Education – Page 5 – Worldwide Organization for Women

WOW attends World Congress of Families IX

June 13, 2018November 25, 2015 by Richard

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?

June 13, 2018October 15, 2015 by Richard

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

June 13, 2018September 4, 2015 by Richard

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

June 13, 2018May 14, 2015 by Richard

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.

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

June 13, 2018May 1, 2015 by Richard

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.

Democracy = the people rule or govern
Representatives = the people elect someone to be their voice at local, state and national levels of government
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!

Freedom of Religion or Freedom from Religion?

June 13, 2018April 1, 2015 by Richard

What’s Happening in America?

A teacher/friend of mine shared how one of her students recently confided in her that she truly believed that she did not

A Year To Remember For The Utah Legislature!

June 13, 2018March 20, 2015 by Richard

This year WOW was actively engaged in the Utah Legislature fighting to protect religious libertites, parental rights, family, and rights of conscience. There were a lot of bills and resolutions this session that are worth talking about.

The biggest topic on Utah capitol hill for the past few years has been what to do about the anti-discrimination bills that keep pushing language that would not protect religious liberties. WOW has fought dilligently for the past three years to protect religious liberties.

SB99, SB100, HB322, SB297 and SB296 were a handful of the bills that asked for religious liberties or anti-discrimination legislation or both. Of these bills SB296 and SB297 passed. This last bill was a balanced bill calling for anti-discrimination in housing and employment, but also calling for protection of religious liberties.

During this legislative session the LDS church spoke out in favor of SB296 and SB297undoubtably making a positive influence on their passing. The ACLU opposed these bills. WOW was very disappointed that HB322 did not pass as it was a very good bill for protecting religious liberties.

There was an exciting bill stating that parents must opt their children into sex ed. classes now. This is a great precaution to take to protect the consciences of children and religious freedoms as well as parental rights.

HB48 passed. This bill prevents some uses of powdered alcohol. This is good news.

WOW was opposed to HB391 the death with diginity (assisted suicide) bill. Luckily this bill did not pass.

WOW was opposed to HB134 which was a homeschool tax credit bill. We felt that this bill would potentially lead to regulation of homeschooling families in the future leading to possible violations of parent rights, and it is not a fair bill to other families who don’t have children in public schools and won’t get credits. This bill did not pass.

SB175 unfortunately passed. It was a bill designed to create a school safety help line for children. This hotline will be promoted to children. The calls will be taken by unknown people at the University of Utah and parents will not be told if their child calls the number. We have not been able to determine what kinds of advice or services can be offered by the unknown people at the college. We see this bill as a very possible violation of conscience and a definate violation of parental rights to help their own children. We felt it would be better to adopt a plan to teach children to talk more with their parents and teachers instead of take more tax money to refer children to strangers whose morals are not known.

These were some of the big bills we watched and chimed in on. But, there are always some kind of ridiculous bills like this one. Did you know that in Utah code it says it is against the law to ride a bicycle with no hands? Some things are not meant to be made into laws.

It is important that we all stay as informed as possible so that we can stand up for the principles and values we hold dear.

Mothers Standing For Family At The United Nations CSW 2015

June 13, 2018March 19, 2015 by Richard

In 1995 the United Nations had a monumental meeting in Bejing. Part of this document created 20 years ago was this statement, “The family is the basic unit of society and as such should be strengthened…Women make a great contribution to the welfare of the family and to the development of society which is still not recognized or considered in its full importance. The social significance of maternity, motherhood and the role of parents in the family and in the upbringing of children should be acknowledged. The upbringing of children requires shared responsibilty of parents, women and men and society as a whole.”

This statement is in harmony with the mural that provides a backdrop for the Security Council Hall at the United Nations in New York. Right in the center of the painting is an oval with a woman and a man getting married. They have a child at their feet which seems to symbolize the marriage as the union that creates stable populations.

2014 was my first year visiting the CSW [Conference on the Status of Women] event at the United Nations. After my first experience I was not sure the United Nations remembered how important the family was, but this year I have higher hopes. Don’t get me wrong I am not a fan of global micro-managing or anything like that, but I do think that unity on important issues can help strengthen societies and offer support.

For many activists who come to the United Nations the global platform is used to elevate the idividual as the most important unit of society. The arguments for supporting the individual are not usually made with future generations in mind. The real extreme activists want unlimited abortions, fewer children, more government intervention, forced equality (this never works as then the other party, men, become the oppressed), legal pornography and prostitution (pimping) which lead to child trafficking, and government mandated freedoms for personal preferences.

