to the German language, and away from sexually explicit conversation. However, we already know that the N.E.A. would love to indoctrinate children with the false assurance that homosexual behavior is "normal" (despite years of studies showing irrefutable proof to the contrary), without prior parental notification.

For Christians, it would probably be a good idea to distinguish between inclination, and behavior. Everyone has tendencies or inclinations towards one thing or another that isn't good for us (just ask me about chocolate), and it's good to remember that Christ, Himself, was not spared temptation to self-gratification and self-indulgence (though He is the single person to ever completely reject temptation); that being said, there is nothing wrong with raising the warning voice against homosexual behavior, a choice, which, from any angle, is damaging, dangerous, and demeaning, with unavoidable consequences and none of them good (and which have zero to do with "love"). There's a good reason men (of any sexual orientation) who are sexually intimate with other men cannot donate blood.

“It wasn’t directed to anyone except my friend who was sitting behind me,” Dakota told Fox. “I guess [the teacher] heard me. He started yelling. He told me he was going to write me an infraction and send me to the office.”

Sigh. If only abusive teachers were easier to fire. Such close-minded, bigoted harassment by a teacher to a student has no place in a public school classroom. Students are not required to shed their Constitutional rights to freedom of religion or speech, nor is it incumbent upon them to regurgitate the fashionable thinking of the day, at the expense of freedom of thought, and sound judgement, upon stepping onto public school property. Again, thank the N.E.A. union thuggery, for making it hard to cull out the bad apples.

After a meeting with Pope and her attorney, the school rescinded the two-day suspension so Dakota would be allowed to play in an upcoming football game.

“They’ve righted all the wrongs,” said Matt Krause, an attorney with the Liberty Counsel. “This should have no lasting effect on his academic or personal record going forward.”

Pope contacted the Liberty Counsel immediately after her son was punished.

“I told the school that he should never have been suspended for exercising his Constitutional rights,” Krause told Fox News Radio. “The principal is sincere in trying to do the right thing and hopefully they will tell the teacher, ‘Do not do that anymore.’ He won’t be pushing his agenda.”

Thank heaven for a mama bear and for LIberty Counsel!!!! (Read Liberty Counsel's public statement here.)

Krause called the incident “mind blowing” and said the teacher had frequently brought homosexuality into ninth grade classroom discussions.

“There has been a history with this teacher in the class regarding homosexual topics,” Krause said. “The teacher had posted a picture of two men kissing on a wall that offended some of the students.”

When a teacher "frequently" brings up the subject of homosexuality into a classroom full of children, especially a class about language, not social studies (especially with so many other wholesome topics from which to choose), you can just consider that a provocative attempt to indoctrinate a captive audience. I know from "Safe Kids" discussions hosted by law enforcement, frequent explicit sexual talk between an adult and a minor is a red flag, and common practice for a pedophile grooming a potential victim. Disturbing, I know. And the picture of 2 men kissing? Yep, provocative. That teacher really needs to go.

Krause said school leaders told Dakota that in the future he should be careful when and where he talks about his opposition to homosexuality – suggesting that he talk about such matters in the hallway instead of the classroom.

Sad, but with the NEA so adamantly opposed to actually educating children, especially about the Constitution, and more concerned with spreading liberal propaganda, not to mention purposefully turning a blind eye to the dangers of homosexual behavior (the mark of a child predator, frankly), kids have to protect themselves against those hostile teachers marching lock step with the radical NEA sexual agenda. If SSM becomes the Federal law of the land, you can expect a whole lot more of this kind of persecution.

Let me finish by saying that I know many wonderful educators, including those who work in the Public School system. But the NEA has become a powerful advocate for the sexualization of children, with a blind eye to the tragic consequences of extra-marital or pre-marital sex (marriage being only between a man and a woman, of course), and intent on crushing thoughtful, logical debate from opposing viewpoints. But, that's a liberal "arts" education for ya.

Opine Gets it Right, Every Time

2011-09-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

Check out:

"Jay Leno and Michele Bachmann"

Some of you are already big fans (P.F.--yes, you!) If you'd like a solid education in logic, especially where it applies to defining marriage, and to see other gems from Opine, take a look at my side bar. Hats off to you, Opine Editorials!

A dangerous broadband boondoggle

2011-09-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

"Coincidentally," of course....

Pro-life group proves its point

2011-09-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

"An incredibly high number of these facilities are located in zip codes that are disproportionately black or Hispanic, and I'm not talking about a little bit disproportionate -- ten or 15 percent. We found zip codes that were 1,800-percent disproportionate, and a ton of them that were 500- to 600- [or] 700-percent disproportionate," the Life Dynamics founder reports.

So, Crutcher concludes that the report undeniably shows that the black and Hispanic communities are targeted by Planned Parenthood, which statistically disproves the "population lobby's" denial."

Considering the murder-for-profit nature of the abortion industry, racial minorities aren't just customers, they're prey.

