The Fate of any Nation Lies in the Strength of its Families – 9-1-2009

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Can we expect to have a strong, resilient country when our nation’s families are faltering? Common sense says no.

What has caused and contributed to the dissolution of family bonds?  What have been the effects on our society?  What more is coming and what can be done about it?

As infringements by government become more prevalent, it is vital to understand and embrace our responsibilities as individuals and families so that we may retain our rights and freedoms. Join us as we discuss both the current and potential assaults upon the family unit, and what we can do to preserve liberty for our posterity.

Families are the Building Blocks of Society

As we have become more and more interested in politics over the last few years, we have felt discouraged at times. Outside of trying to stay aware of current political news, writing our representatives and voting, none of which we felt like was really making a difference, we really didn’t know what to do. Over the last few months, however, we have gained some real clarity. Through a lot of thought and discussion we have come up with some working solutions for our family.

First off, we want to be clear that we realize the sensitivity involved when you discuss family. It is a very personal topic.  In general terms we will be looking at the family unit in the context of a married man and woman with children. Obviously family structures vary – single-parent families, couples without children and those that are not yet married. Any family can be strong when solid principles are believed in and practiced.

We will also be referencing God in some of the quotes that are used. Belief in Deity is another sensitive, personal subject. This network doesn’t promote any particular religion, but we do acknowledge our own belief in God to be congruent with the founding fathers’ belief in God. In The 5000 Year Leap it is suggested that throughout the many writings of the founding fathers were five main themes referencing God and religion that were universally represented. In fact, they were sometimes referred to as the “Religion of America.”

They are: 1) Recognition and worship of a Creator; 2) God has a moral code of behavior for happy living; 3) God holds mankind responsible for how they treat others; 4) Man lives after this life; 5) We will be judged in the next life for our conduct in this life.

We likely come from a variety of religious backgrounds and family structures. We will be using some quotes from our religious leaders as well as others, all of which we believe outline basic and fundamental principles found in most religions. We also invite you to seek out writings from your own religious leaders on this topic.
One of the “Five Core Principles” established by the Call for Freedom Network states,

“The Family is the sacred entity ordained by God to be an incubator for His children as they enter into earthly existence and prepare for adulthood.  Marriage between a man and a woman and the family they create is the primary venue through which values, principles, and habits should be taught and applied.  Though other venues can be complimentary sources to supplement the teaching performed at home, any attempt to usurp the power and responsibility of performing this labor should be viewed with jealous scrutiny.  Family is a demanding responsibility that accompanies procreative powers and carries with it obligations and consequences relative to the successful execution of the entrusted duties. “

The Declaration of Independence references that man possesses “certain unalienable rights”, and the signers of this great document correctly identified that these rights are those “endowed by their Creator”.  These are rights that come naturally from God and should not be impeded by governmental practice or policy.  Procreation is a very salient example of an “unalienable right”.  Unless hampered by government interventions the natural course of sexuality tends to be procreation and the perpetuation of the species and when one looks specifically at human sexuality this has historically resulted in the formation of families.  One can look at nearly any given point of the globe and across the spectrum of time and see that humans tend to form groups comprised of one basic building block: The Family.

The family is, as noted in our 2nd principle, “a sacred entity ordained by God”.

Many religious leaders have attested to this fact:

Pope John Paul II discussed the importance of the family, “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.”

