Today's Cultural Warfare Update
Feb. 12th, 2006 12:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
solarbirdFocus on the Family article on Claude Allen's resignation from Health and Human Services; includes ACTION ITEM to urge Bush to appoint another anti-gay, anti-abortion HHS head;
A church hosting FotF's "ex-gay" bullshit seminar series, "Love Won Out," was vandalised - someone threw eggs at the door. FotF assumes GBLT people did it, accuses the same; no actual evidence pointing to the identity of the culprit or culprits exists;
FotF: Valentine's Day has been "hijacked by feminists"; says that "women are fighting back"; note that "feminists" are apparently not "women"; attacks the play The Vagina Monologues and efforts to put on productions of it on Valentine's Day;
South Dakota moves to ban abortion outright; includes ACTION ITEM to support the ban, which now goes to the state Senate;
Wisconsin anti-contraceptive pharmacist in trouble for refusing to dispense birth-control pills; these aren't even emergency contraception, these are standard BCP;
Concerned Women for America: "Life in the Mainstream Includes the Unborn";
New (to me) group, "Catholic Citizens of Illinois," wants DePaul University to drop its queer studies programme, sites GBLT people as "objectively disordered" and same-sex relationships as "intrinsically evil," quoting Pope Benedict; article continues AFA/fundamentalist line of equating homosexuality and pedophilia;
Ohio public school starting the day with prayer has stopped in response to a newspaper editorial suggesting it was unconstitutional; American Family Association is angry;
AFA ACTION ITEM to flood the FCC with complaints over a scene set in a strip club; hope is to get an indecency charge against the network;
Faith and Freedom Network raises money to fight GBLT-rights-protections in Oregon.
----- 1 -----
PRO-FAMILY POLICY ADVISER LEAVES WHITE HOUSE
Claude Allen has resigned a key post in the West Wing.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
February 10, 2006
by Pete Winn, associate editor
http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039503.cfm
Claude Allen, President Bush's domestic policy adviser,
has announced he is leaving the White House, effective
immediately.
Allen first came to national prominence in the 1990s as
the chief deputy to Kay Coles James, who was secretary of
health and human resources for then-Virginia Gov. George
Allen. He also served in the federal department of Health
and Human Services in the current administration.
Bush acknowledged that service in calling Allen a trusted
adviser since 2001.
[...]
Allen reportedly is leaving to spend more time with his
family. The father of four and an attorney, he has not
commented publicly on his departure -- or his future
plans.
[...]
Former White House Domestic Policy Adviser Gary Bauer, who
served under President Reagan, said Allen has been one of
the staunchest defenders of the family.
"He's a strong conservative and a real defender of
pro-life and pro-family values, and he certainly will be
missed," he said.
[...]
"If another strong conservative is selected, then that
would signal the president's going to stay the course he's
been on all these years -- and that's what I expect to
happen," Bauer explained. "But in the unlikely event that
someone more moderate or liberal is selected for that job,
that would be cause for concern."
Brandt, meanwhile, said the pro-family movement has faith
the president will recognize the role Allen has played to
bring the voice of the family -- and traditional values --
into the highest levels of government.
"We trust that the White House will seek out an individual
who truly can follow in the footsteps of Claude Allen," he
said. "He'll be a difficult man to replace."
TAKE ACTION: Please encourage President Bush to select a
pro-family conservative in the mold of Claude Allen as his
next domestic policy adviser. For contact information,
including an easy-to-use e-mail form, visit the
CitizenLink Action Center.
http://www3.capwiz.com/fof/bio/?id=20004&lvl=F
[More at URL]
----- 2 -----
CHURCH HOSTING LOVE WON OUT EVENT VANDALIZED
Gay activists thought to be behind the attack on Missouri house of worship.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
by Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor
February 10, 2006
http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039502.cfm
A St. Louis church was vandalized late last night or early
this morning, just hours after the local news media
reported the church's involvement in an upcoming
conference on the issues surrounding homosexuality.
The First Evangelical Free Church of St. Louis County
(First Free) will host Focus on the Family's international
Love Won Out conference on Feb. 25. The one-day event is
designed to provide help for those who struggle with --
and those with loved ones who struggle with -- unwanted
same-sex attractions.
