Richard

WOW attends World Congress of Families IX

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The World Congress of Families IX, 2015, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA has come and gone, but impressions will linger a while. The event can only be described as awesome from opening ceremonies to the closing concert.  Four full days of mingling with like-hearted and concerned individuals and organizations that love and uphold the natural family as the first institution of society was wonderful.  Their  knowledge and understanding of the consequences  for society, when the family falls into widespread decline and is not supported and protected, was a very enlightening and informative. The waterfall of scholarly research presented at the Congress leaves one wondering what more evidence could policy and law makers need to better interpret and construct law that supports and protects the natural family. In answer, it just illustrates how much more ground work we as Individuals and organizations have to accomplish. Thanks to the Congress, we have much more practical information to apply and disseminate.

Here is a small sampling of some of our takeaways:

“Wednesday’s afternoon plenary panel on solutions to “Reversing the Crisis of the American Family” talked about false measures local and Federal governments use to assess outcomes of social programs. They measure success of most social programs based on number of individuals served by any particular program to justify program existence, rather than measuring social improvements from the program. This was an “aha” moment for me having witnessed firsthand the promotion by social workers of many programs such as food stamps for college students (my own daughter approached by social services), an frenzied counting of the homeless in my county by the director, a school’s obsessive count and recruitment of “Head Start” students and social workers going door to door in underserved neighborhoods. The solution was to make aware of these poor measurements and devising more accurate methods and measures.

I loved Dr. Dorothy Patterson’s wording of her “magnificent  obsession,” her family. Her wit, humor and truth spoke to both heart and mind.

Glenn Stanton’s, “New Findings in Gender Differences” presentation gave researched facts that refute “gender construction theory” a topic that so many are confused about.  I have purchased his book.

Dr. Miriam Grossman’s mission is to get the truth about intimacy, gender, and family out to children and parents and combat the systematic indoctrination taking place in classrooms mainly through Comprehensive Sex Education. I have purchased her book as well.

Sharon Slater held an all-day Leadership Summit the day before World Congress on the topic of Comprehensive Sex Education at the International, National, and local level.  She provided all the attendees a resource with United Nation’s agreed upon language and documents that can be used with local school boards to fight this. This is such a valuable resource.”

                                                                ~Yvonne

“It was reassuring to know that some in the movie industry have taken an interest in strengthening families. Actors and producers from Pure Flix shared statistics on the increase of Christian-based themes in movies since 1991. They will be producing many more next year.

Tim Ballard shared his experiences and involvement in breaking up child human trafficking rings around the world. This effort is also increasing to hopefully eradicate this despicable trend. 

It was wonderful to see how many people and organizations around the world are working tirelessly to support the natural family and, therefore, the future of a successful, enduring society.”

                                                                     ~Leeann

 

“Attending the WCF conference was a great experience for me.   I felt that there are many more people in the world who care about the family.  In the media you don’t often see the family valued.  I learned so much from the people that I got to know and  hear from.  Listening to Nick Vujicic was truly inspiring.  Human life is so valuable; we must not let ourselves believe in our own arrogance that it is not or that we have to have everything perfect for it to have value.  Often times it is those imperfections we experience in life that help us to become perfect beings.  Perfecting the imperfect parts of our life make us better, more compassionate people and therefore a greater force for good in society.  I came away uplifted and grateful for my life and the people around me that I love so dearly.”

                                                                        ~Dana

 

WOW will continue to share more detailed information on these topics. To see video on specific talks from the conference click here:  https://wcf9.org/schedule/ .  Also check out their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOTR5yh4SftXaUhokHNbwVA

What are We To Do?

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Take heart! We need not sit by and feel helpless about all that is going on in the world today.  There are things we can do to participate in making the world around us a better place!

Imagine if everyone caught on and gave as much as they could of their time, means, and love– what an impact it would have on the world. Even if things get dire, we will know that we can always be a force to influence and help those around us and make our piece of the world a better place because what we do:

 

1)—Give and serve:

                When you hear reports of a devastating event happening somewhere, you usually hear that it was the community and the churches that stepped in first and did the most good. There are always opportunities close and far away that we can help with–by give of our means and/or our time.  When you hear of accounts that are set up for a specific benefit fund, it is the many small donations that add up! When someone needs help, it is the shared, small random acts from many that meet their needs!

