National Chairman's Letter

Platform - Family

May 2003

Dear Independent American friends,

I wish to comment on the Family section of our IAP National Platform. The second belief point of the Introduction section of our Platform says:

2. [Family] We believe that families are the fundamental building blocks of a moral society; that traditional family values are the strength of our nation; and that Christian principles are the key to strong homes in America.

Contrarily, there is an all-out assault by pornographers, abortionists, feminists, homosexuals, pagans, many educators, the entertainment media, and other elements in our society to weaken or destroy the Christian concept of family and our traditional family values.

The Family or second numbered section of our Platform, includes the subtopics Traditional Family and Morality, and begins:

2. FAMILY

Traditional Family. We recognize that the traditional family unit, not the government, is best suited to promote character development, the advancement of morality, education, integrity, honor, personal responsibility, patriotism, citizenship, service, respect and tolerance for differences in religion, race, and culture.

We recognize that marriage is meant to be a lawful union of one man and one woman. We encourage laws which strengthen and support the traditional family and its values. We support the parents' fundamental right and responsibility to nurture, educate, and discipline their children. We affirm the rights and duties of families in the care of their elderly and disabled members. Assumption of any of these responsibilities by any government agency usurps the fundamental right of families.

Yet, there is a growing movement in our nation that children now belong to the state rather than the parents. That it is the states prerogative and obligation to care for them, educate them, and shape them into proper world citizens.

We oppose the intrusion into the family by any government agency unless absolutely necessary to protect children or adults from truly abusive situations. Even in these situations, the due process of law must be accorded all parties involved. We maintain that there should be no presumption of guilt based on "anonymous" tips, and that those accused must have their Constitutional right honored to face their accusers in a court of law. The regulation of child care is not a legitimate function of government, but is an unconstitutional intrusion into the private affairs of American families.

Though there are countless, grievous, legitimate cases of child abuse and neglect, the chief advocates of "children's rights" have a much more ambitious agenda of establishing welfare agency control and authority over the family.

Morality. We favor voluntary promotion of moral values in the entertainment media, including the Internet, television, radio, music, motion pictures, reading material, and the arts. We favor the promotion, by schools, the media and clergy, of abstinence from non-marital sex.

We need to fight the plague of pornography in an effort to counter its destructive message that: All people are sexual objects. The highest value is immediate pleasure. There are no rules about sex. Sex is trivial. Nonmarital sex is for recreation and entertainment.

We oppose homosexuality, same-sex marriages, sexual exploitation of children, fornication, incest, beastiality, sodomy, adultery, pornography, etc., and deem them threats to traditional family values and as abominations to the Creator.

We see perversion and immorality as the primary cause behind the fall of all great nations. We maintain that people engaging in acts of homosexuality have no special legal rights or privileges, and those living in such relationships have no legal familial rights or privileges, such as adoption of children and legitimacy of marriage.

Friedreich Engels, Karl Marx's co-author, wrote an 8-point plan for destroying the family, which might be summarized as: (1) Working mothers, (2) free and easy divorce, (3) elimination of sex roles in marriage, (4) housekeeping as a social industry, (5) communal child care or day-care centers, (6) elimination of the concept of illegitimacy, (7) an open definition of "family," and (8) unrestrained sexual activity.

His dreams are virtually realized in America today: Half of those getting married for the first time are living together first. Half of all marriages end in divorce. Half of all divorces take place because of adultery. There is an abortion for every three births in America; and of those babies allowed to be born, one-third are illegitimate.

We support legislation that protects the family from mounting influences which weaken the family unit. While respecting individual rights and agency, we oppose legitimizing immorality. Neither Congress nor the federal courts should infringe upon the rights of state and local governments to enact constitutional laws restricting public obscenity, pornography, and illicit sex acts, especially prostitution and homosexuality.

We want to get the federal government out of the area of morality for two reasons: First, the Constitution does not grant to Congress (or the President or the federal courts) any power in matters of morality. Such powers are reserved to the states or to the people.

Second, whenever the federal government gets involved in moral issues, it invariably takes the low road. Some examples: Schools have been barred from teaching abstinence. The "rights" of homosexuals exceed the interests of children they want to adopt. Pornographers have sweeping First Amendment rights, but not elementary schoolers wanting to participate in Nativity scenes.

The liberals tell us "you cannot legislate morality." That is erroneous. States and localities have long had laws prohibiting or restricting language on the airways, illicit sex, drinking (Blue Laws), drugs, gambling, etc. On the other hand and more recently, liberals have been very successful in passing laws that embrace their brand of morality. States and communities should have the commitment and freedom to promote traditional morality and family values publicly and in education. For "freedom comes not from the right to choose, but the making of right choices!"

For God, Family and Country!

Bruce Bangerter
IAP National Chairman