mainefamilypolicycouncil.com

Proposition 8- Are You a Hater?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:20:28 PST

Recently, I was asked by a local television station to give comment on Judge Walker’s decision to overturn Proposition 8. The California state constitution amendment states fully, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” I told the reporter that I was disappointed but not surprised that Judge Walker would ignore the will of the voters of California along with the voters in 31 other states who have upheld the traditional, historical definition of marriage. I also expressed concern that this ruling would likely end up in the Supreme Court where an adverse decision could force the 45 states that presently do not recognize same- sex marriage to legalize and validate those unions.

Where Are All the Heroes?

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:51:56 PST

Summer is a time for building, and the construction trade brings with it the high-pitched whine of the buzz saw and the rattle of the jackhammer. The sound of a hammer is not always unpleasant. The stonemason’s hammer rings out with a high, clear tone as it strikes the blocks of a cathedral. A father’s hammer, as Dad works around the house, has a comforting sound.

Another pleasant sound was the sound made when Thomas E. Dewey dropped the hammer on Lucky Luciano. Luciano was a mafia kingpin who oversaw the gambling, narcotics, and white slavery rackets in New York City. Dewey went to war against Luciano, and in turn, one of Luciano’s cohorts put a contract out on Dewey.

Protect the Children

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:07:21 PST

A Letter to the Editor entitled “Protect Maine’s Children” is raising the ire of many conservatives in Maine. The response to the letter has been heated, because the author slights a number of cherished principles, not the least of which is the Republican Party and the institution of the family. The letter as a whole is an attempt to smear the LePage campaign, and by extension, anyone who supports the concept of “Family Values.”

The author of the letter objects to the part of the 2010 Republican Party Platform which states "Parents, not government, are responsible for making decisions in the best interest of their children, whether disciplinary, educational, or medical.” This simple statement ought to be self-evident and incontrovertible truth, but in modern-day society, there are few truths with which the Left cannot take issue.

The Commercial Value of Character

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:32:40 PST

No one could capture the folkways of Maine better than Arthur G. Staples. His brief vignettes recall a way of life that has all but disappeared. In his best pieces, he offers a guide to conduct worthy of our Maine forbears.

This is just such a piece, about a dispute between two Christian gentlemen, which happened in a bank in Lewiston long ago.

Bearing False Witness

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:40:27 PST

A picture is emerging of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan which exceeds even the worst fears of her opponents. The leader in the fight to stop Kagan’s nomination is Dr. Charmaine Yoest, the Director of the Pro-life organization Americans United for Life.

Yoest is a political scientist turned crusader in the Pro-life movement, and has been involved in every Supreme Court abortion case since Roe v. Wade. Thanks to her thorough-going knowledge of the politics of abortion, Yoest is in an ideal position to see behind Kagan’s façade of being a fair and impartial judge. Yoest warns that Kagan will be “an agenda-driven justice” who will “oppose even the most widely-accepted protections for unborn human life.”

Immorality is Worse than BP Oil Spill

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:00:49 PST

When BP sank an oil shaft deep into the earth — a mile below the surface of the Gulf, and another two miles through rock — it showed a stunning lack of prudence and foresight. For the sake of economy, the company left off an indispensable safety valve; and out poured an unstoppable torrent of oil. The heavy crude oil and asphalt immediately began killing all the creatures that swim in the sea, fly through the air or build their nests on land.

A People in Exile

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:40:43 PST

Maine is a special place, so wholesome and life-giving that those who leave her gentle embrace often feel exiled. A traveler may feel an occasional pang of homesickness, but for those who recall the loveliness of Maine, the beauty of her shores and forests, and the kindness of her people, the ache is deep and abiding.

For comfort, these unfortunate wayfarers sometimes band together under the name of “exiled Mainers” to share photos, trade stories, and dream of the day when they will finally go home.

Comedy Central's Offensive New Show

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:03:47 PST

In the wake of the cancellation of two South Park episodes which portrayed Mohamed in an unflattering light, many Christians are concerned about a new show which will mock Jesus. The show, which is being developed by Comedy Central, is in the preproduction phase, and does not have final approval from network executives. Comedy Central announced its plans for the new show two weeks after it censored two episodes of South Park because of complaints from Moslems.

Sangerville's Shady Deal

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:12:20 PST

The RECORD has long warned that the presence of large-scale legalized gambling in Bangor would act as a lure for other forms of corruption. We are deeply alarmed over the news that a nightclub for indecent “dancing” may be opening in nearby Sangerville. If not stopped, the proposed “Gentleman’s Club” will be an extremely dangerous threat to many young women in the greater Bangor region.

The RECORD strenuously opposed the Grandview Coffee Shop in Vassalboro because of the track record of such businesses. Almost without exception, this sort of “Gentleman’s Club” is a magnet for drugs, prostitution, and other forms of crime – a “Gentleman’s Club” which exploits young women in the most vicious manner imaginable.

The Truth about Maine Summers

Thu, 27 May 2010 12:59:55 PST

The beauty of Maine has been an endless inspiration to writers and artists. Few have been so skilled at depicting this beauty as Arthur G. Staples, who wrote over a century ago. His stories about Maine life are tender and uplifting, but it is in his descriptions of the cycle of the seasons that Staples is at his best. Here Staples captures the essence of Maine in midsummer.