One St. Louis TV station that reported on the event
Thursday evening included video in front of First Free's
building. When staff got to work this morning, they were
greeted by at least a dozen eggs spattered over the face
of the church.
[More at URL]
----- 3 -----
WOMEN'S PRIVATE SEXUALITY TWISTED INTO PUBLIC SHOW
Valentine's Day has been hijacked by feminists, but women are fighting back.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
by Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor
February 10, 2006
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0039501.cfm
This Tuesday, when romance and flowers should be taking
center stage, the nickname for Valentine's Day will be
hijacked by liberal feminists looking to foist their
strange views about womanhood on students.
"V" no longer stands for Valentine's, but for a word
describing a woman's intimate anatomy, and, along with the
new name, students are being encouraged to put on a play
called "The Vagina Monologues."
But a conservative women's group is looking to counter
that offensive, misleading message by offering a
different, more complete view of womanhood to colleges
nationwide.
Eve Ensler wrote her "Monologues" play in 1995. She formed
a nonprofit organization in 1998 to further her ideas. She
calls her play an endeavor to end violence against women
and has repurposed it as part of the "V-Day movement."
She's working hard to get the play performed on campuses
for Valentine's Day.
Ensler said she began to think of V-Day as a movement
after listening to women talk about their own experiences
after seeing her play.
"Night after night I heard the same stories," she said.
"Women being raped as teenagers, in college, as little
girls, as elderly women; women who had finally escaped
being beaten to death by their husbands; women who were
terrified to leave; women who were taken sexually, before
they were even conscious of sex, by their stepfathers,
brothers, cousins, uncles, mothers and fathers. Slowly it
dawned on me that nothing was more important than stopping
violence toward women."
While that's certainly a noble cause, the vehicle Ensler
chose to forward her mission is troubling -- a play about
women's anatomy. Picture the following stage depictions: a
6-year-old girl's detailed description of the intimate
parts of her body; explicit descriptions of child rape;
graphic discussion of lesbian sex; and portrayal of men in
general as adulterers, abusers and rapists.
But the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute (CBLPI) is
working to counter that message with its own campaign --
V-Day Unveiled. Exposing the truth behind the movement and
the play, the institute hopes to empower students to stand
against the degrading message and bring back the true
meaning of Valentine's Day -- while challenging students
to reject the notion that the tasteless exhibition of the
"Monologues" will put an end to violence against women and
girls.
'Lewd, Degrading and Demeaning'
Michelle Easton, president of CBLPI, said the debasing
message perpetuated by the V-day movement does not advance
the cause of ending abuse.
"Simply put, (the play) is lewd, degrading and demeaning
to women," she said. "They cause inestimable harm to both
genders by encouraging women to find their identity,
purpose and passion in their body parts and by trying to
destroy the Valentine's Day tradition for most Americans."
Nonetheless, on Tuesday, college campuses in all 50 states
will host a variety of activities associated with the
play. And, if past programs are any indication, things
could get pretty graphic. Most -- well, all -- are not
suitable for print in CitizenLink.
Easton said such antics on a college campus do nothing to
prepare students for the real world.
"And yet thousands of students are joining this sexual
crusade, spending enormous amounts of time during their
college years -- and learning what? Only how to convince
themselves that saying the word 'vagina' will somehow
empower them and will save the world from sexual
predators," she said. "The truth is that neither is true."
That's why CBLPI started V-Day Unveiled.
According to Monique Stuart, program officer for CBLPI,
the V-Day Unveiled campaign seeks to reclaim the romance
and beauty of Valentine's Day and to celebrate the
intellect, strength, integrity and spirit of the modern
American woman. It also seeks to promote respect in ways
to honor -- rather than debase and degrade -- women.
"A lot of our students were coming to us saying, 'How do
we get rid of this? It's on our campuses. What do we do?'
" she said.
Many have tried to appeal to campus officials only to be
ignored or dismissed. V-Day Unveiled was created to
support students who have asked for ideas, assistance and
resources to take a stand.
On campuses that have signed on to participate in Ensler's
version of V-Day, Stuart said she encourages students to
renounce the offensive and degrading images of women and
men presented in the play.
"All this talk about pornography and the link to violence
against women," she said, "I'm wondering if a play that
puts women into a sexual frame and says all they are are
their intimate anatomy, what does it say to men? It says
all we are are sexual objects."
