Analysis of Housekeeping and Parent Rights

I just finished Housekeeping, an intriguing novel that seems to read more like poetry than prose. It is the story of two orphaned girls, first raised by their grandma, then their great aunts, then their aunt.

The problem is their aunt is a transient who rides freight trains. Eventually, the younger sister goes off to live with a teacher, and live a "normal" life. The older sister, the narrator, is threatened by the locals to be forcibly removed from her aunt. Instead, they burn their house, and escape to the hobo life. The town assumes them dead.

In the book, the author talks of family togetherness. It is ultimately the government that force a terrible choice: break up the family, or become a drifter. It seems that too often this is the case with various government organizations. In trying to force people, they end up creating the very situation they were trying to avoid. In trying to help, they end up hurting.

I highly recommend the book for both it's artistry, and it's depth. However, it is a book that requires you take your time.

Analysis by Criminal Defense Attorney John Floyd and Paralegal Billy Sinclair

This rather extensive analysis Floyd and Sinclair really hits the nail on the head. Thanks to Hugh for pointing it out.

we do believe that polygamy is a fundamental tenet of certain religions and we have no problem with that practice, just as we have no problem with same-sex marriage, civil unions, common law marriage, or state-sanctioned ceremonial marriage. Laws should not be based on religious tenets. Laws should be secular.

Happy Civil Rights Day

Here is a poster from the Chinese Cultural Revolution. According to Wikipedia, it is captioned " "Smash the old world / Establish a new world." The worker is crushing a crucifix, Buddha and classical Chinese texts with his hammer.

As you may know, the Cultural Revolution was one of the cruelest of the 20th century despotic "purges." I happen to have worked with and been friends with survivors and the children of survivors. Those that had different opinions, belonged to the wrong social group, or were suspected of either agreeing with, or being in politically incorrect groups were targeted for persecution, and in some cases death.

It seems to be a fitting image for many family rights challenges this nation is currently facing. State agencies employ their workers to destroy those things that are most precious to politically incorrect groups. I hope that in the future civil liberties will be extended to families of those persecuted by the United States and Canadian governments.

Abuses in Arkansas and North Carolina, a few interesting sites

Legally Kidnapped has a link to an article, as well as a comment from a mother of one of the girls that the state kidnapped. Persecution of an unpopular religion once again seems to come into play here. Once again, no objective reporting by the main stream media. However, the families involved in this case posted videos of an abusive interview by the FBI, and sent it to the white house as well. This has force the main stream media to deal with real facts, and not just the typical government whitewash.

North Carolina has some serious problems with CPS abuse, including forged signatures and other overt illegal actions. Government officials once again abusing power, with family suffering as the fallout.

Here are a couple of sites that may be of interest to readers. Those with Jewish heritage are aware of the dangers of bigotry and persecution. Thus, the Jews for the Preservation of Firearm Ownership have a rather clear position. Also, the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform has some good resources and ideas on their website.

Sore Toes and a Bleeding Heart recommends that the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts have a "FLDS family Day," just as they are having a Chinese family day. There is also a link to an article in which Hildebran admits that mistakes were made. However, he does not take responsibility for his own mistakes and bigotry, preferring to take the immature route of blaming others.

At long last -- Justice!

Finally! Parents start re-uniting with children! (Picture from AP article) Congratulations to the FLDS, their lawyers, and supporters of parents rights everywhere!

"It's just a great day," said Nancy Dockstader, whose chin quivered and eyes filled with tears as she embraced her daughter, Amy, 9, outside the Baptist Children's Home Ministries Youth Ranch near San Antonio. "We're so grateful."

Small Victory for Open Discussions

Earlier, I posted that our local library blocked PrincipalVoices.org. They have now unblocked it. Here is the email I received.

Hello,

Thank you for calling this to our attention. The Web Sense filter
blocked this site because of questionable content. Unfortunately, web
filters have their own mechanisms for determining which sites should be
blocked (and why), and sometimes their determination disagrees with our
own evaluation.

After reviewing www.principlevoices.org, I agree that this site should
not have been blocked. I have instructed our I.T. department to remove
it from the blocked list for the library.

Again, thank you for notifying us.

Regards,
xxxxxxx
Electronic Resources Librarian
Virtual Library

Tucson Public Libraries Block Principal Voices!

I have been quite busy the last few days. I came to the library, and was using their wireless to access the internet. I checked up on the news, which I hadn't done for a few days, and found that Principal Voices was blocked by their filtering software. I sent them this complaint:

Right now www.principlevoices.org is blocked. However, it provides important information on the entire Eldorado raid debate. I've never seen any obscenity, hate speech, nudity, or calls to violence on the site. It is completely and utterly ridiculous to have this site blocked. Please unblock it immediately.

Hopefully, I will be able to report in a few days that access to the site has been restored. I wonder how many other libraries block the site.

Second set of letters to United States Legislators

I have once again written to my US legislators. Once again, I hand delivered to my representative, and used the online forms for my senators. I hope everyone else is writing to their elected representatives as well.

I sent different letters to my Senators who are republican, and my representative who is Democrat. It just so happened that partisan politics helped my arguments, as opponents have been Democrats in the Senate, and Republicans in the house.