To lie on the hay and watch the clouds in the sky; to follow the gulls as, lazily, they wheel above; to watch the blue sea heave afar; to feel the perfume as of each dawn and catch the healing breath of each sunset; to live as fully and happily as one in these days - this in Maine, in midsummer.

Bold as Lions

Mon, 24 May 2010 21:29:49 PST

The League is admittedly a small organization with limited resources, but it has achieved some very great things lately. An outsider looking on might say that the League's successes, achieved as they were without large sums of money and without the support of powerful friends, were very unlikely.

In 2009, the League helped win the fight to preserve marriage and the family by defeating the same sex marriage law. When winter came, the League exposed the plan to reintroduce gay marriage against the wishes of the citizens of Maine. This spring, the League - with the help of concerned citizens - helped persuade the Maine Human Rights Commission to withdraw its proposed educational guidelines for transgendered students. This is quite a record of success for any organization!

A Labyrinth of Errors

Mon, 17 May 2010 09:54:25 PST

Here and there in Maine, visitors from away may spend a pleasant summer afternoon wandering through jade-green mazes hewed out of cornfields. In other tranquil spots around the globe, garden mazes or labyrinths provide a quiet respite from the cares of modern life. There are other sorts of mazes, too.

The most famous one in ancient fable was a dark and dismal place -- the Cave of the Minotaur -- which was used to keep young people captive on the island of Crete. There is yet another type of labyrinth, a labyrinth not made of stone or shrub or tree, but a labyrinth of error, and this labyrinth holds captive the minds of our young.

When Lincoln Advocated Temperance

Wed, 12 May 2010 14:05:27 PST

In 1842, a tall, lanky lawyer stepped forward before a gathering of humble, down-on-their luck men. The setting was an unpretentious meeting hall in Springfield, Illinois, and the group that came to hear the unknown lawyer was the Washingtonian Society, a group of reformed or struggling alcoholics who joined together to emulate the character of George Washington, the Father of Our Country.

A Time to Plant

Thu, 06 May 2010 09:10:36 PST

The following intriguing column is by Alan Lowberg, an independent candidate for Congress in Maine's First Congressional District. Although The RECORD does not endorse any congressional candidate in the upcoming election, Mr. Lowberg's comments are worth reading, since they offer a unique insight into the current political process.

UMF Student Exploits Loophole in Law

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:01:12 PST

A march scheduled for Farmington on Friday April 30^th is provoking a varied, but predictable reaction from the public. Many are expressing outrage over the public display of indecency, while others, like the widely-read columnist John Frary, have written about the subject in a lighthearted fashion - but not without touching on the issue as a matter of conflicting rights and duties. Others are wrongly claiming that the march is a true expression of freedom. The lack of consensus on the meaning of the march, pro or con, is perhaps the most significant aspect of the event.

Farmington March Harms Family Values

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:03:23 PST

Newspapers, radio, and television are making much of an upcoming march in Farmington, where women will parade indecently in the name of a cherished American value, freedom. Many other public demonstrations are held in the name of freedom and equality, whether 'freedom of choice' for those who march for the right to abortion, or 'marriage equality' and 'pride' for those who pursue same sex marriage. And this appeal to higher values diverts our attention from the matter which conscience obliges us to consider, and that is, the morality of the behavior being paraded.

Notable Quotations on the Vice of Gambling

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:25:29 PST

The citizens of Maine can hardly be blamed for believing that gambling is an innocent pastime. The state government refuses to condemn gambling as a vice, because the state rakes in enormous sums of money from its partnership with Hollywood Slots. Spurred on by the lure of advertising revenue from the casino, newspapers, radio, and television are quick to tout the gambling industry as harmless entertainment. The Chairman of the Gambling Control Board has called Hollywood Slots just that - harmless entertainment.

One Man's Legacy

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:11:51 PST

The author of the following piece was Arthur G. Staples, a native of Auburn who for many years edited the Lewiston Journal. Though virtually forgotten today, Staples had an unsurpassed ability to capture the true spirit of Maine. Active in civic matters, Staples attended the 1904 Republican National Convention which nominated Teddy Roosevelt for the presidency. Here Staples reflects on one man's legacy to future generations.

The WCTU Deserves our Support

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:53:34 PST

Last week, the lifeless body of a man was fished from the water by a wharf in Portland. He was found pinned between a boat and a wooden column. It happened in the Old Port, a part of the city where bars and taverns line both sides of the street. On the wharf, police found an old backpack and a half-full bottle of beer.

Twelve Signs of Impending Social Collapse

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:01:28 PST

While Democrats and Republicans wrangle endlessly over how to fix a broken economy, other signs of impending social collapse are going unheeded. The twelve warning signs listed below are compiled from ancient historians who recorded how a society gradually slides into hopeless corruption, revolution, or civil war.

These twelve warning signs reveal those areas of society which require the immediate attention of government. Endless palavers about the economy are at best a misdirected effort, and at worst, a deliberate attempt to distract the American people with a pointless charade.