The V-Day Unveiled project has created a list of ways to
counter that message.
"If you can't join 'em, beat 'em," Stuart said. "Celebrate
the mind and spirit and creativity of American women and
men -- past and present. Hold a book fair and raise funds
that way, or bring in a woman speaker or have a debate."
The main argument used by proponents of V-Day is ending
violence against women, so counter that with your own
ideas.
"There are plenty of ways to help women and to raise money
to help women other than this play," she said. "We give
different ways to raise money and to show the V-Day
supporters that money can be raised in many different ways
and then donated to the local women's shelter or the rape
crisis center.
"Or get your club together and go down and volunteer at a
rape crisis center or at an abuse shelter," she added.
"(Those who push the play) use the cause of violence
against women to really push vulgarity onto the public. No
one is against ending violence against women, but what we
question are your methods; we question the way you are
choosing to do this.
"I have yet to see any actual data -- hard proof of
numbers, empirical evidence -- saying that performances of
this play have brought down violence against women in the
areas where it has been performed. They have nothing."
Statistics about violence against women aside, Ensler
claims anecdotal evidence that women feel more empowered
after becoming a part of the V-Day movement. Stuart said
that makes no sense.
"We all know that chanting vulgarities in a dark alley if
a man is trying to attack you isn't going to save you,"
she said "It's a false sense of empowerment."
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn how to counter the message
of V-Day on college campuses and around the world, please
visit the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute Web site.
http://www.cblpi.org/vdu.htm
(NOTE: Referral to Web sites not produced by Focus on the
Family is for informational purposes only and does not
necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites'
content.)
----- 4 -----
South Dakota on the Way to Abortion Ban
Focus on the Family
NEWSBRIEFS
February 10, 2006
Members of the South Dakota state House voted Thursday to
ban abortion in the state, the Sioux City Journal
reported.
Rep. Roger Hunt, R-Brandon, presented the bill to his
colleagues.
"We now know about the fact that the child has DNA, a set
of genes that is separate from the mother's," he said. "It
is not just some tissue in the mother. It basically has
its own identity."
Critics of the bill, such as Rep. Burt Elliot, D-Aberdeen,
said the law should allow an exception for instances of
rape.
"I don't believe in abortion as a method of birth
control," he said, "but I sure as H-E-double-hockey-sticks
believe in something for victims of rape."
Rep. Elizabeth Kraus, R-Rapid City, is a former medical
technologist who supported the measure.
"The state cannot continue to protect the abortion
practice," she said. "The right and duty to preserve life
cannot coexist with the right to destroy it."
The bill now heads to a strongly pro-life Senate for
consideration.
TAKE ACTION: If you live in South Dakota, urge you state
senator to support the ban on abortion. For contact
information, visit the CitizenLink Action Center and type
your ZIP code in the space provided.
http://www3.capwiz.com/fof/directory/statedir.tt?state=SD&lvl=state
----- 5 -----
Wisconsin Pharmacist Faces Punishment
Focus on the Family
NEWSBRIEFS
February 10, 2006
A Wisconsin judge told the state's Pharmacy Examining
Board today that it is OK to reprimand a pharmacist who
refused to fill a prescription that violated his personal
beliefs, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported.
While working as a substitute pharmacist at a Kmart
pharmacy, Neil Noesen refused to fill a prescription for
oral contraceptives presented by college student Amanda
Phiede.
Phiede asked him to provide the name of an alternative
pharmacy, but Noesen refused. After a series of events,
the managing pharmacist filled the prescription.
The state board then limited the license of Noesen and
placed conditions of reprimand on his future work.
Circuit Judge James Babler said the board was within its
rights to punish Noesen.
He must now attend six hours of ethics training, pay
$20,000 in court costs and notify future employers five
days in advance of beginning work of what practices he
will not perform. He must also outline the steps he would
take to ensure that customers have access to the necessary
medications.
----- 6 -----
Life in the Mainstream Includes the Unborn
Concerned Women for America
February 10, 2006
Editor’s Note: CWA’s Chief Counsel, Jan LaRue, presented this address today at the 2006 Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
http://www.cwalac.org/article_303.shtml
Here’s a lawyer joke you probably haven’t heard that happens to be true.
On May 7, 2003, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in State v. Sandoval that “a fetus constitutes a part of the mother’s body and, therefore, is a member of her body,” akin to her “ear, tongue and skin.”
