solarbird | Today's Cultural Warfare Update

When a majority is included in a faction, the form of popular government... enables it to sacrifice to its ruling passion or interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens. To secure the public good and private rights against the danger of such a faction, and at the same time preserve the spirit and the form of popular government, is then the great object to which our inquiries are directed.
- James Madison, writing as Publius, The Federalist Papers, nr. 10

Today's took a lot longer than usual to put together because of the large audio-playback component. The big news is that FotF is starting an all-out war against judicial review of law and Marlbury v. Madison (1803). Article list:

Today's Family News in Focus;

James Dobson's Action Newsletter for April is a rally against the "judicial tyrrany" that started with Marlbury v. Madison (1803), and is intended - forthrightly - to galvanise his readership into demanding changing Senate rules to prohibit judicial filibusters, but there's a lot more than that - cites include the courts' refusal to follow Congressional desires in the Schievo case, as well as a huge heaping of anti-queer rhetoric, the death penalty, and references to abortion - calls for abolishing the 9th Circuit Court and re-creating it with new, presumably fundamentalist or fundamentalist-friendly, appointees, calls Justice Kennedy "the most dangerous man in America" and calls for the impeachment of six members of the Supreme Court, and it concludes with an action item;

Dobson's radio broadcast is the first half of an hour on changing filibuster rules - it's interesting to listen to, even though it's mostly a read of the letter in item two;

CWA fuels the "Super-HIV" story floating around New York City, courtesy a columnist at the NY Times (See Andrew Sullivan for additional commentary);

CWA press conference on "judicial activism" and the next steps after the Terri S. case;

Kansas expected to pass anti-marriage-rights amendment, and CNN/USA Today poll shows majority support for a Federal anti-marriage amendment;

Reuters UK article on the Kansas anti-marriage amendment;

Seattle PI article on "Family Life" classes that quotes Families Northwest, an anti-marriage-rights group.

----- 1 -----
Family News in Focus
Monday, April 04, 2005
Focus on the Family
Bob Ditmer

* Congress is back from its spring recess. We’ll look at what’s on the docket
1. Showdown over judicial nominees. "Fmaily advocates" hope that other bills are considered too. "Social security reform" will be first priourity of Republicans; debate centred tomorrow. 2. Welfare legislation. "It addresses abstinence education funding and marriage." Talking about Bush "promotion [of] marriage." Also "child custody act," making it illegal to transport a minour across state lines for an abortion. Sen. Brownback decency bill to increase fines against broadcasters for "indecency" violations. Also the "fetal pain awareness act" (anti abortion bill).
Sen. Democrats promise to stop all other legislation of Senate if the Senate filibuster rules are changes.

* NOT IN LIST: Pope John Paul II dies.
2. "The pope even built bridges between Catholics and evangelical denominations." Famous for "defending heterosexual monogamous marriage, and defending the fact that a foetus is, in fact, a human being!" "Practically coined the term 'culture of life,'" and "defended the importance of traditional marriage."

* What was it like for those who held vigil outside Terri Schiavo’s hospice – and what will they do now?
3. Where to focus energy now? Christian Defense Coalition pledges to "defend her legacy." Slogan is "never again." "Several states" moving forward on laws to change this - demands for Federal action as well. "The other key pressure point is judicial activism." Lots of harping on "judicial activism." "Public activism... just as we do outside the abortion facilities..." is needed on a routine basis.

* Conservative Christian colleges face many hurdles these days getting accredited. King’s College in New York is a good example.
6. "Board of regents that seems to have a Christian bias." "Students are trained in a Biblical worldview." "Classics... education... the media..." State board of Regents "has issues" with five-year accreditation. Is there anti-Christian bias? "It appears that way." No solid evidence or specifics given.

* Militant Buddhists in Sri Lanka are pushing for the passage of a bill that would make religious conversions illegal. The bill not only prohibits proselytizing, but would make religious humanitarian aid illegal.
4. "Anyone guilty of violating the law would be subject to a five to seven year prison sentence."

* The “Polly Awards” are out. They recognize colleges that have taken political correctness to an extreme.
7. Claims that faculty are punished for advocating spanking, saying that "homosexuals don't plan very well for the future."

* Generous donors have given more than 2 million dollars to Focus on the Family toward tsunami relief efforts.
5. "More than half the money to Focus Indonesia." "Relief efforts are now entering a new phase." "Building care centres in the area... we're making a real commitment."