                It is easy to find ways around us to share what we have by just looking around and paying attention: Give generously to your church, find organizations in your community, country and around the world that you feel are doing a lot to help; share food with your local food bank; look for opportunities to volunteer. You have unique skills and gifts that can be used somewhere!

2)—Speak up:

                Learn the issues and facts about what is going on in the world and around you, and use that knowledge to contact leaders. Let them hear “the voice of the people” so they feel our presence and our support; and to give them the courage to do what they need to do.  We need to continue to speak out about issues that are beneath the character of humanity, such as the barbaric activities taking place at Planned Parenthood.  We also need to speak out about retaining our religious freedom.  There are always ways to contact officials by calling, emailing, or signing petitions.

3)—Teach:

                As we learn and hear about issues, we can share with our families and those around us, not only our knowledge, but what actions can be taken. There are so many good and informational websites, books, and other people that we can learn from. We need to teach our families values, service, history, religion, and we need to be good examples of what we teach. Talk to elderly people who have served our country, or lived during a different time. There is much to learn from them.

4)—Live a moral life:

                As John Adams said:

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

                Living a principled life, and teaching families principles brings strength to individuals, and families which are essential to a strong society. Religion plays and important role. Most constitutions of countries around the world recognize the strength of the family and the importance of living by principles.

                Also, as individuals and as groups, we need to call on our higher power to give us courage and strength, and to bless those individuals who are in positions of power to do the right thing. We can pray for those around us to have the blessings they need, and for ourselves to be mindful of what we need to do.

                To be able to hang on to our liberty, we need to live moral lives!

We may not see the impact of our actions on a grand scale, but it is many small things that bring about great things.

Two ways that WOW is involved and that you can participate in are: Nicholeen’s trip to Kenya to help strengthen parents and families there. You can read more on how to help out by clicking HERE.

Also, the World Congress of Families 2015 is being held in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA this year. We are blessed to have it in our country! It is a great opportunity to hear many knowledgeable speakers, meet with many organizations, to learn about issues and what can be done to help. Come, learn, share! Click HERE for more information.

WOW Teaming Up to Strengthen Families in Kenya

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The Worldwide Organization for Women and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops are teaming up to bring in renowned parenting expert Nicholeen Peck and Teaching Self-Government to train the families of Kenya in a system of parenting that will change the country of Kenya forever!

The Catholic Church in Nairobi will host Nicholeen for this training this November. 

This project is a “teach the people to fish” type of project.  Nicholeen Peck is going to give her knowledge away.  Funding for this project will come largely from donations. Nicholeen will be training 69 Kenyan facilitators and trainers how to teach self-government principles and then they will carry the project throughout the country.  Nicholeen states: “It’s all about impact. Everything I teach is for everyone to find more freedom and happiness. Poor family relationships lead to bondage.”

Nothing will help the people of Kenya more than uniting and strengthening its families. Strong families are crucial to a thriving society. You can help Nicholeen help Kenya by clicking the link below!

The project will take Nicholeen and her family three weeks because various three to four day trainings will need to occur. Nicholeen will also speak to groups of people in multiple universities and to religious congregations of multiple faiths. 

These are the 15 things the Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops sees as problems needing to be solved by good parenting and strong marriage relationships:

 

1. Communication with children especially during adolescent stage on human sexuality.

2. Rebellion among clan. Which is highlighted by the number of strikes.

3. Indiscipline.

4. Addressing developmental changes that young people go through.

5. Teenage emotional changes.

6. Radicalization by secular ideas.

7. Socialization of children in families.

8. Handling in helpful behavior. 

9. Peer pressure.

10. Bridging the gap from when joining school thus: 

      Nursery age – to class one

      Primary eight – form one

      From four to University

11. Addressing issues of rites of passage

12. Alcoholism and drug abuse.

13. HIV AIDS in families.

14. Absent parents.

I 5. Media influence.  