This year WOW along with many others promoted the language in the 1995 Beijing document. We promoted the family as the basic unit of society and spoke about ways we could strengthen the family.

WOWs Events

WOW hosted three parallel events this year at the CSW conference. First we had and event called “The Power of Calm: Increasing The Influence Of Women” by me (Nicholeen Peck). In this class we talked about how important calmness was and about how freeing it can be. We also talked about how women promote calmness in all their environments but especially in the home. And, when women create calm homes their children become free and powerful.

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Our second event featured Jacky and Jose Aponte, parents of 12 children. The Apontes talked about their story of poverty, abuse, and loss of identity. Then they shared the solution to these problems; the family. There were tears and laughs and everyone left with some ideas for how they can strengthen their families. The class was called “Family University”.

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WOW’s third event was presented by the women of WOW Africa. The class educated people about the problem facing women in parts of Africa, like Nigeria, when a spouse dies. Women are not allowed to inherit property if their husband dies and are often left without basic necessities of life. With no money or property and often times no education as well as the customary (socially manditory) one year of grieving the woman and her children are left in terrible hardship. The women and men of WOW Africa talked about solutions to these problems facing African women and girls.

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The SDGs

In 2000 the MDGs (Millenial Development Goals) were made to last fifteen years. They were the focus for the nations for these past fifteen years, but are now ready to be reviewed and news goals are to be made. The new goals are called SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). These goals are supposed to represent the most important areas of focus for the world for the upcoming fifteen years. They are being discussed now at the United Nations.

WOW feels the family, as the basic unit of society, promotes equality and identity because it provides a history and an identity for a growing child. When mothers and fathers fulfill their roles in the family children learn what their future roles in society can and should be for a sustainable future. Without strong families, societies decline and decay. Strengthening families needs to be the highest priority.

The family is the perfect development goal.

To see a very interesting and informative meeting that WOW participated in about making ‘The Family’ a new SDG go here.

https://m.webtv.un.org/watch/the-family-as-the-agent-of-gender-equality-a…

Others Are Feeling The Call To Support The Family Too!

At events, in caucus meetings, and in conversations with people from all over the world I found people who are concerned about the family and want to strengthen it. There were people speaking out about moral issues and in support of the role of men in our society too. Sure, those promoting the family at the United Nations are still the minority. But, the numbers are growing. People are seeing that the truth about what is most important is just not getting enough press or support. The most important and basic unit of all society is the family. We cannot forget.

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Entitlement Issues: Children Are Atmospheric Creatures

June 13, 2018March 12, 2015 by Richard

While flying 23,000 feet above the earth through clouds and sky the world looks a bit different. The small aircraft is surrounded by parts of the atmosphere. While on the ground it is easy to think of earth as separate from atmosphere even though any science class would prove otherwise. But in the air in a small vehicle that is fairly vulnerable to the elements and the air currents and clouds, it is easy to feel at one with the atmosphere. At this height the plane is part of the sky and dependent upon the atmosphere for safety and direction.

Children are also atmospheric travelers during their stage of life.

Just like an aircraft in the heavenly atmosphere of clouds and gases is dependent upon the atmosphere for safety and direction, children are also atmospheric travelers during their stage of life.

Indeed, all people to some degree are likely atmospheric, but some adults are able to successfully create their own atmospheres despite the current trends, fads or media messages that surround them. These adults are the deliberate kind of individuals who find principles and feel duty-bound to follow principle instead of pop culture or trends.

Children can learn to be these kinds of adults too, but while they are children they are very dependent upon the atmosphere that surrounds them for their learning and development.

When observing the development of babies, it is easy to see them learn from their environment. The young ones who have parents who talk to them often become early talkers. The babies who are surrounded by children who hit and bite, soon learn to hit and bite. And babies who are left in front of a TV are soon very happy being disconnected from people and connected to screens instead.

This atmospheric learning doesn’t stop when they are older. Older children who are over-socialized crave more and more socialization. Children who are fed too much want more and more food. And children who are not taught respect for parents will not respect parents. Children who are around other angry or whiny people will become just like the angry whiny people in their atmosphere.

Luckily, the atmosphere of love, respect, forgiveness, work, good communication, feeling valued, and education will still create a child who exemplifies all of these things. Good atmospheres are equally as powerful as damaging ones.

One of the biggest destroyers of the current social atmosphere children are raised in is entitlement. There are two kinds of entitlement problems that parents all over the world are dealing with, and the second problem is far worse than the first.

The first, most obvious, entitlement problem mindset society continues to push is entitlement to things. Never before in the history of the world have there been so many things. Innovators and technological geniuses have blessed us with more gadgets and machines than we could ever use in a lifetime. The world is full of interesting stuff. Adults want this stuff, and so do children.