In 1995 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released The Family: A Proclamation to the World.  In part it states;   “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”

Scientific Evidence that Supports Religious Views

Science has also confirmed that the status of the family has significant importance to its stability:

A. Dean Byrd notes in his research the importance of the family composed of and led by a married father and mother,

“Children reared in a family with a mother and a father navigate the developmental stages more easily, are more solid in their gender identity, perform better in academic tasks at school, have fewer emotional disorders, and become better functioning adults.  This conclusion, supported by a plethora of research studies spanning decades, clearly demonstrates that gender-linked differences in child rearing is protective for children.  That is, men and women contribute differently to the healthy development of children. These essential contributions that emerge from dual-gender parenting are virtually impossible for a man or woman [alone] to combine effectively.” [Byrd, A.D. (2008). Setting the Record Straight: Mormons and Homosexuality. Orem: Millennial Press, p. 86]

Another researcher writes,

“Social science research is almost never conclusive … yet in three decades of work as a social scientist, I know of few other bodies of data in which the weight of the evidence  is so decisively  on one side of the issue: on the whole, for children, two-parent families are preferable to single parent families or stepfamilies.”  [Popenoe, D. (1996). Life Without Father. New York: Mark Kessler Books: The Free Press, p. 8]

The preceding quotes indicate that strong family structures tend to create strong children who live healthier and happier lives and who are properly prepared for adulthood.  As we proceed forward the information presented will demonstrate the weakening of the family unit that has occurred.  This represents the dissolution of family bonds and results in decreased resiliency for not just the children, but the family as well as the society in which they live.

In review we want you to think about these principles as we move forward in looking at actual and pending incursions on the rights of the family and determine whether the principles are sustained or violated.

• The Family is ordained by God
• The Family is the primary venue through which values, principles, and habits should be taught and applied and these responsibilities should be guarded with “jealous scrutiny”

Current Attacks on the Family Unit
It is true that the family is under attack from all sides. For decades the government has been using its welfare programs (food stamps, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) to step in and take over the role of “provider” for some families, many of whom now expect these services and regard them as a right.   Often times this means that one parent (in most cases the mother) retains the role of “nurturer”, but the role of “provider” (typically played by the father) has been abdicated and adopted by government.  The unhealthy social patterns learned from this act of supposed “charity” on the part of the state are:

• A “provider” is an optional part of a family unit when the government can provide.
• Procreation is not accompanied by real expectations of responsibility.  In this scenario mother and father, as well as the children are robbed of an understanding of the significance of the responsibilities of a marital contract.

Star Parker, author of “Uncle Sam’s Plantation” writes about this phenomenon, and her own personal escape from modern day plantation life where, “A benevolent Uncle Sam welcomed mostly poor black Americans onto the government plantation. Those who accepted the invitation switched mindsets from “How do I take care of myself?” to “What do I have to do to stay on the plantation?”  Longitudinal studies affirm Star’s claim that welfare actually limits the recipient’s independence.  In 1996 PRWORA (Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act) was passed which revised the system and requirements for receiving welfare.  This was the time period in which Star Parker was assisting as an advisor revising welfare distribution processes to prompt recipients toward less dependence on welfare.  Critics of the act expressed fears that these changes would be detrimental to families, especially to the children.  Studies found just the opposite to be true, however,
“But fears that families headed by single mothers would sink deeper into poverty turned out to be unfounded. Following the reforms, welfare caseloads declined rapidly, and employment and household incomes of single mothers rose.  Importantly, these improved outcomes largely survived the challenges posed by the 2001 recession, suggesting that the initial successes were not simply due to a booming economy.”[Daly, M., Did Welfare Reform Work For Everyone? A Look At Young Single Mothers, FRBSF Economic Newsletter, August 3, 2009]
Other attacks on the family are more socially driven, such as the battle over how marriage was defined in California and last year with Proposition 8.   Whether an assault originates directly from government or through social movements using governmental processes or legislation as the vehicle to push their ideas forward, we must be aware that the family is indeed under attack.  In every state, in every zip code, likely near wherever you reside, the family is under attack.
We would like to review a few other historical and current examples:
Medicare
Medicare has been around for more than 40 years. When initially initiated, the thought of providing care for the elderly was appealing.  However, family provided care has decreased as care has been provided by services such as Medicare, Hospice, etc.  A study from Denmark has proposed that family caregivers provide a positive outcome in treating patients who are critically ill.  This has challenged an existing assumption there that family caregivers complicate and bring about negative outcomes. [Weibull, A., Caregiver’s Active Role in Palliative Home Care – To Encourage or Dissuade? A qualitative descriptive study., BMC Palliative Care, Sept 2008]
Convention on the Rights of the Child
According to the Open CRS (Congressional Research Reports for the People), “Convention on the Rights of the Child” is an international treaty that aims to protect the rights of children worldwide. It defines a child as any human being under the age of 18, and calls on States Parties to take all appropriate measures to ensure that children’s rights are protected ‘including the right to a name and nationality, freedom of speech and thought, access to healthcare and education, and freedom from exploitation, torture, and abuse.’”