…among others. 

The Worldwide Organization for Women is excited to be a part of this great endeavor. If you would like to help fund this project, Your donation will help pay for production of a Kenyan booklet for distribution, teaching supplies, airfare for the trainers, living expenses for the three weeks in Kenya and ongoing training that will take place virtually, etc. 

Please click here to learn more: https://www.youcaring.com/worldwide-organization-for-women-398737

To learn more about the Worldwide Organization for Women click here.

For more information about Nicholeen Peck and the Teaching Self-Government model of parenting see https://teachingselfgovernment.com/

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The Recipe for a Republic

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Children saying the Pledge of Allegence

In honor of Independence Day of the United States

A family-friendly way to teach how a republic works!

You will need the following “ingredients”:

  • Dried beans (such as pinto or kidney beans; popcorn will work, too!)
  • Golf balls (or ping-pong balls, or cotton balls)
  • Two large cups; one labeled “Democracy” and the other labeled “Representatives”
  • A sign or piece of paper that says “= A Republic!”

In the United States of America, when we say the Pledge of Allegiance, we say, “…and to the Republic for which it stands…”  America has a form of government called a Republic.  What is a “Republic”?

The Recipe for a Republic:

1 c. Democracy + 1 c. Representation = A Republic

1) Fill the Democracy cup with beans. The beans represent “the people” = us! “We the People” govern ourselves by exercising our “voice” through the voting process.

Points you can explain:

  • Democracy: Demos = the people; Kratia = rule or govern (Greek words).
  • “We the people” are sovereign or have the absolute power to rule; the people self-govern by choosing the leaders and laws they want through the democratic process of exercising their voice and vote.  (In a monarchy, for example, the king is sovereign; the king governs the people by his rules/laws. Typically, the people do not have a voice/vote.)
  • Many people came to America because they wanted to experience a republican form of government where they could have the freedom to choose their leaders and laws.

2) Fill the Representation cup with as many golf balls (or ping pong balls, or cotton balls) as will fit. Note that there are less golf balls in the cup than beans.  That’s okay because the golf balls are representatives of “the people” (or the beans) in the first cup!

Points you can explain:

  • The word represent means “to act or speak for”.
    A representative is someone who acts or speaks for others.
  • Because America is so big, “we the people” (the beans) can’t possibly research and understand every local, state, and national issue in order to make an informed vote.  So… we elect a few people (the golf balls) we trust to be our representatives and to research and vote on local, state, and national issues on our behalf!
  • To effectively represent someone, two-way communication must happen:
    a)  We must communicate our desires, questions, concerns, ideas and suggestions with our elected representatives.  We must do our part to keep ourselves informed on basic local, state, and national issues.  This is our responsibility.  How can we effectively do this?

(Some ideas: Who represents you?  A search on the internet will provide you with websites and contact info regarding your representatives.  The internet, local newspaper, and other news sources such as TV and radio provide info on current events.  Dedicate a few minutes each day to listen and/or read!  Attend a local school board, county, or city meeting once a month or more as time permits.  When your community has a town-hall meeting, attend and introduce yourself to your elected representative.  Offer feedback!  Above all, make sure you vote for someone who will best represent you.)

b)  Our elected representatives must communicate their desires, questions, concerns, ideas and solutions with us and receive our feedback.  They must do their part to study and research the issues and attend the meetings pertaining to their elected stewardship.  This is their responsibility.  How can they effectively do this?

(Some ideas: If you are an elected representative, make sure your contact information is available on the internet and in some hard copy form – a brochure or pamphlet – in your office.  Get to know your constituents by inviting them to a town-hall meeting where you can meet them and receive their feedback.  Encourage them to call or email you when they have questions, concerns, or suggestions.  Send out a monthly newsletter via email briefly summarizing current issues on which you are working and that they need to know about.  Invite their feedback!)

