I am very happy for the families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee and for the women themselves as they are back home "safe" in the U.S. of A. I put the word "safe" in quotes because this incident and many others that have or are taking place need to be analyzed to determine just how "safe" America really is.

Having been in the international submarine community for several years I learned a very valuable lesson. The Russians do not send their subs on "routine training missions" in U.S. waters. They may be training missions, but they are for the express purpose of training to spy on the American's! In today's headlines we read how several Russian subs were doing just that.

North Korea arrested the two journalists, tried them as trespassers, and found them guilty with the maximum punishment available. They (North Korea) have also been conducting missile launch tests, of weapons that are capable of reaching the States, in the face of the Obama administration's consistent flurry of warnings.

Somali pirates attacked, hijacked, and took hostages from an American owned cargo ship several months ago (an event that has not happened for over 200 years). The conflict ended with the Navy Seal snipers taking out the pirates and freeing the hostage even though it appears they were not directed to by President Obama, but by an excellent command decision by the OSC (On Scene Commander).

Iran has continued its Nuclear Proliferation program despite the warnings of the President, has been caught supplying arms to the terrorist groups of the Hamas, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban, without repercussion, and has openly and aggressively thrown out threats of violence toward our country. Their fast boats have simulated attacking our Navy ships even to the point of "warning" shots being fired at them or broadcasted warning messages which they just disregarded. What happened to the days where the military set precedence and had battle cries such as "Remember the Maine!"? What about "Remember the Cole!"? The Cole was attacked and many sailors and soldiers were killed or injured by a small "fast" boat filled with explosives.

What do all of these acts of Russia, North Korea, and Iran have in common? They have all taken place since the election of Barak Hussein Obama! I am obviously not speaking of the USS Cole incident (that took place under Pres. Clinton). American's have been blinded by the media's rantings about the economic debacles, Ponzy schemes, car company bail outs, banks, Fannie and Freddie's, and all of the other smoke and mirrors that distract from the current foreign political state of the US.

We are a weaker nation since the election of the socialist seeking, terrorist succumbing, bully accommodating, Barak Obama. What is worse than that, the Congress has been so busy spending money like a kid in candy store that they have cheered and backed this downward spiral as it has taken place. What have they done about any of it? They have planned to reduce the defense budget by 25% and have suspended the production of the most advanced fighter plane the world has ever seen. Ask any good tactician about what the first line of defense is against attack of our own borders and they will tell you it is the Navy, and more specifically the carriers and fighter planes that can intercept enemy planes, vessels, and missiles before even getting close to this country. Yet the first thing that President Obama did was severely disable that defense net.

Weakness, nigh unto destruction, is awaiting the American people if we allow the socialist regime that is the Obama administration to continue more than four years! We must rally now to support the conservatives that are running for Congress this next election. Slowing down the willing destruction of America by the current administration can take place if the seats in Congress are won back by those who wish to preserve and strengthen the military, democracy, and free enterprise.

Please take note that I did not say "Republicans" when I referred to whom we should elect. In my opinion, anyone that has stood up for the destructive moves made by the President should be hung from the highest yard arm, politically speaking. I lived in Greenville South Carolina for a year and a half and was a big fan of Lindsay Graham, but he needs to go! He needs to be replaced by someone who won't sell out his country in the name of political correctness. Judge Sotomayor is a racist who has no business being a Justice, and his comments were next to treasonous in my book. We need to separate the wheat from the chaff. This coming election term let the true conservatives send a message to all of those who sacrifice the principles of free enterprise, limited government, fiscal responsibility, and a strong military both Democrat and Republican alike. Let them fear the wrath of the voters and patriots who want to strengthen this country and save it from the slope of socialism that it is on!

"Fat, Dumb, and Happy". "Ignorance is Bliss". "What I Don't Know Won't Hurt Me". These are but a few sayings that have crept into the vocabulary of the modern American. Whether they have come to us via famous prose, poetry, or literature, or whether they have become catch phrases for common events does make any difference. They are all lies!

It has been several months since my last post. It is only because I and my family have been going through a myriad of changes. I have recently changed from the US Navy Reserves to the Virginia Army National Guard (The Stonewall Brigade in Staunton...Hooah!). I have recently changed civilian jobs, and have had a small vacation with my family.

