Monthly Archives: June 2009

The FDA, Plan B, and Parental Rights

Posted on June 9, 2009 by | Leave a comment

A U.S. District Court Judge in March made news by ordering the FDA to make Plan B, dubbed “the Morning After Pill”, available without a prescription to minors. Citing “political considerations, delays, and implausible justifications for decision-making” on the part of the FDA, the judge ordered that the age at which the drug is available over the counter be lowered from 18 to 17 years. In a decision not to appeal the ruling, the FDA issued the required authorization to Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Montvale, NJ, which markets the drug.

Several news stories at the time of the late-March ruling, and again when the FDA announced its authorization in late-April, addressed the debate over whether the pill promotes sexual promiscuity among teens, whether it amounts to early abortion, whether it protects a young woman’s reproductive rights, and so on.

What no one took into account, however, was the issue of parental rights. Prior to the ruling, the drug was available over the counter to women 18 and older, while those under 18 first had to first obtain a prescription. Although the court reversed this ruling based on data that the drug’s physical effects on 17-year-olds was no different than on adults, neither the judge nor the news reports seemed to consider the emotional vulnerability of minors, nor the role of parents in protecting them, when faced with so consequential a decision.

Even the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which we oppose for legal reasons, recognizes that persons under 18 should be accorded additional protections under the law. To make so controversial and significant a product available to minors without requiring medical or parental consent is a tremendous legal step that ought not to be ignored.

The decision over whether or not a minor should access such a drug is one which should include parents. We regret that the dialog regarding the FDA’s decision lacked this important consideration.

The proposed Parental Rights Amendment will uphold current state and federal laws which protect the right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children in medical and other health-related areas. The Amendment is not expected to impact this court ruling in any way, but will continue to protect the ability of parents to speak into such major decisions in the lives of their teenaged daughters.

–by ParentalRights.org, March 28, 2009

SOURCES:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/Story?id=7404420
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WireStory?id=7151963
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090423/ap_on_he_me/us_morning_after_pill

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Posted in family, health, news, politics

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State Representative Jarrod Martin Co-sonsors Bill to Decrease Legislature’s and Other Statewide Office Holders Saleries

Posted on June 8, 2009 by | Leave a comment

On June 4, Representative Jarrod B. Martin (R-Beavercreek) co-sponsored legislation that will cut the salaries of all state level elected officials, with the exception of members of the judiciary, by five percent (5%). The legislation is joint sponsored by Seth Morgan (R-Huber Heights) and Terry Boose (R-Norwalk) and has bi-partisan co-sponsor support of 30 additional representatives (29 Republicans, 1 Democrat).

Martin said, “The state budget is tight and Ohio families are cutting back; the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association representing about 35,000 employees took a cut in pay, we felt that it is only right that we do our part to pitch in.”

Due to the constitutional issues related to changing salaries of elected officials, the bill, if passed, would take effect upon the election or re-election of the affected office holders.

The legislation has a “sunset” provision that would rescind the provisions when the State of Ohio reaches State Domestic Product growth of two and one half percent (2.5%) or more in 2 of 3 consecutive years.

Martin added, “I believe it is very reasonable to have the policy-makers salaries correlated to the success of the state.”

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Posted in economy, Greene County, House of Representatives, news, Ohio, politics

A Challenge to Fatherhood

Posted on June 6, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Fathers have the high privilege and solemn duty to raise their children to know and love God. While all parents desire that their grown children embrace their faith freely and enthusiastically, when children are young, it falls to parents to make decisions regarding their children’s religious upbringing, including:

* How often does your family attend your place of worship?
* What congregation have you chosen to attend?
* Can you teach your children that your religious views are absolutely true?
 

However, your freedom to determine the answers to these three questions will be undermined if the United States Senate ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

For example:

A Washington state court ruled that parents could not require their 13-yearold son to attend church with them on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. The judge said that unless the family limited the boy’s church attendance to Sunday morning, he would remove custody. This Washington law (which has since changed) paralleled the UN children’s treaty.

The Scottish government, in an official publication produced to help their youth understand their rights under the UN treaty, says: “You have the right to choose your own religion and beliefs.” The role of parents? They “help you think about this.”

The American Bar Association, a strong supporter of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, acknowledges that religious schools that teach that Jesus is the only way to God “fly in the face” of the treaty. Thus, any who teach children that their religion is the truth are likewise in violation.