3) Show the formula for a Republic again: 1 c. Democracy + 1 c. Representation = A Republic

Review:

  • 1 c. Democracy means “we the people self-govern”; we choose the laws and leaders by which we desire to be governed through the democratic process of informed voting.
  • 1 c. Representation means we choose leaders who act in our behalf and speak for us in local, state and national government      

4)  Take away the Democracy cup.  If we left out the ingredient of Democracy, what could happen to our Republic?

(Example: Could our leaders truly represent us if we do not get to vote for them or exercise our voice to communicate with them?  Could this impact our freedom?  If so, how?)

5)  Put back the Democracy cup and take away the Representation cup.  If we left out the ingredient of Representation, what could happen to our Republic?

(Example: What would it be like if the majority of the people – for example, 51% – did not like your cultural or religious beliefs, your race, or your socio economic status and there was no one to speak for you – the minority – and act in your behalf?  Could a pure democracy impact your freedom?  If so, how?)

Summary:

Just as leaving out an ingredient in a recipe could result in something that we may not want to eat, leaving out or weakening one of the two important ingredients of our Republic could result in a different form of government that we may not want to have.  Our constitutional republic was designed to safeguard everyone’s life, liberty, and ability to pursue happiness.  Therefore, isn’t our republic worth preserving?!?

The Best Father’s Day Gift Ever!

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“Urgh!” my husband exclaimed, as he dropped on the leather couch in our family room.  

I could see he was frustrated. Maybe this was the moment I had been waiting for, praying for. Over the years I had seen my husband become more and more lazy in his parenting and communications.  We used to be on the same page with how we corrected and taught the children, but as his busy life consumed more of his time and energy, he started relaxing in his parenting style and had begun to lose touch with his role in the home.

He still saw himself as the leader and father of the family, but the children didn’t necessarily see him that way.  Since I was calmer than my husband and more consistent with teaching and correcting our children than he was, the children started respecting me, but manipulating him.  I felt bad as I saw the children growing further and further away from their father, so I prayed daily that he would feel motivated to change his course and find principles in his communications again.  

At this time in our marriage, I couldn’t talk to my husband about how I felt about these things because he didn’t like anyone to correct him. He viewed my comments, which were made from a place of love and concern, as criticism. Thankfully, we have both taken the time over the years to improve ourselves and our marriage relationship, so now we are in a place where we seek correction from each other., 

A Learning Moment

“What do you want?” I said.  

“What do you mean ‘what do I want?’ That’s a pretty broad question,” he replied.

“Well, you are obviously frustrated.  You just sat down with a deep sigh.  You must want something.  What do you want?  What do you want tor yourself and for your life right now?”  I questioned him again.

“I just want the kids to do what I say,” He confessed.  

“Oh, okay. Just say ‘I’m giving you an instruction…’ before you tell them what to do. The children know the steps to following instructions.  If you pre-teach them in that way before instructing they will understand you better,” I explained.

For years I had taught my children four basic communication and self-government skills and they were good at them.  My husband actually knew the skills too; he just didn’t choose to communicate with them. The most basic of the skills was Following Instructions.  The steps to Following Instructions are: 

Look at the person giving instruction with a calm face, voice and body

Say “okay” or ask to disagree appropriately

Do the task immediately

Check back when the task is complete  

My husband looked at me as a large smile spread across his face.  “Are you saying I need to use the ‘Four Basic Skills’ again?” 

“Well, I think that these skills — Following Instructions, Accepting No Answers, Accepting Consequences and Disagreeing Appropriately — are skills for life. So, yes.  I guess you can say that as parents we can’t stop teaching them these important skills,” I said.

“Okay. I will use the skills again.  I guess I assumed that they should just remember to obey once they were told to,” he confessed.

Now I was smiling. I had been praying that my husband would want to talk about the best way to teach the children, the way we used to discuss it.  My heart was thrilled, we were finally becoming unified the important mission of raising our children again. “Honey, that was a great couple’s meeting.” I said.

“A couple’s meeting?” he asked.

“Sure, these short meetings about what we want are vital to creating the kind of family we are hoping to have. If we have these meetings regularly, you can get lots of what you want.  If you want dinner by a certain time, or more time to cuddle and talk, you just need to tell me and I can help you get more of what you want.”  