How do the two paragraphs above link together? I am so glad you asked. While the President Obama administration has been scrambling and struggling to find a way to provide "free", and I use that term lightly, healthcare, I have been securing mine. That's right. I've been furthering my commitment to serving and protecting this country from all enemies foreign and domestic, and along with that I get free healthcare (actually I get it a an extremely reduced rate, but were I active duty I would get it free). Not only that but I get a great retirement plan, tax benefits, savings incentives, clothing allowances, free (or close to it) college education, significantly reduced home loans, credit union membership, life insurance, I learn a valuable trade or skill, and I get the ability to travel the world. I learn respect, honor, the meaning of hard work and what it feels like to earn something and make a difference, and on top of all of that......I get paid too!!

Those catch phrases from the beginning of this article are what the government is counting on to dupe you into the "happy-go-lucky" feeling of letting someone else bear the burden of providing you with something you should, and can, earn for yourself. They are counting on you to act like a child whose mommy gives him a lollipop to keep him from acting up instead of a spanking. Does it encourage the child to continue in good behavior? Not at all. In fact it has the complete opposite effect. The child feels good about getting rewarded for nothing at all, but in the long run the damage is irreparable! Free government hand outs are going to be the death of this country. Our history is saturated with stories of heroism, hardship, hard work, and overcoming obstacles. It is those traits and events that formed this country out of the wilderness, that formed what has been called the "Greatest Generation", and what ultimately formed a "More Perfect Union".

Adolph Hitler wrote in his book "Mein Kompf" that though many agree that history is to be learned from, the ignorant and proud are destined to repeat it. He hit the nail on the head. The ignorant and the proud are those who are wanting to move this country into the depths of socialism and ultimately the pit of destruction and poverty. Socialism has never done anything to boost a nation, create and instill drive and determination, or create economic stability much less prosperity. Yet many of you are being "Fat, dumb, and happy", filled with blissful ignorance, and are figuring that what you don't know won't hurt you.

Government provided income, "wealth", healthcare, and "spreading of the wealth" is a cancer. It will continue to grow and spread unless it is treated early and totally eradicated form the body of this great nation. Ignoring the future ramifications to receive the immediate reward is to sacrifice the future of this nation to the selfishness and the vanity of today.

Only that which is truly earned can make one feel proud of himself and in his work. "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase." - King Solomon

Tax season is here again. I know this because I have seen the Statue of Liberty mascots waving at me from the road as I drive past. I have seen the sudden outcropping of H&R Block offices that have sprung up like spring flowers, and I hear the airwaves bombarded with promises of getting you your refund fast (for a small fee). Right about now you are either hurriedly gathering the pertinent information to file your taxes and get your refund, or you are stalling, planning on filing an extension, and trying to figure out how you are going to pay what you owe. I hope you are the former.

There has been a lot in the news regarding taxes in the past weeks. Names like Geithner, Daschle, Killefer, and Rangel have been released from the media along with allegations of tax evasion, tax “mistakes”, illegal alien employees, and more. While this should be infuriating taxpayers on both sides of the partisan aisle, it should also be causing some pause within the ranks of the Commander In Chief.

President Obama has now hired a “Dirt Digger” to be a part of the White House legal team and has “accepted” the responsibility for the ordeal with Daschle. Will this dirt digger and a more aggressive role in digging for dirt alleviate the problem? Not on your tintype!

The issue at stake here is integrity and lack of experience. Integrity is all but gone from the Hill. Experience is not far behind. President Obama got so caught up in his new found power that he did not take the time to thoroughly question or investigate his appointees enough. Isn’t that what the vetting process is all about? Supposedly! However, the vetting process has become more of a formality or even pre-accepting party to celebrate the arrival of a fellow capitol hill club member. In this case the vetting process was praised as a good smoke and mirror decoy to deflect the focus off of the real problems.

We as a country are fortunate that this “appointment” situation is the first of the problems caused by inexperience. However it does bode the question of “How will it rear its ugly head again?” Will a series of mistakes be made when dealing with terrorists, or immigrants, or natural disasters? This is where time on the pond becomes of utmost importance. May God protect us from the errors of inexperience.

The other issue at stake is integrity. We have seen glimpse of the integrity of the President throughout his campaign. Glimpses such as his associations with Reverend Wright, Tony Rezko, and William Ayers cast a large shadow of doubt on the level of integrity held by the President. We have seen other glimpses such as birth certificate debates, health record releases or the lack thereof, and numerous and a sundry of minor looks into the man who now holds the reigns. In my opinion the character and integrity of those whom he wishes to surround himself with also lends a great indication of his own. The real issue is top down leadership. The followers reflect their leader, and we are in for a long four years.