Once again, I would encourage everyone to write to their legislators and other elected officials. This is much, much more important than newspaper comments. We have to reach the actual decision makers.

Honorable Representative G:

I am writing you to express my concern over Civil Rights violations that appear to be happening in the aftermath of the Eldorado raid in Texas. However, I am not the only one, as the Texas ACLU and many national commentators and journalists from both parties have condemned the Civil Rights violations.

As you may recall, the raid was started by a hate crime – false reporting of child abuse for the specific intention of religious persecution. Since that time there have been other hate crimes throughout Texas, such as threats of violence against Mormons, anti-Mormon graffiti, vandalism of Mormon homes, and teachers in Texas public schools spreading anti-Mormon propaganda. Thus, the wildfire of hate crimes has spread far beyond the initial match, with even U. S. Representative Kay Granger (R-Texas) directly supporting religious discrimination in an official request.

Such an intolerant atmosphere makes the protections of the Bill of Rights even more important, as violations of rights are most likely to happen to unpopular people. In Nazi Germany it was the Gypsies and Jews who were first persecuted, and a similar pattern seems to be emerging here. Parents need a federal Bill of Rights to protect them from unreasonable seizure of their children without due process of law. As one of your constituents, I would appreciate it if you would do the following:

1- Sponsor a resolution in the House reprimanding Representative Granger for advocating religious preference in government contracts. The resolution should also call for an end to religious bigotry, and call for supporting first amendment rights for unpopular religions.

2- Start a Parent's Bill of Rights that protects families from unreasonable seizure of children, especially when anonymous reports may be given due to religious bigotry, racism, or political gain. (Note that the Texas CPS seizes a much higher rate of Latino than Caucasian children.)

Thank you very much for your consideration,

xxxx

I changed "Representative Granger" to "Senator Reid," included more about citizens of Arizona being subject to religious persecution, and deleted a line about Texas CPS seizing Latino children for the letter to the Senators.

I am writing you to express my concern over Civil Rights violations that appear to be happening in the aftermath of the Eldorado raid in Texas. However, I am not the only one, as the Texas ACLU and many national commentators and journalists from both parties have condemned the Civil Rights violations.

As you may recall, the raid was started by a hate crime – false reporting of child abuse for the specific intention of religious persecution. Since that time there have been other hate crimes throughout Texas, such as threats of violence against Mormons, anti-Mormon graffiti, vandalism of Mormon homes, and teachers in Texas public schools spreading anti-Mormon propaganda. Thus, the wildfire of hate crimes has spread far beyond the initial match, with even U. S. Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) directly supporting religious discrimination against Arizona citizens.

Such an intolerant atmosphere makes the protections of the Bill of Rights even more important, as violations of rights are most likely to happen to unpopular people. In Nazi Germany it was the Gypsies and Jews who were first persecuted, and a similar pattern seems to be emerging here. Parents need a federal Bill of Rights to protect them from unreasonable seizure of their children without due process of law. As one of your constituents, I would appreciate it if you would do the following:

1- Sponsor a resolution in the House reprimanding Senator Reid for advocating religious intolerance of Arizona citizens. The resolution should also call for an end to religious bigotry, and call for supporting first amendment rights for unpopular religions.

2- Start a Parent's Bill of Rights that protects families from unreasonable seizure of children, especially when anonymous reports may be given due to religious bigotry, racism, or political gain.

Thank you very much for your consideration,

xxxx

Some Links

Here are some more links on the Eldorado raid that I found interesting.

Equal justice for prophets and priests

FLDS: Big Hate - Big Brother

What Did The FLDS Kids Do To Deserve This?

FLDS intolerance, prejudice unjustified

Messenger and Advocate

Principle Voices

FLDS - The Victim that Wasn't

Letter to my Senators and Congressmen

I sent the following to Senators Kyl and McCain through electronic submission, and delivered a signed copy directly to my local representative, Raul Grijalva:

April 17, 2008


Honorable Representative Grijalva:


I am very concerned about constitutional violations in the recent raid on the FLDS compound in Eldorado, Texas. Texas has a long history of “Jim Crow” laws and religious persecution, raising the possibility of a systematically corrupt state legal system. For example, though Arizona authorities checked the same charges and found them to be without merit, Texas authorities acted without first performing due diligence. Reports on the raid indicate the parents have been denied constitutionally guaranteed due process, have had their rights of free speech suppressed, have been illegally stripped of parental rights, and have been subject to unlawful search and seizure.


These violations happened to a small and unpopular group, but it is exactly these types of situations in which constitutional protections are needed. Nazi Germany also started with the persecution of small and unpopular groups such Jews and Gypsies. Such erosion of liberty when laws are used as tools of intolerance affects everyone. I would encourage you to take the following emergency actions:


1- Encourage the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice to officially examine the actions of the state, and determine whether the civil rights of the parents were violated, and whether religious discrimination has played a role in the proceedings.


2- Hold Congressional Hearings on the raids, requiring accountability of the Texas authorities.


Thank you very much for your consideration,

xxxxx

I encourage you to write your own letters to your own congressional representatives.