Pro-'gay' groups pressuring PayPal

2011-09-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

Yet one more reason why all Americans need to stand up for religious liberty and freedom of speech against the toxic, divisive tactics of movements promoting special privileges via identity politics. Their goal isn't equality--it's dominion.

"The Slow Melting of Eurofudge"

2011-09-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

If Europe gets any more "progressive," they're going to find themselves back in the Dark Ages. Let's us just stick with our true blue American values: God, family, country. Marriage (between a man and a woman). Hard work. Independence. Accountability. 'Course, we'll need to elect a different president in 2012. The well-meant, but misplaced values of the current one are just more Eurofudge. In this divinely blessed nation, you can't do the Lord's work, using the devil's methods.

"Humane Humanity"

2011-09-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

The Slippery Slope: From Abortion to Infanticide

2011-09-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

First, Canada redefined the meaning of marriage to that of a neutered public union. Now, a judge in Canada has redefined "infanticide" by calling it "abortion," which by any other name means "murder." Canada prides itself on being "progressive." But this decision by a judge, to prosecute a woman who murdered her newborn, not for the murder, but for improper disposal of the remains, is hardly progressive. Frankly, it's barbaric. And, to all Canadians, if you are not shaken to your core by this atrocity, and the equally atrocious judgement call by one chosen to uphold justice for even the most vulnerable among you, than you ought to fear and tremble for your civilization; with such callous disregard for the precious and unique life of any newborn, your claim as a "civilization" is only an illusion.

KNIGHT: Snuffing out children's innocence - Washington Times

2011-09-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Having lost the library fight, the ACLU is concentrating on schoolchildren. The websites for the gay groups that the ACLU is representing are not porn sites, but they are gateways to a world of temptation for vulnerable children unsure about their sexuality. They go far beyond promoting tolerance and openly promote homosexuality.

This is fine with the ACLU, which advocates breaking all sexual barriers. The ACLU even consistently opposes laws against possessing child pornography along with any attempt to shield children from exposure to Internet porn.

Years ago, in Dover, Del., I was on a panel debating whether taxpayers should have to support art that they found offensive. The debate over the National Endowment for the Arts was lively, but the most interesting part occurred at the pre-debate dinner. The liberal museum staffers who hosted the event probed the ACLU representative about the line between art and obscenity and, to their surprise, heard her contend that there is no meaningful line. One of them asked about child pornography. She shrugged and acknowledged that it was illegal but, with a knowing smile, added, “For now. But it won’t be for long.”

Revolting, isn't it?!

Secularity: An Evergreen Opponent to America's Value of Religious Liberty

2011-09-13T07:17:00.000-07:00

Secularity has changed from a call for tolerance in drafting the Bill of Rights into what it is today, a state-established intolerant pseudo-religion. It is also a force of our culture, forming our characters by its force inside the home.

...

Secularists have also made much more significant inroads promoting the social decay of family and faith, it seems clear, than Communism ever did or ever could. This is because Nihilistic Humanism -- that's Secularity -- has put its efforts less into theory than into changing what Charles Taylor terms our nation's "Social Imaginary."

...

Today it is inside our homes we are most directly impacted by our culture of Secularity.

Want to Save the World? Promote Virtue

2011-09-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

"The erosion of both societal stability and moral virtue is not merely coincidental. They unravel together. So the call to educate all to moral virtue ought to be a practical issue for everyone—in public or private, in schools or churches, in corporations or athletic teams, in communities and neighborhoods.

To be a person of virtue is to be for others—to act in their best interests, and to have a heart of compassion and charity turned outwards. Thus, to educate for moral virtue is to invite others to do right by others, to build community—beginning in our contributions or responsiveness to nurturing ethical family relationships and extending to neighborhoods, communities, and ultimately society. When we are being virtuous, we exhibit specific characteristics that are indicative of how we believe we should treat others. Our virtuous lived experience also reveals how our best interests would typically align with the best interests of others and thus contribute to a cohesive society."

In Honor of 9/11

2011-09-11T17:59:00.000-07:00

"No harm can befall with my Comforter near...."

The Tenth Amendment and the Federal Marriage Amendment - By Joel Alicea - Bench Memos - National Review Online

2011-09-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

Food for thought. It's "We, the People's" responsibility, both on state and federal levels, to support marriage as between a man and a woman, and not redefine it to suit a politically motivated movement, based on a hedonistic philosophy and lifestyle, which is self-serving & which does not promote either the equal treatment of all citizens under the law, promote virtues critical to the survival of a free nation, or take into consideration the long-term effects of neutered marriage on the family unit (a microcosm of society), through forthcoming generations.

'Kidnapping' to begin in January

2011-09-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

While I'm not real thrilled with the melodrama in the title of the article, nevertheless I agree with the sentiment behind the overall message; CA parents, if you don't like this, you need to speak up!!! This is the legalized, systematic indoctrination of sexual perversion. Don't put up with it.

"Is Marriage for White People?"