* Last week the UN Security Council voted to impose penalties on individuals who are committing atrocities in the Darfur region of the Sudan. But there was no sanction against the Sudanese government.
8. Bill Frist calls the steps so far "a good first step." Calls for international community to step up efforts in providing relief and to define activities as genocide.

----- 2 -----
Life, Death and Judicial Tyranny
James Dobson
Family Action
Focus on the Family
Dr. Dobson's Action Newsletter

http://www.focusaction.org/articles/A0000066.cfm

I WILL RESTORE YOUR JUDGES AS IN
DAYS OF OLD, YOUR COUNSELORS AS AT THE BEGINNING.
AFTERWARD, YOU WILL BE CALLED THE CITY OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE FAITHFUL CITY." ISAIAH 1:26

April 2005

Dear Friends:

For more than 27 years, I have been writing monthly letters sharing advice and concerns about the moral integrity of the nation and the welfare of the family. A handful of those letters have turned out to be both prophetic and historic—if not to my readers, then certainly to myself. This new letter that you hold I believe, may be one of those commentaries that will have significance years from now and deserves to be taken very seriously today. I pray that you will read it in its entirety. It is too long, I know, but I had to say what is written here.

Thank you for hearing me out.

James Dobson

[...]

Terri's killing signifies conclusively that the judicial system in this country is far too powerful and is totally out of control. No agency of government can rival its reach. Not even the combined influence of the President, both Houses of the Congress and the Governor of Florida could override the wishes of a relatively low-ranking judge. His decision was upheld by several federal court judges, and ultimately, by the U.S. Supreme Court that refused six times to hear Terri's case. 14 She was doomed by that time. How could Terri's parents have expected compassion from the Justices who have declared unconstitutional the ban on the horrible procedure known as partial birth abortion? Anyone who would sanction a law permitting the brains of healthy, unanaesthetized babies to be suctioned out is capable of any evil.

[...]

Unfortunately, this decision by the courts is symptomatic of a much wider slide by the courts into moral relativism. Consider, for example, another terrible decision handed down on March 14, 2005. Judge Richard Kramer of the San Francisco Superior Court summarily struck down California's law prohibiting same-sex marriage. The measure was deemed to be unconstitutional, he said, because "It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite sex partners." 15 No rational purpose?

That takes us back to 2000, when, after a vigorous and highly emotional debate, fully sixty-one percent of Californians voted in a referendum to define marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman; only thirty-nine percent disagreed. 16 Despite this overwhelming response by more than four million people, which became the law in the Golden State, Judge Kramer had the temerity to say that the will of the majority made no sense. He set himself up as the sole determiner of rationality. What utter arrogance! If the decision stands, it will be reflected in every department of government and in every California public school from kindergarten to high school.

We knew this judicial assault on the institution of marriage was coming, and it certainly won't be the last. Liberal judges throughout the nation are itching to sanction same-sex marriages by judicial decree, despite their awareness that the vast majority of Americans do not want the family to be redefined. There can be no doubt about that fact. Seventeen states have voted recently on the meaning of marriage, and all seventeen have passed constitutional amendments defining marriage exclusively as being between one man and one woman. There have been no exceptions, not even in socially liberal Oregon and Hawaii. In all, 38 states have passed "defense of marriage acts."

Nevertheless, there in San Francisco a few weeks ago sat an imperious judge who concluded that marriage—as it has existed for more than 5,000 years on every continent and in every culture on earth—is not rational and should be retooled. Although many fine men and women serve on the bench, this decision illustrates the heady abuse of power that is all too common among independent fiefdoms known as judges. They rule like royal monarchs. And sitting on the top of the pyramid is the U.S. Supreme Court, which threatens the liberty that was purchased with the blood of countless men and women who died to secure it.

[...]

Thomas Jefferson warned repeatedly about the emergence of an out–of-control judiciary that would destroy the Constitution and, along with it, America's fundamental freedoms. He first became alarmed when, in 1803, the U. S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision called Marbury v. Madison. It allowed the Justices to rule on the constitutionality of every legal issue, both inside and outside the government, giving themselves unrivaled imperial power. The concept of "checks and balances" that was intended to keep one branch from eclipsing the other two was no longer in force—at least not with regard to the judiciary. Thereafter, the President, the Congress, and the will of millions of American people have been subservient to the rulings of five imperious justices, along with numerous lower court judges, who continue to issue their decrees beyond the reach of any authority.