At this moment shock set into my husband’s face. “You would make dinner by 6:00 pm every day if I said I wanted it?” he asked in disbelief.  

“I can’t say I would be perfect, but if you really wanted it, I would try to help you get what you want,” I assured him. “That is what people who love people do.  But, if we don’t ever talk about things deliberately, then I won’t know what you want and can’t help you get it.” 

“Okay, let’s have regular meetings,” he said with enthusiasm.  

Lessons Learned And Wants Received 

So, what do all dads want? They want their children to respect them and they want their wives to understand and help them.  Don’t we all want understanding and respect? These are two of the most important things to all people.

This year for Father’s Day, give the dad in your family what he wants most — to feel your love and understanding and to have peace at home.  Maybe this year focus more on how you communicate with him instead of focusing only on a gift. Of course he will still love that new tool or ticket to the big game. But if that game or tool comes with deep love shown through unity, understanding and respect, then the dad in your life will see himself as the luckiest man alive. 

To find out how to teach your family the Four Basic Skills or how to have meaningful couple’s meetings, visit https://teachingselfgovernment.com 

World Congress of Families to hold first-ever U.S. event this fall in Utah

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Nicholeen Peck part of World Congress of Families

With the aim of encouraging and strengthening the family worldwide, the World Congress of Families will gather for the first time in the U.S. in Salt Lake City on October 27-30.

 

Civic and religious leaders in Salt Lake City will welcome heads of organizations, parliamentarians, and civic and other leaders from around the world at WCF IX, which is hosted by Sutherland Institute, to discuss the issues facing families today.

 

“The family is and always will be the most effective means of providing a safety net for the oldest, youngest and most vulnerable among us,” said WCF IX Executive Director Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse at a press conference May 12 in Salt Lake City. “Governments, schools or service organizations cannot duplicate what a loving mother and father can do as they raise and nurture their children.”

 

WCF co-founder and international secretary Allan Carlson announced the upcoming congress at the media event and gave a short history of the organization. The World Congress of Families was conceived January 1995 in Moscow, and its main goal is to fulfill the call to action in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights statement: “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state.”

 

Since WCF’s inception, members have welcomed people who want to celebrate, support and strengthen the traditional family, joining congresses in the cities of Prague, Geneva, Mexico City, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Madrid and Sydney.

 

Pamela Atkinson, officially representing Utah Governor Gary Herbert, welcomed WCF IX: “On behalf of the governor and the state of Utah, we say welcome to this conference, this congress that has made such huge strides in educating people all over the world about the value of family. … I’m delighted that it’s coming to Salt Lake City, because Salt Lake City not only has a great deal to teach about the value of family, but has a great deal to learn.”

 

Some of the organizations that will participate in planning the October conference include the Utah state government; The Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society; Sutherland Institute; The Worldwide Organization For Women; and United Families International.

 

 

On the Agenda

 

The events for WCF IX will include musical numbers by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and The Piano Guys, as well as video productions and celebrated speakers representing diverse cultures and religions. 

Speakers will include Nick Vujicic, Sheri Dew and Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, with opening statements by a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and several speakers who are among the 100 most influential religious leaders in America.

Click here for a full list of speakers.

 

 

The Importance of the Family

 

WCF IX Director Crouse reminded press conference attendees how people of faith have championed liberty and civil rights throughout history. She called for respectful discourse in the public arena in national and international public squares.

 

“We join people who, throughout history and across cultures, have supported the natural family as an essential, indispensable component of a civil society,” said Crouse.

 

Some of the major issues families face today include sex trafficking, teen sex, divorce prevention, lack of abstinence among the unmarried, sexual exploitation, and marriages in need of strengthening — to name just a few. Crouse stated the importance of the traditional family in combating these problems.

 

“It’s within that secure, familial environment that children find the individualized, personalized haven they need during infancy and childhood,” Crouse said. “That haven is where they can best be trained in the values that will make them competent and confident leaders in the future. That’s where the well-being of individuals is forged and where the essential qualities for strong nations are instilled.”

