I am pro-family
Posted by Brian July 26, 2005
The labels by which certain political groups refer to themselves (and their opponents) can be very interesting - and annoying.
Consider the many various organizations today which refer to themselves as “pro-family.” That’s a friendly-sounding name, isn’t it? But there are a couple of problems with that label: First, it implies that the groups which are opposed by these organizations are somehow “anti-family.” Second, it turns out that the main focus of a lot of these organizations is not building up families. Instead, a great deal of their time, money, and energy is spent on trying to make it difficult for gay people to form families, and to get along with their own families of origin.
Reason magazine recently posted an excellent article showing that many of the policies promoted by the “pro-family” groups are actually hostile to families and children. According to these groups, it is apparently more “pro-family” to let 30,000 children remain in Florida state custody until they grow up (if the state doesn’t simply lose them), than to let some of them be given loving, stable homes by gay people.
The legal status of gay people in America often frustrates me. However, this story about two teenagers who were recently hanged by the evil regime in Iran makes me very glad to be an American.
Simply as a matter of side comment on pro-family groups, I am somehow on the email list of some association called the American Family Association. I find their emails to be extremely shrill and annoying even when I agree with whatever stand they’re taking. Anyway, when the emails come into my in-box Outlook truncates the return address so that it reads “American Family Ass.” It makes me laugh.
Good post. I appreciated your comment on Greg Kendall-Ball’s blog and thanks for the link to my blog. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts.
Thanks, Travis. I’ve found your blog insightful and amusing.