When Jefferson recognized the full implications of the Marbury decision, he wrote this prophetic statement: "It is a very dangerous doctrine to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions. It is one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy." 17

BINGO! What we have today, 202 years later, is an oligarchy (rule by a small cadre of elites.) The courts simply strike down laws and policies they don't like, whether their opinions reflect the provisions of the Constitution or not. Furthermore, the activist judges and those who support them have turned the Constitution into what they call "a living, breathing document," in which its actual words no longer mean what they say. The Constitution "evolves," they tell us, to fit the biases of the court. Consequently, we no longer have a government "of the people, by the people and for the people," as Abraham Lincoln described it at Gettysburg. It is, instead—an oligarchy.

[...]

Many Americans do not know that Article 3, Section 1 of the Constitution clearly gives to Congress the responsibility to establish every court with the exception of the Supreme Court. These lower federal courts serve at the pleasure of the Congress, which can abolish or create them at will. For example, the troublesome Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which consistently issues off-the-wall rulings, (including the Pledge of Allegiance decision in 2002) could be abolished and then staffed by different judges immediately. But the Congress has not had the political gumption to take any such action. Consequently, the Courts arrogantly thumb their noses at the other co-equal authorities.

[...]

Even those who are opposed to the idea of capital punishment for minors should be gravely concerned about the criteria by which the Supreme Court arrived at its decision. In writing for the majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy, whom I consider to be the most dangerous man in America, explained his rationale for the ruling, boldly claiming, "It is proper that we acknowledge the overwhelming weight of international public opinion against the juvenile death penalty." 28 This justification was written by a man who regularly ignores the weight of American public opinion in forcing his post-modern nonsense on our culture. Kennedy further promised that the Supreme Court of the United States would continue to look to "the laws of [selected] other countries and to international authorities" in re-interpreting the Constitution. 29

Justice Kennedy should be impeached for taking such a position, along with O'Connor, Ginsberg, Souter, Breyer, and Stevens, who have recently made similar statements

[...]

PLEASE NOTE: THIS FIGHT TO END OBSTRUCTION AND RESTORE SENATE TRADITION IS CRITICAL! CALL YOUR SENATOR NOW AND INSIST THAT FILIBUSTERS NOT BE USED TO BLOCK JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS. TELL THEM YOU WILL REMEMBER HOW THEY VOTE ON THIS ISSUE. IN ADDITION TO ALL THE DEMOCRAT SENATORS, THERE ARE SEVEN "SQUISHY" REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE NOT COMMITTED TO VOTING FOR THIS MEASURE. LET THEM HEAR FROM YOU NOW. PLEASE CALL THE CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD AT 202-224-3121. ADDITIONALLY, YOU MAY CALL THEIR LOCAL OFFICES DIRECTLY. THOSE NUMBERS ARE POSTED ON WWW.CITIZENLINK.ORG. THE SENATORS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Senator Olympia Snowe [ME], Senator Susan Collins [ME], Senator Arlen Specter [PA], Senator John McCain [AZ], Senator Chuck Hagel [NE], Senator Lincoln Chafee [RI] and Senator John Warner [VA].

Additionally, there are numerous Democrats who should be called, Senator Ben Nelson [NE], Senator Robert Byrd [WV], Senator Kent Conrad [ND], Senator Bill Nelson [FL], Senator Jeff Bingaman [NM], Senator Hillary Clinton [NY], Senator Byron Dorgan [ND], Senator Mark Pryor [AR], Senator Tim Johnson [SD], Senator Mary Landrieu [LA], Senator Evan Bayh [IN], Senator Ken Salazar [CO] and Senator Harry Reid [NV]

Here's a message I hope you will deliver, said in your own words:

To all Democrat Senators: We will remember how you vote on the confirmation of judges. If you attempt to use the filibuster to deny a vote to those who hold to conservative views, you will have to explain it the next time you run. That is a promise. It will not be forgotten.

To all Republican Senators: Many of those who put you in power care passionately about the unborn child, about marriage, about the evil of cloning, and about religious liberty. The liberal judiciary threatens our beliefs about every one of these issues. You have been made the majority in the House, in the Senate, and a Republican occupies the White House. Together they represent the coveted "Triple Crown" of American politics. If you fritter away the responsibility to reform the courts, and if you ignore the "values" that motivated those who supported you at the polls, you do not deserve the trust given to you. It's time to fish or cut bait.