On November 20, 1989 the UN’s General Assembly adopted the document and made it available for ratification. It has been ratified by 183 countries. Only two, the US and Somalia, have not ratified the CRC.

Again, according to the Open CRS report, “Perhaps more than other human rights treaties, CRC addresses areas that are usually considered to be primarily or exclusively under the jurisdiction of state or local governments, including education, juvenile justice, and access to healthcare.”

Opponents argue that U.S. ratification would undermine U.S. sovereignty by giving the United Nations authority to determine the best interests of U.S. children. Some are also concerned that CRC could interfere in the private lives of families, particularly the rights of parents to educate and discipline their children.

Because of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the Constitution, all treaties are rendered “the supreme law of the land,” superseding preexisting state and federal statutes. Any rights or laws established by the U.N. convention could then be argued to hold sway in the United States.

Supporters hold that U.S. federal and state laws generally meet the requirements of CRC, and that U.S. ratification would strengthen the United States credibility when advocating children’s rights abroad.

According to Susan Rice, ambassador to the United Nations, “The Obama administration is reviving efforts to have the United States sign onto a global children’s rights treaty ratified by every U.N. member except the U.S. and Somalia. Administration officials are actively discussing “when and how it might be possible to join.”

For more information on the current status of the situation go here.

Public Education Issues

• A Massachusetts parent’s (David Parker) rights were infringed upon and he was arrested and criminally charged while trying to prevent the violation of his right to decide whether his 5 year old was exposed to the topic of homosexuality by regular curriculum in school. More recently, according to a Fox News story, the UN has released an educational plan for sex education, which includes among other things, instructing 5-year olds about masturbation.
• Census in Schools Campaign – nationwide that mandates teachers to take 15 minutes daily for a week to teach students why their parents should complete the Census in 2010.
• In August 2009, a video titled I Pledge, which shows a group of celebrities pledging support for a variety of causes was shown to students in a Utah public elementary school. The situation has caused uproar in Utah, as many parents feel that their children were exposed to political propaganda.

Parental Rights vs. States Rights

• (Parker Jensen Case, Utah)
• Infant Blood Testing in Texas – Texas Department of Health took and indefinitely stored blood samples from babies, for undisclosed research purposes, without parental consent.
• W Virginia (Gardasil Vaccination) HB 2835 – Proposed bill which would require children to be vaccinated with Gardasil to prevent HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) thought to cause cervical cancer.  HPV is a sexually transmitted disease.  Testing of Gardasil was limited to 4 years, where the HPV virus incubation period can be up to 20 years.  Consequently the effectiveness of Gardasil is questionable.
• Planned Parenthood and other providers of services which prevent or end pregnancy are not constrained to ensure parental notification/consent for services rendered to minors. A judge can issue permission for a minor to receive an abortion without parental knowledge, and a clause even permits the minor to receive the abortion without the judge’s permission if they have to wait longer than 48 hours for a response to their petition and they get a free lawyer to boot.
• Science Czar John Holdren, President Obama’s head of the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy has in the past suggested that the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence do not guarantee citizens a right to elect the number of offspring that they would choose to have.  This ideology is seen in China and other locations today.