 

Involving the Next Generation

 

Conference organizers said they anticipate an audience of several thousand delegates from approximately 50 nations. Among those delegates will be hundreds ages 18-27 who will have competed for the opportunity to attend via a conference scholarship. There will be some special sessions targeted specifically for them.

 

The WCF-IX will offer a special track for young people who will learn how to create a strong, united family — and learn how family is a source of future freedom for them, their own families and their societies. WCF IX also will have sessions about family issues of special interest to this demographic.

 

Religious Leaders Weigh In

 

Leaders from a variety of religions have spoken out in support of the WCF’s efforts:

 

“As an evangelical leader in Utah, I’m so impressed that men and women of all faiths, cultures and ethnicities will gather as one powerful voice to affirm the traditional family and the historical values that honor God’s design for families.” ~ the Rev. Gregory Johnson, Standing Together Evangelical Church

 

“Defenders of the family from about the globe must come together at the World Congress of Families to restore the family as the first social institution and as the center of civilization in all places.” ~ Elder Dallin H. Oaks, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 

“Because core issues of life and human relationships are found at their highest expression within the natural institution of the Family, The Holy See considers it very important to speak of the Family, not just to its own Christian members, but also to every person of good will at World Congress of Families events.” ~ Archbishop Paglia, Roman Catholic Church

 

Why This Author Is Going to Attend

 

There is power in this statement: “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state.” Attending this congress and implementing the principles learned there will help our society progress toward this worthwhile goal.

To register for WCF IX Salt Lake City, visit https://wcf9.org. The event is expected to sell out, so get your tickets soon. 

My Mother, My Hero

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To me, a hero is the person who liberates us from our ignorance or rescues us from bondage by teaching us the truths we need.
 

There was a time in my life when I didn’t see my mother as my hero. When I was a child, she seemed weak and emotionally fragile. Although I know now that this was a very hard time of her life, I didn’t see that as a child. I only saw a person who seemed emotionally incapable.
 

Around this time, I started looking outside of my home for a hero to follow. I looked at teachers and women in the neighborhood. I looked to the media and to my father. I found some good mentors, but also some confusing and morally damaging ones as well. In fact, some of my social connections I made started to work more and more against my having a good relationship with my mother. I became selfish, fighting with my mother on a regular basis.
 

In my teen years, I finally learned an important lesson that helped repair my relationship with my mother. I adopted the habit of saying “OK” and then following through anytime my mother asked me to do something. My respect and love for her grew once more, which has been a tremendous blessing in my life.
 

I didn’t truly realize how much of a hero my mother was until years later, when I found myself experiencing post-traumatic stress after the birth of my fourth child. I learned from that experience that a hero is someone who conquers their fears and problems along a difficult journey, then turns around and helps you along the way. My mother had walked the hero’s path when I was a child. I didn’t recognize it then, but I did during this hard time in my life.
 

After the complicated birth of my fourth child, my brain started to play tricks on me. Never had I been more afraid in my life. I thought I was broken and I didn’t know how to get myself back to normal. I was filled with panic attacks and racing thoughts. My body and mind wouldn’t rest, my senses were acutely aware of everything. After 24 hours of this, and in the middle of a panic attack, I picked up the phone and called my mother. I simply said, “I need help,” then hung up the phone.
 

Never in my life had I asked my mother for help like this or made such a short phone call, but my words literally wouldn’t form in the panic attack.
 

My hero-mother jumped in her car and rushed to my house. She ran in the door, took one look at me, and instantly recognized the problem. She told me, “I know what’s wrong. I’ve had this happen to me. We are going to the doctor now, because you’re not going to put up with this like I did for all those years.” She told me how after the birth of her last child — which also had lots of complications — she ended up in my same condition and battled through it for many, many years.
 

Then my mother said the sweetest, most heroic thing I’ve ever had anyone say to me. She said, “Nicholeen, I would go through all that again so that you don’t have to. Now I know why I had to have that awful experience. It was to save you from having the same problem. I can finally say I’m glad I went through all that.”
 