For those who live in Pennsylvania, your Senator, Arlen Specter, is again threatening to subvert the nomination process. He recently noted that "the far right [i.e. those of use who believe that the Constitution is a document with a moral foundation that must be interpreted as written] is going to come hard at a nominee if it is not a nominee of their choosing. But I think there's a much broader base in America than the far right." 45 When you call his office, I hope you'll insist that he keep the commitment he made to give all of President Bush's nominees a full and fair review. Based on his comments, it sounds like he may renege on that promise, and keep conservative judges off the bench. He must not be permitted to do that. You can call his Washington office at 202-224-4254 or e-mail him at arlen_specter@specter.senate.gov.

[...]

----- 3 -----
Focus on the Family
The Battle Against Judicial Tyranny, Pt 1
James Dobson
Monday, April 04, 2005

http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Focus_on_the_Family/Default.asp

"Dr. James Dobson will read from his April Focus on the Family Action newsletter and the subject is all too familiar. Judicial tyranny is affecting everything that conservatives hold dear. From life issues to a marriage amendment Dr. Dobson defines the problem and lays down groundwork for you to get involved. Find out what you can do by listening to this important broadcast!"

Condolences for the passing of Pope John Paul II. More on that later this week. But for now, "The well-being of every family, and indeed, the culture as a whole." Points to and reads from the Action Letter (above), "the C4 ministry," which is Focus Action.

[listens to] So far, this is a straight read of the newsletter above - but that's kind of neat, it really highlights the flogging of the Florida judge (listing his full name over and over again - no accident) - "The courts are killing us - not only in regards to Terri S... but what they're doing to democracy... what they're doing to government of the people by the people and for the people... and unless Congress steps up..." Talks about the immediate urgency for Scalia-type justices.

Asks for more money for "C4" - Focus on the Family Action - from listeners. Notes they aren't tax deductible; asks for more money again. More harping on anti-marriage laws; shilling Dobson's book, _Marriage Under Fire_; gives number for direct ordering; pointer to website. Plugs tomorrow's show, more on "how to stop judicial tyranny."

----- 4 -----
New York Officials Remain Puzzled Over Source of New HIV Strain 4/4/2005
By Stacey Phillips

Highly virulent form remains under investigation.

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/7839/CWA/misc/index.htm

Bad news for the Big Apple: Researchers remain baffled after over a month of searching for the origin of a new strain of highly drug-resistant HIV, which causes AIDS.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) issued an update Tuesday on the virulent strain discovered in a New York City man in December 2004. DOHMH’s press release stated that the source of the man’s infection is still unknown. It also reiterated that this particular strain of HIV appears to progress to AIDS unusually quickly.

The original warning, released by the department on February 11, was provoked by the case of a homosexual man who engaged in unprotected sex with multiple partners while using crystal methamphetamine. He was diagnosed as being recently infected with HIV in December 2004 and had developed AIDS by the time DOHMH released its first statement.

Although the source of the man’s infection is still under investigation, scientists have identified several HIV-infected people whose strains may be related to his. No other cases of this “super HIV” have yet been reported, but health officials cannot rule out the possibility of widespread transmission. Department officials acknowledge that the infected man had multiple anonymous partners who they are not able to reach for testing.

News of this disturbing case has brought attention to a growing practice known as “Party and Play,” or PnP, which involves multiple same-sex partners and crystal meth. Various studies have shown that men under the influence of this powerful drug are two to four times more likely to engage in unprotected sex.

Add to that DOHMH’s statement that the “rapidly growing use of crystal methamphetamine in New York City continues to play a significant role in facilitating the transmission of HIV,” and there is certainly cause for concern. According to Newsweek, at the Callen-Lorde Community Health center in New York, almost 75 percent of new HIV-positive patients said crystal meth “played a role” in their sexual behavior.

“The old 'throw condoms at them' approach has proved deadly," said Robert Knight, director of Concerned Women for America's Culture & Family Institute. "People engaging in this risky sex deserve to know the truth: Condoms offer only some protection against some STDs [sexually transmitted diseases], and there is little reason to believe that they are used consistently and carefully during these drug-and-sex parties."

While reports from New York’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have emphasized the importance of reducing HIV risk behavior, they have not recommended abstaining from it. Abstinence is the only 100 percent effective method for preventing the spread of HIV.

----- 5 -----
Terri's Fight Continues
Concerned Women for America
4/1/2005

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/7836/CWA/life/index.htm

The death of Terri Schiavo marks a new beginning in the fight for life. Concerned Women for America was part of a press conference releasing part of a new Zogby poll showing most of America believe life is precious and should be protected.