No—the justices weren’t moonlighting at the Hartford Comedy Club. It was unanimous—not one straight man dissented.
[More at URL]
----- 7 -----
Catholic Group Says 'Out' With DePaul's New Queer Studies Program
By Jim Brown
American Family Association
February 10, 2006
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/2/afa/102006e.asp
(AgapePress) - Students at the largest Roman Catholic university in the U.S. can now minor in study of homosexual culture, history and lifestyle. That is because DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, has begun offering a "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer Studies" program.
The university has recently implemented this course of study despite the Vatican's official teaching that homosexual orientation is "objectively disordered" and homosexual behavior is "intrinsically evil." This compels some conservative Catholic groups to believe DePaul has strayed from core Church teaching on sexual morality.
Karl Maurer is the vice president of Catholic Citizens of Illinois and an alumnus of DePaul. He says the school's new "Queer Studies" program is indicative of a problem not just with that university but with "the American institutional Catholic Church."
One would "have to be living under a rock for the last five years not to have noticed the homosexual scandals that are going on within the Church," Maurer asserts. "And it's not just in the seminaries: it's not just in the chanceries; it's in the universities as well, and it really calls into question whether or not the U.S. bishops are serious about rooting out homosexual abuse."
The ideal solution to this problem, at least at DePaul, would be for the school to recognize the error of its ways and drop the "Queer Studies" program completely, the university alum says. However, he doubts that is likely to happen. The homosexual studies classes are in high demand on the campus, and some students say DePaul's "gay and lesbian" course offerings are the main reason they chose to attend the school.
[More at URL]
----- 8 -----
Ohio School Cans Lord's Prayer -- but 'Caving In' Not the Answer, Says Staver
By Jim Brown
American Family Association
February 10, 2006
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/2/afa/102006c.asp
(AgapePress) - A public high school in Ohio has stopped opening the school day with a prayer after a newspaper questioned whether the practice was constitutional.
Until last week, the Lord's Prayer was recited over the public address system at Ohio's Mineral Ridge High School before the Pledge of Allegiance and morning announcements. The Warren Tribune Chronicle had questioned Weathersfield Local School District officials about whether the prayer violates the so-called "separation of church and state." In 1962 the Supreme Court ruled that a public school in New York had violated the First Amendment by reciting a prayer at the beginning of every school day.
[More at URL]
----- 9 -----
NBC Does It Again! Vulgar, Tasteless, Indecent Scene Part Of Network Program
American Family Association
February 2006
http://www.afa.net/lasvegas.asp
We Urge You To File A Formal Complaint With The FCC
The February 6 episode of NBC's Las Vegas contained a scene inside a strip club. The content of that scene was extremely graphic. We have provided a video of the scene below.
NBC aired this scene during prime-time hours when they knew millions of children would likely be watching. But NBC didn't care if they exposed children to this kind of material. Please take action below and help us help our children.
The FCC has several new commissioners who have spoken out about the content of some television programs. They have invited the public to send them their complaints.
Rather than trying to describe it to you, I would rather you watch it yourself. After watching the video, please follow the instructions to file your official complaint with the FCC. It will only take a couple of minutes to file the complaint. Do it for your children and grandchildren. After you file your complaint, please forward this to friends and family.
WARNING: This scene taken from the NBC program Las Vegas is highly offensive.
Click here to watch the scene.
Click Here To File Your Complaint Now!
If you think our efforts are worthy of support, would you make a small contribution to AFA by clicking here .
Thanks for caring enough to get involved.
Sincerely,
Don
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association
----- 10 -----
Kulongoski Follows Gregoire
Faith and Freedom Network
Friday, February 10, 2006
http://www.faithandfreedom.us/weblog/2006/02/kulongoski-follows-gregoire.html
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, in the tradition of Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, announced yesterday that he, too, has a long history of wanting to advance gay rights under the guise of anti-discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Yesterday Kulongoski signed Executive Order No. 06-03, which establishes the Governor’s Taskforce on Equality in Oregon.
He said, “My commitment to this issue dates back to my first term in elected office, 1975, when I introduced legislation to end discrimination based on sexual orientation.”