2011-09-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

Short answer? No. Marriage is for everyone of every race. Man + Woman.

NYTimes’ Bill Keller – Journalist or Political Operative?

2011-09-01T06:29:00.000-07:00

"There is no journalism involved here – this is purely a political ploy on Keller’s part to try to resurrect Obama’s already virtually dead campaign. Please recall it has already leaked from Obama sources that they are going to go negative in the campaign and use dog whistles to do so religiously. Keller knows a hint when it is thrown his way, so he has taken up the ball and tried to set the table for the campaign. It would be smart were it not so blatantly transparent."

Legal advice to schools: Protect kids, ignore ACLU

2011-08-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

If only the ACLU actually cared about children in America learning to read, write, spell, understand math and explore science, instead of demanding the "right" for children to be exposed to sexual perversion, masked as homosexual identity political activism. The day my kids are sent to such a website to worship at the idolatrous feet of the PC gods "diversity" and "tolerance" is the very day I begin homeschooling.

"Reversing the Decay of London Undone"

2011-08-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

"Britain is the latest country to pay the price for what happened half a century ago in one of the most radical transformations in the history of the West. In virtually every Western society in the 1960s there was a moral revolution, an abandonment of its entire traditional ethic of self-restraint. All you need, sang the Beatles, is love. The Judeo-Christian moral code was jettisoned. In its place came: whatever works for you. The Ten Commandments were rewritten as the Ten Creative Suggestions. Or as Allan Bloom put it in "The Closing of the American Mind": "I am the Lord Your God: Relax!"

.....

This was the bursting of a dam of potential trouble that has been building for years. The collapse of families and communities leaves in its wake unsocialized young people, deprived of parental care, who on average—and yes, there are exceptions—do worse than their peers at school, are more susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse, less likely to find stable employment and more likely to land up in jail.
The truth is, it is not their fault. They are the victims of the tsunami of wishful thinking that washed across the West saying that you can have sex without the responsibility of marriage, children without the responsibility of parenthood, social order without the responsibility of citizenship, liberty without the responsibility of morality and self-esteem without the responsibility of work and earned achievement.
......
The precondition of civilization is the ability to defer the gratification of instinct. And even Freud, who disliked religion and called it the "obsessional neurosis" of humankind, realized that it was the Judeo-Christian ethic that trained people to control their appetites.

......

Much can and must be done by governments, but they cannot of themselves change lives. Governments cannot make marriages or turn feckless individuals into responsible citizens. That needs another kind of change agent. Alexis de Tocqueville saw it then, Robert Putnam is saying it now. It needs religion: not as doctrine but as a shaper of behavior, a tutor in morality, an ongoing seminar in self-restraint and pursuit of the common good."

The Anatomy of Peace - The Arbinger Institute

2011-08-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

Mike Adams:"I Think Therefore We Should "

2011-08-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

"The problem with all of these wonderful sentiments is not that they begin with “I think.” The initial thought is not the problem. It is that the initial thought is followed by the two words “We should.” This is problematic because the word “we,” in reality, means “you.” In other words, the proponent of “I think we should” morality is less interested in doing charitable things than he is in forcing you to perform his charitable acts for him. And so it is appropriate to ask these two questions of anyone any time he begins to lecture you with a sentence beginning with the four words “I think we should”:

1. What are you presently doing to alleviate the problem?

2. Why should the government force others to do things you are unwilling to do yourself? It is unlikely that the person will be able to identify anything he is doing to alleviate the problem. And his answer to the other question will be that no one will do these things unless compelled by the government. In other words, he will have admitted that, in his view, government, not God, must redeem man and save him from his sins of omission."

Fla. teacher exonerated, reinstated

2011-08-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

Some good news for free speech, freedom of religion, and for the students (all of them) in his care. All students should be encouraged to abstain from any sexual behavior before marriage, which is only between a man and a woman.

'Teacher of the Year' suspended for Facebook comment

2011-08-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

The P.C. thought police are at it again, working over time to replace traditional marriage values, shared by the majority of the country,with forced "idol" worship, a.k.a. the almighty "tolerance."

"... It is worth noting that the person who filed the complaint has never been a student in Buell's classroom. The school is concerned that homosexual students might feel uncomfortable or somehow threatened in his classes.

All the more reason not to use the term "homosexual marriage." First of all, there's no such thing, and secondly, marriage has never been defined on the basis of sexual orientation. Even same-sex counterfeit "marriages" don't use sexual orientation as a requirement for/against eligibility.* Homosexuality has nothing, whatsoever, to do with marriage.

Furthermore, no actual student, of any particular sexual orientation, has actually filed a complaint. So, the teacher has been fired for a "crime" he has yet to "commit."

"It is an outrageous insinuation that somehow being against homosexual marriage* disqualifies you from being a public servant," he responds. "[That's] an idea that is so repugnant to the Constitution and to the First Amendment freedom of speech, one of our most cherished freedoms that is supposed to enable us to speak out on matters of public importance."