Click here to listen:
Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director, Christian Defense Coalition (10:57)
We must now work to insure that this never happens again... that Terri's legacy be remembered. Repeats the "Never again" language of Focus on the Family's newscast. Attacks polling methodology indicating that almost all people thought it was reasonable to remove the feeding tubes. Claims their poll shows exactly the opposite. (Their poll apparently refers to "food and water" rather than "feeding tube," and "not in a coma" rather than "in a persistent vegitative state," and so on.)
"One other point, that I don't want to address at length right now... the number two issue... that we'll address clearly over the next weeks and months is judicial activism! How could it be that one judge, Judge Greer, ignored the Florida legislature, ignored the Florida governor, ignored a subpoena from the United States House of Representatives, ignored the United States Congress, the United States Senate, and the President of the United States! It is Judge Greer that we need to be focusing on, and judicial activism. And as weeks and months furl by, we are going to take a long, hard look."

Robert Knight, Director, CWA’s Culture and Family Institute (2:53)
"I have to conclude that the American people were mislead about Terri's condition... but when her condition was accurately described, nearly 80% of Americans said no..." "Terri was put to death by this judge. She was not terminally ill. She couldn't move, but her body was not failing." "[The American people] were deliberately mislead on this." "An extraordinarily, merciless order." "I feel that this is one of the most eggregious examples of the American people being mislead from bad information..." "Used to scare politicians... I saw people in capital hill and in Tallahassee being browbeaten with this polling data..." "The government came in when Michael Schavio went to the courts to try to have his wife killed!" "This isn't a matter of the government getting involved, they _were_ involved."

Lanier Swann, Director of Government Relations, Concerned Women for America (3:56)
"How Congress can and should proceed... encouraging Congress to look deeper into this tragic issue... many Americans do, in fact, agree with what we're trying to accomplish... 68% agree that Congress had every right to intervene." "It's absurd that we allow the medical community... to continually assert that starving a disabled person to death is merely aiding the natural dying process." "The original bill intended to aid Terri was much broader... that option has not been shelved." Senate Health Committee to pick up that issue Wednesday. "A man who has moved on and clearly no longer respects the sanctity of his marriage vows should have absolutely no legal rights to speak for his so-called spouse." "There should be some type of exception to guardianship... more than half of those polled think that Michael Schievo should have handed guardianship back to [her] parents." "A feeding tube shouldn't be considered artificial life support. "We're more than prepared to take this battle to Congress and to state legislatures across the country."

----- 6 -----
Media Advisory: ‘There’s No Place Like the Polls’ for a Marriage Vote in Kansas
4/4/2005

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/7838/MEDIA/family/index.htm

Washington, D.C. – Concerned Women for America (CWA) offered wholehearted support for Kansans on the eve of their visit to the polls Tuesday to vote on a state constitutional amendment to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Kansans are expected to approve the amendment, which will make Kansas the eighteenth state to protect marriage in their state constitutions. Support for marriage is growing all over the country. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released on Friday reported that 68 percent oppose legalizing same-sex “marriage,” and a majority now supports a federal constitutional amendment.

“In an age when judicial tyrants brush aside laws they don’t like, Kansans have a great opportunity to put marriage out of the reach of the judges,” said Robert Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute. “No court—or legislature, for that matter—should be allowed to destroy marriage by radically redefining it to suit homosexual activists.”

“Last year, the Legislature denied the people of Kansas the opportunity to vote on the amendment, but we are grateful that the flood of calls pouring into the state Capitol, our lobbying efforts, and our public testimony, have paid off in their decision to put the amendment on the ballot,” said CWA of Kansas State Director Judy Smith, who leads the 5,540-member state organization.

CWA of Kansas was instrumental in mobilizing people at the grassroots to contact their state legislators and urge them to vote in favor of the amendment. Marsha Strahm, legislative liaison for CWA of Kansas, was among those who contributed to the six hours of testimony heard by the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.

----- 7 -----
Kansans debate gays and God before vote
Sat Apr 2, 2005 2:55 PM GMT
By Carey Gillam

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-04-02T135453Z_01_DEN250015_RTRUKOC_0_LIFE-GAYMARRIAGE.xml

KANSAS CITY, Kansas (Reuters) - Marriage is the big topic in Kansas this weekend. Yard signs are up, radio ads are running and a "Mayday for Marriage" rally planned.