The only way to combat such issues is face them head on and elect and support individuals with experience and integrity. The calling of another onto the proverbial carpet is nearly impossible to do, if the caller is a victim of the very same offense as the callee. That is why it took Senator Jim DeMint from South Carolina to make the first move and call out Tom Daschle. Senator DeMint is a man of character, integrity and experience; a man who does not fear the “dirt diggers” or the media circus. He is a man who should be elevated by the party to leadership status and should usher us through and out of this dark time of the lacking of experience and integrity. DeMint’12! A friend of mine commented the other day that “it took a Carter to gain a Reagan.” DeMint could be our next Reagan.

This article was the first submission of many to come to "The Valley American", a Conservative news magazine serving the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

"WASHINGTON -- Eric Holder, the nation's first black attorney general, said Wednesday the United States was "a nation of cowards" on matters of race, with most Americans avoiding candid discussions of racial issues. " That was the beginning of an article from today's FoxNews.com. You can click the links to read the whole thing. But I must warn you....those of you who are not blinded by hate and racial bigotry will be exceedingly disturbed.

Holder made several comments that I am sure raised the roof with applause from what would have been deemed an extremist white power KKK meeting had the participants been all white and made the opposite statements. Statements such as ""Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards...we, as average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race", and "If we're going to ever make progress, we're going to have to have the guts, we have to have the determination, to be honest with each other. It also means we have to be able to accept criticism where that is justified." Well, here is your first chance to accept criticism. You are a racist Eric Holder!

Let's look at these comments in the order I have them listed. The first comment implies that America is lying about being a melting pot nation; merely hiding behind the guise of being one. I'm sure that many of you are quickly racing to the US Census Bureau website to look up demographics in America. Allow me to save you the time. The report lists the demographic segments as White (75%), Hispanic or Latino-American (12%), Black or African-American (12%), Asian (3%), American Indian and Alaskan Native (less than 1%), Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (less than 1%). I too like you realize that these numbers add up to more than 100% but there is a note that says the numbers are skewed a bit due to rounding and that some Latino-Americans are counted in multiple categories. This very representation of our demographic is misleading and racist in itself. What do I mean? Where are the Scottish-Americans, the Irish Americans, the Norwegian Americans, the Russian Americans, and I can keep going until I list all of the other European country-Americans. I'll tell you where they are, they are included in the White category. This is obviously racist. I would venture a guess that more than 99% of "African"-Americans are at least three or four generations or more removed from Africa, yet they still take pride in being "African-American". My Grand Father, my Dad's father, was born and raised in Auland, a Finnish island whose people speak Swedish. I however, am an American, not an Aland-American, Swedish-American, or Finnish-American. I have more right to call myself by such a race inciting name than most African-Americans do because I am only one generation away from having been there. This has nothing to do with being white, this has to do with pride; pride in who I am and what this country has done for me and my family. If you aren't proud enough to drop the hyphen, then get out!! You are the racist not me. Call yourself an American and that would be a good start in bypassing the racial divide that you have set up in calling yourself by such a name.

"Cowards" is the term he uses to describe how this nation has dealt with the race issue. Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, these are but just a few of the "cowards" that Holder speaks of? After all these are some of the first names of the great civil rights leaders that have forwarded the charge. If by coward, Holder means "afraid", then I will be one of the first to admit that I am afraid to talk about race. If a white man opens his mouth about race he labeled a racist. This fear has come from the likes of Holder, and others who like to blame the plight of certain ethnic groups on the white man. Slavery ended over century ago, and racial segregation was all but eliminated until the installment of groups such as the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, and more. What is gang? Do you want desegregation or do you want segregation? Make up your mind! If you want desegregation than drop the hyphenated names, and become Americans! Drop the stupid, racist movements like the NAACP, and the UNCF, and others and jump into the pool with all of the other Americans. You wanna talk cowardice? Let's talk about blaming others for your own condition. This is true cowardice! Holder goes on to talk about the injustice that is taking place in the justice system, and no he is not talking about closing Gitmo!! He is talking about the 38% of the prison population that are black. This is way out of proportion since the total population of Blacks in America is only 12%. I agree with him there that this number is way out of proportion. He goes on to blame racism, and racial bigotry. I don't agree with him there. Other stats were given at his speech indicating that 68% of Blacks were endanger of serving prison time, and only 4% of Whites, this too he attributed to racism. You want to know about cowardice here it is and Holder is a coward! Cowardice is being the first Black ever to hold the office of Attorney General, and blaming the plight of Blacks on racism instead of facing the truth about the real issues. The real issues are the role models and lifestyles that are emulated and imitated by the Black child. He or she (I wouldn't want to be called sexist either) will grow up being taught stories of hate and lies implicating that the Black man is still oppressed by the White man. He or she will grow up idolizing the "Gangsta Rapper", the NBA thug, the NFL criminal, the Michael Vick's of this world who take out there boredom pleasures by brutally abusing and killing animals and calling it fun. If the government want to intervene and address the problem, why not start with the role models? How dare you call Americans cowards Mr. Holder. I feel like the age old school boy with the retort of "It takes one to know one!"