Children have always looked in shop windows and catalogs for the newest toys or inventions, but now the lists of inventions is changing by the month and the children are demanding to keep up with the latest. It doesn’t help that popular culture seems to have embraced the idea that children must have this stuff or they will not grow up properly or safe. The truth is children will grow up very well without gadgets and devices.

The second entitlement problem mindset our society has taught is far more concerning than the first entitlement issue that is primarily a consumer trap to buy. The second mindset is that the children believe that they deserve to be treated with adult-like respect by their parents and other adults. Children used to respect and learn from adults, and now impertinent kids are demanding respect from parents and are wanting to be the leaders of their parents.

There is no blanket answer for why this has happened because there are so many unique families with unique mindsets and circumstances. But, there are a few really dominant trends that seem to be causing this entitlement problem.

First, let me be clear about respecting children. Children should be respected. But respect means to regard or reverence the person’s role. If a child is respected as an adult when they are still a child, it actually disrespects and disables the child. Children need to be respected as children, which means adults need to teach them, correct them, forgive them and love them.

The dominant trends leading to children feeling entitled for adult respect are: parents don’t want to have the responsibility of a parent so children feel the lack of a leader, we no longer teach children to turn to their parents for answers and teaching, and the world seems to see children as needing protection from adults; even parents.

There are many parents who don’t want to have to grow up and be parents. The media masterfully shows actors and actresses who never grow up and who behave as teenagers even though they are supposed to be the wise adult character in the situation. This never-grow-up idea, that started with Peter Pan, is enticing to adults and they can’t help but hope for eternal youth and vitality.

To buy into these ideas is to buy a lie and to set themselves up for a life of disappointment. Adults today have what Mark Wanstall calls, “…the emptying out of the adult identity.” This lack of identity leads children to feel abandoned and to take drastic often impulsive measures to get their needs met.

Back in the days of “Leave it to Beaver” and “Little House on the Prairie” parents were the source of wisdom and the solution to all of life’s problems. When trouble came, the children would try to figure it out on their own, but would ultimately have to talk to their parents for the problem to be fully addressed and solved. Sure there were some adults presented, like Harriet the shop keeper’s wife in “Little House on the Prairie”, who ended up causing problems sometimes, but the wise Ingalls’ parents never fell for the social traps that Harriet fell for.

Now days, the media frequently portrays parents as old fashioned, clueless, uncaring, and selfish at best. Often parents are even seen as abusive or cruel. The message is that children need to get away from parents for safety.

Now, certainly there are some very sad cases where parents have violated the trust and conscience of their child by not protecting the child or even abusing the child, but by and large these cases are still very rare in comparison to the number of families who are working diligently to teach and love their children during all of life’s challenges. Parents are the first most reliable line of defense for youth.

As a society, instead of focusing on finding the best way to outsource parenting, by creating activities, friends, classes or call centers, we should be focusing on strengthening parents and teaching children to go to their parents for help and instruction.

It is popular to hear talk about child rights. The word right means “a just claim”. Some of the rights mentioned in social circles are rights to cell phones, rights to sexual privacy, rights to not go to church, rights to any media they want, etc. In the United States these rights do not legally exist. In fact the only right that children have besides the usual constitutional rights is the right to parents. They have a right to know who they are and to be raised by the people who brought them into the world, if at all possible.

Of all these rights listed, this is the only right that is a just claim as the other rights listed would actually undermine the right to have parents teach and raise the child the way they see fit for moral upbringing and safety.

Children learn from their atmosphere. Until their problem solving and analytical parts of the brain are fully developed in early adulthood, they have no other choice than to be atmospheric creatures and learners.

Since this is the case, we must make a special effort to make sure we know what messages are being taught in the atmosphere the child is in. The atmosphere includes school, with friends, online, and in books, music and other media.

We need to be there, looking deeply into the atmosphere and teaching the children what is truth and what is fiction. This is the only way we help protect their identities from ideas that would confuse them about who they are and who they are supposed to be in the family and the world. When they are secure in their identities they will be happy and contribute to family and society, instead of developing entitlement issues.

WOW Africa Reaches Out To Families With Learning and Love!

October 11, 2018January 24, 2015 by Richard

Some of the Women of WOW Africa came together to serve the families of Nigeria! They provided much needed supplies and education.

We love our Nigerian sisters and know they are always hard at work trying to strengthen and lift families as well as help them stay free from things like rape, which is a problem in many of the areas.

These ladies regularly teach classes to decrease illiteracy and to help families economically.