Following the lead of more than a dozen other states, Kansas scheduled a vote Tuesday on whether to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex couples from marrying. One of the toughest in the nation, Kansas' proposed ban also would prevent gays from receiving any of the "rights and incidents" of marriage.

A coalition of Christian clergy from across the state are backing the ban, with help from out-of-state supporters. They have raised more than $125,000 (66,6454 pounds) and are blanketing communities with symbols of a veiled bride and tuxedo-wearing groom and repeating whenever they can the mantra "Protect Marriage."

A rally Sunday was expected to draw people from around the state to Kansas City.

"We don't want same-sex unions to be considered equal to marriage," said Mike Farmer, Kansas Catholic Conference executive director. "Where does it end? Any two people, any three people, any four people? People who believe in traditional marriage want to do everything they can to protect it."

Opponents say the measure does not do anything to protect marriage and is purely discriminatory.

"We don't see anything about prohibiting adultery. This message about protecting marriage just rings hollow," said Bruce Ney, chairman of Kansans for Fairness, a coalition opposing the amendment. "This message is about hate."

The opposition is holding its own rally on Sunday and has lined up nearly 100 clergy who say the measure violates Christian teachings. Yet they've raised only about $35,000, and they're prepared for a loss.

"We'll lose. But it's not right," said the Rev. Robert Meneilly, a retired Presbyterian minister who opposes the amendment. "If we believe that we are made in God's likeness, we all need to be respected and treated the same."

PUBLIC POLICY, BIBLICAL BELIEFS

Kansas would become the 18th state to ban gay marriage through state constitutional amendment. Thirteen states passed similar amendments last year, and conservative Christians have cited the efforts as key in shaping public policy.

Indeed, conservatives have criticized President George W. Bush for not pushing hard enough to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. His quest for the amendment failed last year in Congress.

It is not just Kansans active in the Kansas vote. The Knights of Columbus of New Haven, Connecticut, donated $100,000. The Washington-based group Concerned Women for America, which aims to push biblical teachings in public policy, as well as the Coalition of African-American Pastors from Tennessee, are helping lead Sunday's rally.

Movement leaders say they have to pursue constitutional amendments to prevent a liberal judiciary from legalizing homosexual unions.

"If a culture cannot define and protect basic relationships such as marriage then that culture will, I believe, find itself drifting further into chaos and confusion," said Pastor J.K. Warrick of the College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas.

As the vote nears, the debate is intensifying as once-private sentiments surface between neighbours, church members, doctors and patients, and parents on playgrounds.

"God loves all of us and we are all sinners. We have no right to say this particular sin has to be targeted," said 54-year-old Linda Stoker, a married mother from Johnson County who plans to vote against the amendment.

Not so, said Yvonne DiFalco, another Johnson County married mother who planted a pro-amendment sign in her yard.

"As a decent society, we want people to know they are loved," said DiFalco. "But we will not waltz them into a life of hell."

----- 8 -----
Tuesday, March 29, 2005

'Family life' classes urged for schools
State bill focuses on teaching students about relationships

By JESSICA BLANCHARD
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

There are reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic, but proponents of a bill working its way through the Legislature say it's time to focus on a fourth "R" in education -- relationships.

The House earlier this month passed a bill that would encourage public high schools to offer "family-preservation" classes on building loving relationships, resolving conflicts, being responsible parents and managing money.

The goal, supporters say, is to help students learn the value of strong, enduring relationships and reinforce the importance of families as the basic unit of society -- lessons many teens may not be learning at home.

"It's a neglected area of our educational system," said Rep. Dave Quall, D-Mount Vernon, the bill's chief sponsor.

Schools tend to focus on academics and assume parents will pass on basic skills and values to their children, but that's not always the case, he said.

"Every opportunity we have to expose people to values that respect each other and build a strategy for dissolving conflicts -- I think that's a good thing," Quall said.

The bill, which passed out of the Senate's Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education Committee last week, originally mandated that districts adopt a family-preservation curriculum. But sponsors dropped that requirement to help secure passage. The revised bill now simply urges districts to adopt the curriculum.

[...]

There's nothing wrong with promoting marriage and the traditional family structure, said Jeff Kemp, president of Families Northwest, a Bellevue-based pro-marriage group.

"Families come in various sizes and shapes," he said, "but that shouldn't stop us from saying, 'Do you want the best in your relationship?' " [Ed. Note: Families Northwest is stridently against all non-"traditional" marriages.]

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