The second comment that I have outlined above is my favorite one. According to Eric Holder we haven't made any progress in overcoming racism. He also makes the comment in the speech that "Saturdays and Sundays, America in the year 2009 does not in some ways differ significantly from the country that existed almost 50 years ago. This is truly sad." I wonder if he realizes that Blacks have every right afforded them that Whites do. Heck, they can even vote! I realize that he may have missed that one in the process of becoming the Attorney General. I wonder if he even realizes that a black man is the current President and that a black man is the current Attorney General, or that a black woman was the Secretary of State. Does he still sit in the back of the bus on Saturdays as goes to the blacks only restroom? What in the world is he talking about? I'll tell you what he is talking about...racism. He is inciting hatred and anger in a specific ethnic group by telling lies, painting bleak pictures, and using his authority as a leverage to gain trust and respect. All of this adds up to racism.

Wake up America!! Don't join the ranks of cowardice and racists like Holder. Speak out! Blacks who scream racism for every problem they face is the same as the child who learns that he gets what he wants by throwing a fit. The only way to overcome this child's fit trowing tempter tantrums is to "apply the rod of correction". Ignoring it only makes his tantrums louder!!

"This is not going to be a package that makes everybody happy, but the main criteria I have -- is it going to put people back to work? And I think it actually will," he said. "We can't afford to wait." - President Obama

How right he is. We can't afford to wait. So why is it, according to the Congressional Budget Office's estimate, that 64 percent of the total outlay would be spent by 2011, and the same CBO forecast anticipates that only 21 percent will reach the economy by October. That doesn't sound too immediate to me.

And on the subject, let's look at the line items of the package to see how intends on creating jobs which according to him is the "main" reason for the bill.

$70 Billion dollars of the package is slated for the AMT(Alternative Minimum Tax).

For those of you who don't know what the AMT Relief Act of 2008 is, it was a bone head liberal move by the Democratic controlled congress to make sure that the rich cannot avoid paying taxes. You know, crooks like Geithner, killefer, Rangel, and Daschel. The problem with the Act is that it isn't set for inflation so that now families with total income of over $45,000 per year are trapped into it, and their taxes sky-rocketed. Even in Lynchburg VA (where the cost of living is very low) $45,000 is not rich. Heck, it isn't barely middle class! So almost 10% of the "Stimulus bill" is directed to costing most Americans more in taxes. How does this create jobs or stimulate the economy?

The "Buy American" Clause

Don't get me wrong, I think it is always good to buy American first. However, if I bought American cars first, I would be paying more for a car that preforms less, and dies quicker. That isn't to smart now is it? It would also through the free market and capitalism right in the toilet. I will by American first, when American companies cut the wasteful spending (ie. Unions!!) and start lowering the cost of their product and upping the quality. This particular "Buy American" clause deals directly with the steal industry. It basically bars the purchase of any foreign iron and steel for an stimulus funded infrastructure projects. The scope of this is huge. Will this stimulate the economy. Well if you define stimulate as the driving up of costs, and limiting Americans freedom to purchase from the lowest bidder or highest quality, then yes it stimulates. It stimulates socialism. When American manufacturers of iron and steel are the only providers of this product, the demand goes up, and the supply goes down. That, in economic math, equals prices going up!! Not only that but what does this say to all of our trade allies? What if they decided to retaliate with a "Buy German" or "Buy Chinese" only plan in their already socialistic states. Americas exports greatly job, causing economic down turn the like that we have never seen. With demand low on all of our exports, production drops, jobs get cut, and companies close down. Raising prices on the only available product stimulates the economy how? Creating a trade war that results in the loss of millions of American's jobs creates jobs, how?

Where is the money coming from?