I had judged my mother. I had thought she was weak. Now I knew she was stronger than anyone. She kept mothering, kept loving, and kept serving, even through her darkest days. That is the journey a hero makes.
 

Motherhood is hard — it is the work of heroes. It’s also the greatest gift a woman ever receives.
 

Thank you Mom! You are my hero and my friend! Happy Mothers’ Day!

Here is a free video to help mother’s make their homes more blissful.  

Mothers: The Next Generation’s Hope for the Future

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     This is Lydia Sigourney’s message in her beautifully intelligent 1838 treatise on Motherhood, “Letters to Mothers”. Each page inspires one to recognize the noble and glorious work of Mother, while instructing in a gentle manner through story, anecdote, and practical wisdom. Her work brings energy to the soul, and will strengthen your resolve as a Mom.  A few of her notions for a woman’s place will seem starkly Victorian, but her message to mothers remains a timeless model worth emulation.

“Let Mothers mingle their teachings with smiles, and the dialect of love. It is surprising how soon an infant learns to read the countenance, how it deciphers the charm of a cheerful spirit, how it longs to be loved.”

“….the strength of a nation, especially of a republican nation is in the intelligent and well-ordered homes of the people. And in proportion as the discipline of families is relaxed, will the happy organization of communities be affected, and national character becomes vagrant, turbulent, or ripe for revolution.”

“Do you ask, when shall we begin to teach our children religion ? As soon as you see them.As soon as they are laid upon your breast. As soon as you feel the pure breath issuing from thatwondrous tissue of air vessels which God has wreathed around the heart. The religion of a new-born babe, is…”  (Infancy)

     The above are quotes from Lydia, Christian wife, mother, and the American poetess of the Victorian era, known as the “Sweet Singer of Hartford” and the “Female Milton”.  Her popular wisdom inspired many 19th century female Lyceum Societies to be named after her. It is a shame her work has quietly gone into the dust bin of History, but old can be new again. Give yourself, your family, and society a gift this Mother’s Day and share , “Letters to Mothers”. You can find her work free online at :     https://archive.org/details/letterstomother00sigogoo

A Republic or a Democracy – What’s the Difference? (Does It Matter?!?)

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Flag with U.S. Constitution

Identity Determines Destiny

I have a friend who was raised on a farm.  One day she and her siblings were given the opportunity to raise a calf.  They separated the calf from the other cows in the field and brought it to their home in order to care for it.  The calf lived in their yard along with the farm dogs.  It slept with the farm dogs, it ate with the farm dogs, and it played with the farm dogs.  It wasn’t long before the calf began to act like a dog.  It would even chase the school bus with the dogs!  The kids thought it was funny and harmless until the calf grew bigger and it was time to put it back into the herd with the other cows.  Once in the pasture with the other cows, he mooed incessantly at the gate to be back at the house with the dogs.  What do you do with a grown cow that believes it’s a dog?  They ended up selling him.  One can only imagine his fate.  Identity determined that cow’s destiny!

A few weeks ago, I was rifling through the collection of notes I had taken from monthly State Board of Education meetings I had attended over the past four years.  Just for kicks, I decided to skim through the notes of one of my first state board meetings in April 2011.  The following is a quote someone said in that meeting:

“The state legislature couldn’t decide during the past legislative session whether we are a representative democracy or a constitutional republic.”

“Wow!” I thought to myself.  “I know the answer!”  However, I was immediately concerned.  “Wait a minute… My state senators and representatives couldn’t decide back then what form of government we have?”  I wondered, “Do my current state leaders know?  Does it really matter if my elected leaders – and the rest of us – don’t know our nation’s form of government?”

What do you think?  Does it matter?

YES – absolutely!  It most certainly does matter!  Just like the cow who lost its true identity because it thought it was a dog, what we think we are determines what we eventually become.  Understanding what form of government we have and its proper role in our lives is imperative if we want to continue to enjoy the freedoms that our form of government protects.  If we believe our form of government is something different than what it is, we can easily lose the freedoms that we have as a result.  Therefore, if we want to preserve freedom for ourselves and our posterity, each of us needs to know what form of government we have and especially why we have it so that we can make sure we preserve it!  To believe it doesn’t matter or to believe we are something we are not could be fatal to our freedom.  And if we lose freedom in America, what other sparsely populated continent is left to which we can flee?