Under Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, all ratified treaties are superior to state constitutions and laws. Hence, this treaty will override virtually all current American laws on parents and children that conflict with it.

What can we do? Only a U.S. constitutional amendment will stop international law from interfering with parental rights. Over 90 members
of the U.S. House are co-sponsors of the Parental Rights Amendment. You can make a difference! Sign up as a supporter of American parental rights at www. parentalrights.org.

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Posted in family, Father's Day, news, politics

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The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC)

Posted on June 6, 2009 by | Leave a comment

THE STRUCTURE:

1. The CRC is a treaty that creates binding rules of law. It is no mere statement of altruism.

2. This treaty would automatically override almost all family law in America due to Article VI of the United States Constitution.

3. Congress would have the power to directly legislate on all subjects necessary to comply with the treaty. This would constitute the most massive shift of power from the states to the federal government in American history.

4. American courts would have the power to directly enforce the self-executing provisions of the treaty.

5. A committee of 18 experts from other nations, sitting in Geneva, has the authority to issue official interpretations of the treaty which would be entitled to binding weight in American courts and legislatures. This would effectively transfer ultimate authority for all policies in this area to this foreign committee.

THE SUBSTANCE:

1. Parents would no longer be able to administer reasonable spankings to their children.

2. Children would have the ability to choose their own religion while parents would only have the authority to give their children advice about religion.

3. The best interest of the child principle would give the government the ability to override every decision made by every parent if a government worker disagreed with the parent’s decision.

4. Children would have the right to reproductive health information and services, including abortions, without parental knowledge or consent.

5. Religious schools that refuse to teach “alternative worldviews” and teach that theirs is the only true religion “fly in the face of article 29” of the treaty, says the American Bar Association.

THE SOLUTION: THE PARENTAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

Section 1
The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right.

Section 2
Neither the United States nor any State shall infringe upon this right without demonstrating that its governmental interest as applied to the person is of the highest order and not otherwise served.

Section 3
No treaty may be adopted nor shall any source of international law be employed to supersede, modify, interpret, or apply to the rights guaranteed by this article.

Sign the petition at ParentalRights.org

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Posted in family, politics

Call to Artists

Posted on June 2, 2009 by | Leave a comment

The Xenia Mural Society, a component of Greene Giving, is issuing a Call to Artists for original and creative designs for a mural with the general theme of “Trails” to be placed on a building in Xenia. For this mural, “Trails” can be interpreted loosely to include anything historical or currently relative to the Xenia area from buffalo trails to Native American trails, Pioneer trails, early roadways, railroads, hiking, or bicycling or any combination of these.

The Xenia Mural Society will be facilitating the creation of a number of pieces of public mural art in Xenia. The Society is made up of interested citizens who have volunteered their time and expertise to provide direction and focus for the mural project; to help building owners locate funding for the mural art from the private and public sectors; and to promote expansion and preservation of other Xenia murals in the future.

The honorarium for the winning artist’s design for the “Trails” mural will be $500 and the design will become the property of the Xenia Mural Society. The final mural will be completed by a muralist working in conjunction with the winning artist and the Society. If the selected artist has the ability and desire to complete the actual mural he or she will be encouraged to submit a proposal for the entire project. Given current economic conditions, the Society is working to have a “brush ready” project prepared in order to facilitate creation of a mural or murals as soon as funding permits.

The deadline for submission of up to three detailed sketches per artist is July 1, 2009. Several possible sites may be viewed online at www.XeniaMurals.org. There are currently two buildings whose owners have agreed to discuss hosting a mural: Building 1, Montgomery Insurance and Investments is located at 114 S. Detroit St. and has a side wall space of approximately 75X25′ and building 2, Express Yourself Coffeehouse and Art Gallery is located at 78 E. Main St., and has a side wall space of approximately 75X14′. All or part of the wall surfaces may be incorporated into the rendering. An Application Form should be submitted with each set of sketches. A printable form is available at www.XeniaMurals.org.

Finalists will be selected by the Selection Committee of the Xenia Mural Society and will be asked to submit a full color rendering on canvas or other suitable material, no smaller than 24″ in width, which must be received by August 15, 2009. Final competing designs will be displayed for public comment at Xenia’s Rail & Arts Fest on August 22. The winning submission will be announced at Xenia’s Old Fashioned Days, September 19, 2009.

For more information visit www.XeniaMurals.org or email info@xeniamurals.org or phone the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce (937) 372-3591.

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Posted in art, news, Xenia

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