Tie money for this economic stimulus package which is now slated to cost over a trillion dollars, is going to come from one of only a few places. Option "A", it comes from the tax payer. It most certainly will. Option number 2...Print the Money!!. Either way the mere idea of stimulating the economy by increasing the national debt is absurd! Government cannot spend its way out of a recession. If that were true, America would be recession proof!! By increasing the national debt, taxes will be increased, and inflation will rise exponentially. You think this summers gas "crisis" was bad. Wait till we "Buy American" and increase inflation. I hope you all live close to your work so you can ride your bike! Nobody likes recession, but the best way to make it through a recession is to wise with your money and spending when times are good. If you have little to know debt, what can a recession do to you. You may have to tighten the belt, suck it up, and cut back on some lavishes for a time, but in the end you will pull through just fine. Stop living above your means, stop buying on credit, and start owning what have. Recession is a necessary evil. It is the counter balance to inflation. By trying to spend our way out of recession, we are merely increasing the enormity of recession and just putting it off to be dealt with by another generation on a grander scale. Recession resets costs and supplies, and demand. It lowers the ever rising Cost of Goods, and resets the economy back to an affordable living. Yes it is tough, and we wish it would happen, but trying to spend our way out, just spells disaster. Economists (and apparently computer programmers) know that supply and demand, price setting, and cost are all controlled by the buyer, no the producer. If the buyer can't afford it, the producer lower the cost until the buy can buy it. Recession leads to market explosion and a stronger and more sound economy.

Do you want your children to have this problem when they grow older, only 10 times greater? Than lets not pass it on to them. Let's deal with it and grow past it! Let's not spend more to avoid it.

Throughout his candidacy, President Obama has been touting "change". It has become his slogan for not only his campaign but for his Presidential era. If you go to the White House Website you will see his picture and next to it "Change Has Come To America!" As I pondered this thought, and read through the transcript of his inaugural speech I figured out exactly what that "change" is going to be.

“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.”

In short America's policy on Terrorism will be changing, and in some respects already has.

America has long held, if not always held the position that we "do not negotiate with terrorists". In fact during the early days of the recent Israeli defense of its borders and people from the terrorist group Hamas, then President-Elect Obama said..

“We must not negotiate with a terrorist group intent on Israel’s destruction. We should only sit down with Hamas if they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel’s right to exist and abide by past agreements.” He continued with “Hamas is not a state. Hamas is a terrorist organization,”

However, this does not seem to be his policy after all. We have heard several sound bites in the recent pass that have indicated that America should be negotiating a truce/cease fire between the country of Israel and the terrorist group of Hamas. The liberal media has done nothing but paint Israel as the bad guy for attacking and not negotiating with terrorists and now this proclamation from the newly inaugurated President, shows exactly where our policy is going.

Iraq set aside, did America have a right to declare war on the terrorists (Al Qaeda) after their blatant and deliberate attack on American soil on 9/11. According to the polls immediately after President Bush did so more than 90% of the nation thought so. So why doesn't Israel have the right to defend it's borders?

We have already heard of several massive celebrations across the globe that have taken place in honor of the 44th President. Even his birth place of Kenya was celebrating. The media and the leftist propagandists will tell you that they are celebrating relief from the "evil hand of President Bush". In fact they are celebrating that a Muslim, and one who is overly interested in forming a relationship of "mutual interest and mutual respect" with terrorists and known enemies of the state, has taken office.

I am happy for President Obama, he has been given a distinction that only 44 men in the nations history have ever achieved, and has been set apart as holding a distinction that he alone holds in being the first African-American President (especially since he was born in Kenya). I wish him well, and I salute him with respect as my new Commander-in-Chief. I would not want his job, nor do I claim to know how to do his job, but one thing I know is that a good leader learns from the example of those that preceded him, and 44 other great men of distinction and character held to the policy that America does not negotiate with terrorists. Perhaps, if I may respectfully offer my suggestion, he should keep that one intact.

We are seeing change already. May God protect America from this change as it may go down in the history books as the start of the fall of the greatest country to ever exist.

Very respectfully and at your service,
ET2 Sand USN (fighter against terrorism both foreign and domestic as is my oath)

It has come to my attention in the past two days that both the US and the UN are taking upon themselves the role of Children and Family protectors. Something that God appointed the Church, the husband, and the wife to do. Below are tow different blogs from mine and others Facebook pages.

Have you ever bought a children's toy, or article of clothing, or book from a second hand store, reseller, or ebay? Sure you have. You've probably sold some items too. Upon purchasing or selling the item did you worry about having to pay massive fines or even going to jail to do so? You had better think about that now!!