                                                                                                                                          

So what are we exactly?  A Republic?  A Democracy?  A Representative Democracy?  A Constitutional Republic?

“The Rules” of our nation – the U.S. Constitution – state quite clearly, “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government…” (U.S. Constitution, Article 4, Section 4)  America has a Republican Form of Government which means that America is a Republic!  So why do we hear all the time that we are a Democracy?  And why did the state legislature in Utah wonder whether we are a Representative Democracy or a Constitutional Republic?

 

There are three important elements of a Republican Form of Government:

In the United States of America, our Republican Form of Government consists of the combination of three important elements:  Democracy, Representatives, and a written Constitution.

 

  1. Democracy = the people rule or govern
  2. Representatives = the people elect someone to be their voice at local, state and national levels of government
  3. Constitution = the rules written and ratified by the people which hold the power of each representative “in check” while they serve in office

     

A Republic is a form of government where the people rule or govern themselves through the voting process (Democracy) and elect someone to represent them at various levels of government (Representatives).  James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America summarized a Republic best when he said:

“A Republic…a Government in which the scheme of representation takes place,…the delegation of the Government,…to a small number of citizens elected by the rest.”  (The Federalist Papers, The Federalist  #10)

Remember this simple and easy formula:

 

Democracy + Representatives = a Republic

Or, in other words, a Republic = “Representative Democracy”

Because it is human nature for those elected to positions of power to want more power often at the expense of the people who elected them, the power of each representative is held in check by a written Constitution, or the rules, which every representative takes an oath to support, obey, and defend before they serve in office.  Therefore, if we add “U.S. Constitution” to the simple and easy formula above, we have:

Democracy + Representatives + U.S. Constitution = Constitutional “Representative Democracy“

Or, a Constitutional “Republic” for short!

We the people choose representatives whose power is held in check by a written constitution!

Hopefully, you can now discover for yourself the humor in my state’s 2011 legislative session debate between those who believed we are a representative democracy and those who believed we are a constitutional republic.  BOTH are technically correct with Constitutional Republic or Constitutional Representative Democracy being the most accurate definitions of our form of government!

 

What’s the Harm in Believing and Teaching We Are a Democracy?  Or a Constitutional Democracy?

All three elements of our Republican form of government are critical to keep and protect if we are to safeguard our freedoms.  For example, if we believe we are a Democracy, which important two key elements have we left out?

  • Without representatives to represent us whom we choose through the voting process, how can we the people have a voice in our government?  How would having no voice in our government affect our freedom?
  • Without our written constitution or “the rules” by which we the people commit to follow, a Democracy or “the people rule or self-govern” can easily turn into mob-rule, anarchy (no rules / no ruler), and/or a few people assuming power and subjecting us to their rules (a dictatorship or monarchy) .  How could this affect our freedom?

Some are believing and teaching that we are a Constitutional Democracy.  Which of the important three elements of our Republican form of government is left out in a Constitutional Democracy?

  • Again, without our elected representatives, we the people would have no voice in our government
  • In addition, without representatives a Democracy would turn into majority rule – for example: if the majority of the people (51%) in a Democracy did not like someone’s race, religion, or political views, what could happen to the currently and equally protected rights of the minority (49%)?

It is imperative that we remember these three key elements of our Republican form of government that safeguard our freedoms – Democracy, Representatives, and our U.S. Constitution – and do our part to protect and preserve them.

 

Identity:  We are a Constitutional Republic!   Destiny:  Preservation of Freedom!

Unlike the cow who thought it was a dog, we must remember our true identity.  The United States of America is a Constitutional Republic or, if you like saying the longer version, a Constitutional Representative Democracy.  This is our identity as Americans, and to preserve the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity is our responsibility and destiny!

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