Kulongoski further stated, “The citizens of Oregon deserve to have their government examine this issue carefully.” He also said the Taskforce is directed to focus on the actual effects of adopting such legislation, including any effects on business.
[More at URL]
A church hosting FotF's "ex-gay" bullshit seminar series, "Love Won Out," was vandalised - someone threw eggs at the door. FotF assumes GBLT people did it, accuses the same; no actual evidence pointing to the identity of the culprit or culprits exists;
FotF: Valentine's Day has been "hijacked by feminists"; says that "women are fighting back"; note that "feminists" are apparently not "women"; attacks the play The Vagina Monologues and efforts to put on productions of it on Valentine's Day;
South Dakota moves to ban abortion outright; includes ACTION ITEM to support the ban, which now goes to the state Senate;
Wisconsin anti-contraceptive pharmacist in trouble for refusing to dispense birth-control pills; these aren't even emergency contraception, these are standard BCP;
Concerned Women for America: "Life in the Mainstream Includes the Unborn";
New (to me) group, "Catholic Citizens of Illinois," wants DePaul University to drop its queer studies programme, sites GBLT people as "objectively disordered" and same-sex relationships as "intrinsically evil," quoting Pope Benedict; article continues AFA/fundamentalist line of equating homosexuality and pedophilia;
Ohio public school starting the day with prayer has stopped in response to a newspaper editorial suggesting it was unconstitutional; American Family Association is angry;
AFA ACTION ITEM to flood the FCC with complaints over a scene set in a strip club; hope is to get an indecency charge against the network;
Faith and Freedom Network raises money to fight GBLT-rights-protections in Oregon.
----- 1 -----
PRO-FAMILY POLICY ADVISER LEAVES WHITE HOUSE
Claude Allen has resigned a key post in the West Wing.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
February 10, 2006
by Pete Winn, associate editor
http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039503.cfm
Claude Allen, President Bush's domestic policy adviser,
has announced he is leaving the White House, effective
immediately.
Allen first came to national prominence in the 1990s as
the chief deputy to Kay Coles James, who was secretary of
health and human resources for then-Virginia Gov. George
Allen. He also served in the federal department of Health
and Human Services in the current administration.
Bush acknowledged that service in calling Allen a trusted
adviser since 2001.
[...]
Allen reportedly is leaving to spend more time with his
family. The father of four and an attorney, he has not
commented publicly on his departure -- or his future
plans.
[...]
Former White House Domestic Policy Adviser Gary Bauer, who
served under President Reagan, said Allen has been one of
the staunchest defenders of the family.
"He's a strong conservative and a real defender of
pro-life and pro-family values, and he certainly will be
missed," he said.
[...]
"If another strong conservative is selected, then that
would signal the president's going to stay the course he's
been on all these years -- and that's what I expect to
happen," Bauer explained. "But in the unlikely event that
someone more moderate or liberal is selected for that job,
that would be cause for concern."
Brandt, meanwhile, said the pro-family movement has faith
the president will recognize the role Allen has played to
bring the voice of the family -- and traditional values --
into the highest levels of government.
"We trust that the White House will seek out an individual
who truly can follow in the footsteps of Claude Allen," he
said. "He'll be a difficult man to replace."
TAKE ACTION: Please encourage President Bush to select a
pro-family conservative in the mold of Claude Allen as his
next domestic policy adviser. For contact information,
including an easy-to-use e-mail form, visit the
CitizenLink Action Center.
http://www3.capwiz.com/fof/bio/?id=20004&lvl=F
[More at URL]
----- 2 -----
CHURCH HOSTING LOVE WON OUT EVENT VANDALIZED
Gay activists thought to be behind the attack on Missouri house of worship.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
by Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor
February 10, 2006
http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039502.cfm
A St. Louis church was vandalized late last night or early
this morning, just hours after the local news media
reported the church's involvement in an upcoming
conference on the issues surrounding homosexuality.
The First Evangelical Free Church of St. Louis County
(First Free) will host Focus on the Family's international
Love Won Out conference on Feb. 25. The one-day event is
designed to provide help for those who struggle with --
and those with loved ones who struggle with -- unwanted
same-sex attractions.
One St. Louis TV station that reported on the event
Thursday evening included video in front of First Free's
building. When staff got to work this morning, they were
greeted by at least a dozen eggs spattered over the face
of the church.