The most recent exercise in neo-socialism is set to start in February of this year! It is called the Consumer Product and Safety Improvement ACT (CSPIA). In short it is a law that will force manufacturers and sellers of childrens products to pay exorbitant fees for testing the products before selling them. Resellers such as Once Upon a Child and the like aren't required by the new law to test the products they currently have on their shelves. Don't get to excited about that, because though the law does not require them to test the products, it does hold them criminally liable if they sell one. So obviously the best course of action to avoid huge fines and jail times is to pay for the testing which can cost upwards of $4000.00. So that cute slightly used baby swing that would cost you $20 in the consignment shop will now cost you $4020.00 in the name of the government trying to protect your children from their toys!!

Not only will this Act force several resellers and local merchants out of business, but it will drive toy and product prices up as the manufacturers will also have to compensate for the testing fees imposed on them. And you thought you spent too much on Christmas this year. Fortunately, the government has issued a statement clarifying the laws, and encouraging resellers specifically to avoid certain types of products. What a list!!! It basically eliminates every product in the shop.

If the government was so concerned with the protection of my family they wouldn't be try to remove my 2nd Amendment right of keeping and bearing arms. We don't want any child to die by choking on a dolly's eyeball, at least not the ones that survive abortion anyway. Instead they are going to "address" the economy by instituting more fees and regulations, and force prices up in a market that is recession proof....childrens products.

If you would like to read the release from CSPS it is found at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html

I wonder if there will be a "Childrens Products Resellers Bailout". And the UN is doing its part as well...

The Washington Times
January 11, 2009


Washington Times Op-ed—U.N. Treaty Might Weaken Families

by J. Michael Smith
HSLDA President

One of the issues American families could face this year is the ramifications from a treaty called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

You may ask, “How could a treaty directly affect internal decision-making by American families?” We generally think of treaties as agreements affecting international relations between countries. The U.N., however, has initiated treaties that not only affect international relations, but also the domestic relations of member nations as well. These treaties, sometimes called “conventions,” require member nations that ratify the treaty to implement the requirements as binding law or rules.

On Nov. 20, 1989, the U.N. adopted the CRC and submitted it for ratification to the member nations. It has been ratified by 193 nations—the United States is one of the few countries that has not ratified it.

The ratification process requires a two-thirds vote by the U.S. Senate. On Feb. 16, 1995, Madeleine Albright, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., signed the CRC on behalf of the United States. The CRC, however, has never been sent to the Senate for ratification because there is insufficient support to pass it.

Due to the recent election, however, there are rumblings from Capitol Hill that there will be an effort to seek ratification of the CRC during the next congressional cycle. Hillary Rodham Clinton is a strong supporter of the treaty, and as secretary of state, would have direct control over the submission of treaties to the Senate.

Why should passage of the CRC be of concern? It likely would have a negative impact on domestic law and practice in the United States. Article VI of our Constitution makes treaties—and remember, conventions are viewed as treaties—“the supreme law of the land.” The CRC would be treated as superior to laws in every state regarding the parent-child relationship. This would include issues regarding education, health care, family discipline, the child’s role in family decision-making, and a host of other subjects.

Article 43 of the CRC establishes an international committee on the rights of the child to examine compliance by member nations. This committee, which sits in Geneva, has final authority concerning interpretation of the language contained in the CRC.

Two central principles of the CRC clearly are contrary to current U.S. laws related to parent-child relationships. The CRC provides that in all matters relating to children, whether private or public, or in courts, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration. Additionally, nations should ensure that children are capable of expressing their views freely in all matters affecting them, giving due weight to the age and maturity of the child.

This is contrary to traditional American law, which provides that absent proof of harm, courts and social workers simply do not have the authority to intervene in parent-child relationships and decision-making. The importance of this tradition and practice is that the government may not substitute its judgment for that of the parent until there is proof of harm to the child sufficient to justify governmental intervention. It is clear that in two very important areas of the parent-child relationship, religion and education, there will be potential for tremendous conflict.

The international committee in Geneva, in reviewing the laws of practice of countries that have ratified the CRC, has expressed its concern that parents could homeschool without the view of the child being considered; that parents could remove their children from sex-education classes without the view of the child being considered; that parents were legally permitted to use corporal punishment; and that children didn’t have access to reproductive health information without parental knowledge.

The bottom line is the CRC would drastically weaken the United States’ sovereignty over family life, which would have a substantial impact on every American family. For more information on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, visit www.parentalrights.org/learn.

The original article.