So What Can We Do?
At the World Congress of Families Conference, Russell M. Nelson addressed the precarious position in which the Family finds itself; “On all sides, the family is under attack. Many wonder if the institution is no longer needed. Our response is certain. If there is any hope for the future of nations, that hope resides in the family.”
At the same conference, his wife Wendy Watson Nelson stated that government is not the source of the solutions we are seeking to resolve the ills of our societies.  She affirms,

“Dear friends of the family, are we really serious about having nations that prosper? Cities where it is safe to live? Towns where husbands and wives brave the challenges of life together? Villages where children enjoy childhood and relish opportunities to grow, learn and explore? Of course we are. And because we are, we can no longer look to our governments for the kind of world we need. Not now. Now that the forces around us are increasing in intensity, we need to look to God!   And we need families who look to God and who relentlessly remove anything and everything from their lives that is spiritually corrupting; families who seek all that is spiritually strengthening.   May we each go home to our nations and do everything we can to spiritually strengthen the natural family because there is no doubt about it:  Families who are spiritually strong are the only hope for the future of our nations. ” [World Congress for Families Conference - Not Even Once]
So, what can we do?
Confucius gave the perfect answer to this question: “To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”

We can and should do things to improve our nation, but the most successful efforts that we can possibly have will take place in our own homes.  The results of those efforts will not stop at the threshold of our houses, however, but rather they will simply start from there and emanate outward into the world around us.

Through a lot of thought and discussion, we have come up with some working solutions for our family. We want to share these in hopes that they will give you some ideas for your own family. We have five suggestions:

1. Pray for guidance, establish the values that your family will live by and then teach these overtly and consistently.
2. Help your family members learn to apply the values and principles to the decisions they make in their lives. For example, you might choose to teach your family members about service and help them to see the difference between obligatory “service” and self-motivated service.  Teach them how to stand up for the rights which are under attack.  Teach them self sufficiency so that they may know true confidence.
3. Educate yourself and your children. Read and learn about this country’s history. This will be the best way to know for yourself the principles that our Founding Father’s followed as they drafted the Constitution and other founding documents. And coming back to a line that is found in one of the principles that was discussed earlier, “Though other venues can be complimentary sources to supplement the teaching performed at home, any attempt to usurp the power and responsibility of performing this labor should be viewed with jealous scrutiny.”  Always remember that the responsibility that God entrusted you with, as a parent or as a head of a family, belongs first and foremost to you.  Be very wary about abdicating this duty to anyone or any group.
4. Remember that every decision that we make in regards to our time must be intentional. There are too many distractions; things that are not of eternal consequence. This is not to say that we can’t have time to relax and renew, but we have to have a plan and a purpose for ourselves and our families. Henry B. Eyring, noted “We will have to make some hard choices of how we use our time. … But remember, you are interested in education, not just for mortal life but for eternal life. When you see that reality clearly with spiritual sight, you will put spiritual learning first and yet not slight the secular learning…And since what we will need to know is hard to discern, we need the help of heaven to know which of the myriad things we could study we would most wisely learn. It also means that we cannot waste time entertaining ourselves when we have the chance to read or to listen to whatever will help us learn what is true and useful. Insatiable curiosity will be our hallmark” (“Education for Real Life,” Ensign, Oct. 2002, 18, 19).
5. Find and connect with people that are like-minded when it comes to your values and principles. Strengthen and learn from one another.  Unite to work on important issues using Constitutional principles as your North Star. That is why we joined this network. We also have been fortunate enough to find a local group in our county. Through this group we are able to meet and discuss American history, specifically in regards to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers, hear from local candidates, learn about becoming a citizen lobbyist and learn about the process of becoming a state delegate. By doing this we are expanding our abilities to become more involved in the political process.

These things will take time and effort, but at the end of the day it will be worth the sacrifices that we make now. It is only through effort that we will be able to bring virtue back into local, state and national government.  As our base becomes stronger we will be able to more effectively influence the political system by finding, vetting, and electing candidates who stand for principle.  Ultimately if we want to take back the nation, we have to take back the family.