[More at URL]
----- 3 -----
WOMEN'S PRIVATE SEXUALITY TWISTED INTO PUBLIC SHOW
Valentine's Day has been hijacked by feminists, but women are fighting back.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
by Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor
February 10, 2006
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0039501.cfm
This Tuesday, when romance and flowers should be taking
center stage, the nickname for Valentine's Day will be
hijacked by liberal feminists looking to foist their
strange views about womanhood on students.
"V" no longer stands for Valentine's, but for a word
describing a woman's intimate anatomy, and, along with the
new name, students are being encouraged to put on a play
called "The Vagina Monologues."
But a conservative women's group is looking to counter
that offensive, misleading message by offering a
different, more complete view of womanhood to colleges
nationwide.
Eve Ensler wrote her "Monologues" play in 1995. She formed
a nonprofit organization in 1998 to further her ideas. She
calls her play an endeavor to end violence against women
and has repurposed it as part of the "V-Day movement."
She's working hard to get the play performed on campuses
for Valentine's Day.
Ensler said she began to think of V-Day as a movement
after listening to women talk about their own experiences
after seeing her play.
"Night after night I heard the same stories," she said.
"Women being raped as teenagers, in college, as little
girls, as elderly women; women who had finally escaped
being beaten to death by their husbands; women who were
terrified to leave; women who were taken sexually, before
they were even conscious of sex, by their stepfathers,
brothers, cousins, uncles, mothers and fathers. Slowly it
dawned on me that nothing was more important than stopping
violence toward women."
While that's certainly a noble cause, the vehicle Ensler
chose to forward her mission is troubling -- a play about
women's anatomy. Picture the following stage depictions: a
6-year-old girl's detailed description of the intimate
parts of her body; explicit descriptions of child rape;
graphic discussion of lesbian sex; and portrayal of men in
general as adulterers, abusers and rapists.
But the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute (CBLPI) is
working to counter that message with its own campaign --
V-Day Unveiled. Exposing the truth behind the movement and
the play, the institute hopes to empower students to stand
against the degrading message and bring back the true
meaning of Valentine's Day -- while challenging students
to reject the notion that the tasteless exhibition of the
"Monologues" will put an end to violence against women and
girls.
'Lewd, Degrading and Demeaning'
Michelle Easton, president of CBLPI, said the debasing
message perpetuated by the V-day movement does not advance
the cause of ending abuse.
"Simply put, (the play) is lewd, degrading and demeaning
to women," she said. "They cause inestimable harm to both
genders by encouraging women to find their identity,
purpose and passion in their body parts and by trying to
destroy the Valentine's Day tradition for most Americans."
Nonetheless, on Tuesday, college campuses in all 50 states
will host a variety of activities associated with the
play. And, if past programs are any indication, things
could get pretty graphic. Most -- well, all -- are not
suitable for print in CitizenLink.
Easton said such antics on a college campus do nothing to
prepare students for the real world.
"And yet thousands of students are joining this sexual
crusade, spending enormous amounts of time during their
college years -- and learning what? Only how to convince
themselves that saying the word 'vagina' will somehow
empower them and will save the world from sexual
predators," she said. "The truth is that neither is true."
That's why CBLPI started V-Day Unveiled.
According to Monique Stuart, program officer for CBLPI,
the V-Day Unveiled campaign seeks to reclaim the romance
and beauty of Valentine's Day and to celebrate the
intellect, strength, integrity and spirit of the modern
American woman. It also seeks to promote respect in ways
to honor -- rather than debase and degrade -- women.
"A lot of our students were coming to us saying, 'How do
we get rid of this? It's on our campuses. What do we do?'
" she said.
Many have tried to appeal to campus officials only to be
ignored or dismissed. V-Day Unveiled was created to
support students who have asked for ideas, assistance and
resources to take a stand.
On campuses that have signed on to participate in Ensler's
version of V-Day, Stuart said she encourages students to
renounce the offensive and degrading images of women and
men presented in the play.
"All this talk about pornography and the link to violence
against women," she said, "I'm wondering if a play that
puts women into a sexual frame and says all they are are
their intimate anatomy, what does it say to men? It says
all we are are sexual objects."
The V-Day Unveiled project has created a list of ways to
counter that message.
