Protect the Family

I have been slowly working my way through Glen Beck's book Conform about Common Core and Public Education in general. It has been a very good read. The other day I read some of the most disturbing chapters so far. They were so disturbing because they illuminated such a point of truth that society is straying so far away from. Glen Beck summed it all up-the point of the whole issue really, with this quote:
"The point is that an intact nuclear family is far more likely to have a livable income and produce happier, healthier, and more successful children. Given that somewhat obvious fact, it would make a lot more sense for the government to focus on things that would encourage and empower a comeback of the family unit rather than things that simply deal with the symptoms of our current disease."
"But that's not the case," he continues, "In fact, our government has been all too eager to encourage the continued deterioration of the family structure by assuming more and more responsibilities that should be dealt with at home" (Conform, p. 135).

This took me back to my college days. I took a class from one of my favorite professors titled Family Social Policy and Law. It was a fascinating class and we learned and analyzed all the different policies and laws regarding family and how they affect families and where they originated, etc. I hadn't connected these two things on my own quite yet. In some ways I recognized it as I felt myself asking more and more often, "where do the parent's rights come in? Where is the right for the parent to decide for his/her child?" But I hadn't taken that step back to see the big picture. All these stupid policies they are passing about every ridiculous facet of our children's lives 'at school' are just another extension of their power. Their desire to gain complete control and squash out the parent. If the government becomes the presiding voice in families, then they get to shape and mold our children in the way they want to. Don't brush this off as crazy Carissa talk. Or crazy Glen Beck talk. Start being aware of policies the government is passing, particularly ones that affect children, and look at it through a family social policy and law scope. How does this affect the stability and rights of family?

This year is the 20th anniversary of The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Let us remember these words taken from the Proclamation:

• The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
• Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
• 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.
• Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. 
• Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
• WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

We are those responsible citizens they are calling upon. It's not just a silly law about portion sizes of school lunch. It's about protecting the family.