"If you can't join 'em, beat 'em," Stuart said. "Celebrate
the mind and spirit and creativity of American women and
men -- past and present. Hold a book fair and raise funds
that way, or bring in a woman speaker or have a debate."
The main argument used by proponents of V-Day is ending
violence against women, so counter that with your own
ideas.
"There are plenty of ways to help women and to raise money
to help women other than this play," she said. "We give
different ways to raise money and to show the V-Day
supporters that money can be raised in many different ways
and then donated to the local women's shelter or the rape
crisis center.
"Or get your club together and go down and volunteer at a
rape crisis center or at an abuse shelter," she added.
"(Those who push the play) use the cause of violence
against women to really push vulgarity onto the public. No
one is against ending violence against women, but what we
question are your methods; we question the way you are
choosing to do this.
"I have yet to see any actual data -- hard proof of
numbers, empirical evidence -- saying that performances of
this play have brought down violence against women in the
areas where it has been performed. They have nothing."
Statistics about violence against women aside, Ensler
claims anecdotal evidence that women feel more empowered
after becoming a part of the V-Day movement. Stuart said
that makes no sense.
"We all know that chanting vulgarities in a dark alley if
a man is trying to attack you isn't going to save you,"
she said "It's a false sense of empowerment."
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn how to counter the message
of V-Day on college campuses and around the world, please
visit the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute Web site.
http://www.cblpi.org/vdu.htm
(NOTE: Referral to Web sites not produced by Focus on the
Family is for informational purposes only and does not
necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites'
content.)
----- 4 -----
South Dakota on the Way to Abortion Ban
Focus on the Family
NEWSBRIEFS
February 10, 2006
Members of the South Dakota state House voted Thursday to
ban abortion in the state, the Sioux City Journal
reported.
Rep. Roger Hunt, R-Brandon, presented the bill to his
colleagues.
"We now know about the fact that the child has DNA, a set
of genes that is separate from the mother's," he said. "It
is not just some tissue in the mother. It basically has
its own identity."
Critics of the bill, such as Rep. Burt Elliot, D-Aberdeen,
said the law should allow an exception for instances of
rape.
"I don't believe in abortion as a method of birth
control," he said, "but I sure as H-E-double-hockey-sticks
believe in something for victims of rape."
Rep. Elizabeth Kraus, R-Rapid City, is a former medical
technologist who supported the measure.
"The state cannot continue to protect the abortion
practice," she said. "The right and duty to preserve life
cannot coexist with the right to destroy it."
The bill now heads to a strongly pro-life Senate for
consideration.
TAKE ACTION: If you live in South Dakota, urge you state
senator to support the ban on abortion. For contact
information, visit the CitizenLink Action Center and type
your ZIP code in the space provided.
http://www3.capwiz.com/fof/directory/statedir.tt?state=SD&lvl=state
----- 5 -----
Wisconsin Pharmacist Faces Punishment
Focus on the Family
NEWSBRIEFS
February 10, 2006
A Wisconsin judge told the state's Pharmacy Examining
Board today that it is OK to reprimand a pharmacist who
refused to fill a prescription that violated his personal
beliefs, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported.
While working as a substitute pharmacist at a Kmart
pharmacy, Neil Noesen refused to fill a prescription for
oral contraceptives presented by college student Amanda
Phiede.
Phiede asked him to provide the name of an alternative
pharmacy, but Noesen refused. After a series of events,
the managing pharmacist filled the prescription.
The state board then limited the license of Noesen and
placed conditions of reprimand on his future work.
Circuit Judge James Babler said the board was within its
rights to punish Noesen.
He must now attend six hours of ethics training, pay
$20,000 in court costs and notify future employers five
days in advance of beginning work of what practices he
will not perform. He must also outline the steps he would
take to ensure that customers have access to the necessary
medications.
----- 6 -----
Life in the Mainstream Includes the Unborn
Concerned Women for America
February 10, 2006
Editor’s Note: CWA’s Chief Counsel, Jan LaRue, presented this address today at the 2006 Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
http://www.cwalac.org/article_303.shtml
Here’s a lawyer joke you probably haven’t heard that happens to be true.
On May 7, 2003, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in State v. Sandoval that “a fetus constitutes a part of the mother’s body and, therefore, is a member of her body,” akin to her “ear, tongue and skin.”
No—the justices weren’t moonlighting at the Hartford Comedy Club. It was unanimous—not one straight man dissented.
[More at URL]
----- 7 -----
Catholic Group Says 'Out' With DePaul's New Queer Studies Program
By Jim Brown
American Family Association
February 10, 2006
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/2/afa/102006e.asp
(AgapePress) - Students at the largest Roman Catholic university in the U.S. can now minor in study of homosexual culture, history and lifestyle. That is because DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, has begun offering a "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer Studies" program.
The university has recently implemented this course of study despite the Vatican's official teaching that homosexual orientation is "objectively disordered" and homosexual behavior is "intrinsically evil." This compels some conservative Catholic groups to believe DePaul has strayed from core Church teaching on sexual morality.
Karl Maurer is the vice president of Catholic Citizens of Illinois and an alumnus of DePaul. He says the school's new "Queer Studies" program is indicative of a problem not just with that university but with "the American institutional Catholic Church."
One would "have to be living under a rock for the last five years not to have noticed the homosexual scandals that are going on within the Church," Maurer asserts. "And it's not just in the seminaries: it's not just in the chanceries; it's in the universities as well, and it really calls into question whether or not the U.S. bishops are serious about rooting out homosexual abuse."
The ideal solution to this problem, at least at DePaul, would be for the school to recognize the error of its ways and drop the "Queer Studies" program completely, the university alum says. However, he doubts that is likely to happen. The homosexual studies classes are in high demand on the campus, and some students say DePaul's "gay and lesbian" course offerings are the main reason they chose to attend the school.
[More at URL]
----- 8 -----
Ohio School Cans Lord's Prayer -- but 'Caving In' Not the Answer, Says Staver
By Jim Brown
American Family Association
February 10, 2006
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/2/afa/102006c.asp
(AgapePress) - A public high school in Ohio has stopped opening the school day with a prayer after a newspaper questioned whether the practice was constitutional.
Until last week, the Lord's Prayer was recited over the public address system at Ohio's Mineral Ridge High School before the Pledge of Allegiance and morning announcements. The Warren Tribune Chronicle had questioned Weathersfield Local School District officials about whether the prayer violates the so-called "separation of church and state." In 1962 the Supreme Court ruled that a public school in New York had violated the First Amendment by reciting a prayer at the beginning of every school day.
[More at URL]
----- 9 -----
NBC Does It Again! Vulgar, Tasteless, Indecent Scene Part Of Network Program
American Family Association
February 2006
http://www.afa.net/lasvegas.asp
We Urge You To File A Formal Complaint With The FCC
The February 6 episode of NBC's Las Vegas contained a scene inside a strip club. The content of that scene was extremely graphic. We have provided a video of the scene below.
NBC aired this scene during prime-time hours when they knew millions of children would likely be watching. But NBC didn't care if they exposed children to this kind of material. Please take action below and help us help our children.
The FCC has several new commissioners who have spoken out about the content of some television programs. They have invited the public to send them their complaints.
Rather than trying to describe it to you, I would rather you watch it yourself. After watching the video, please follow the instructions to file your official complaint with the FCC. It will only take a couple of minutes to file the complaint. Do it for your children and grandchildren. After you file your complaint, please forward this to friends and family.
WARNING: This scene taken from the NBC program Las Vegas is highly offensive.
Click here to watch the scene.
Click Here To File Your Complaint Now!
If you think our efforts are worthy of support, would you make a small contribution to AFA by clicking here .
Thanks for caring enough to get involved.
Sincerely,
Don
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association
----- 10 -----
Kulongoski Follows Gregoire
Faith and Freedom Network
Friday, February 10, 2006
http://www.faithandfreedom.us/weblog/2006/02/kulongoski-follows-gregoire.html
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, in the tradition of Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, announced yesterday that he, too, has a long history of wanting to advance gay rights under the guise of anti-discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Yesterday Kulongoski signed Executive Order No. 06-03, which establishes the Governor’s Taskforce on Equality in Oregon.
He said, “My commitment to this issue dates back to my first term in elected office, 1975, when I introduced legislation to end discrimination based on sexual orientation.”
Kulongoski further stated, “The citizens of Oregon deserve to have their government examine this issue carefully.” He also said the Taskforce is directed to focus on the actual effects of adopting such legislation, including any effects on business.
[More at URL]
