'select', '#title' => t('The Bible version to use'), '#default_value' => variable_get('reftagger_TooltipBibleVersion', 'ESV'), '#options' => array( 'ESV' => t('English Standard Version'), 'NIV' => t('New International Version'), ), '#description' => 'The Bible version to use in the tooltips', ); return system_settings_form($form); } function reftagger_menu() { $items = array(); $items['admin/settings/reftagger'] = array( 'title' => 'RefTagger module settings', 'description' => 'Settings for the RefTagger module', 'page callback' => 'drupal_get_form', 'page arguments' => array('reftagger_admin'), 'access arguments' => array('access administration pages'), 'type' => MENU_NORMAL_ITEM, ); return $items; } function reftagger_help($path, $arg) { $output = ''; switch($path) { case "admin/help#reftagger": $output = '

'.t("Adds Logos™ RefTagger functionality to your site").'

'; break; } return $output; } function reftagger_perm() { return array('access reftagger content'); } function reftagger_footer($main) { $output = ''; $output .= ''; $output .= ''; return $output; } My Tax Dollars at Work | The Collected Thoughts of the Zappe Family
Home › Blogs › Michelle Zappe's blog

My Tax Dollars at Work

warning: Parameter 2 to gmap_gmap() expected to be a reference, value given in /var/www/html/d/includes/module.inc on line 471.
Sat, 05/16/2009 - 14:22 — Michelle Zappe

I got something interesting in the mail. It was a letter from the American Life League. One that went out to probably anyone that's ever gotten on a pro- life mailing list. They, of course used a fairly standard method of providing the most shocking information to illicit a donation from me. They really didn't need to since the existence of abortion is enough to make a persons stomach turn. What caught my attention was the snippets they included from a Planned Parenthood book. It is of course the book that my tax dollars pay for them to print none the less. It's called "It's Perfectly Normal". It's distributed to public school children from fifth grade and older as a part of their sex ed. Things were ridiculous when I was in school. This is completely disgusting though.

Children are given this book at a sexual education course and in many cases they don't even allow the parents to attend with the child. The book contains graphic images of people having sex. It includes chapters on putting on condoms, birth control, abortion, masturbating, homosexuality, etc. It's very graphic and very much the Planned Parenthood stick everyone on birth control and give them abortions mentality. It tells kids that it's okay to have sex and sex is good (sex is not evil but it's not the anywhere, anytime, anyone pleasure principle they sell). It tells them how to have it, what to use, and how to get tested for an STD. It also tells them how to do all of this without the consent or knowledge of your parents.

The problems I have with this are many. For one thing they are distributing this book to fifth graders (and it is very graphic). Then they are very clear to make sure parents cannot control the information their child is getting by banning them from the class. The information is also not what most people want their kids to have about sex. I'm sure I'm not the only parent that would like my children to think of sex as more then a hobby or sport that just "feels good". I'm sure I'm not the only parent that disagrees with them telling my child how to have sex, get birth control, and get abortions without my knowledge or consent. The worst part for me was (besides the whole thing) was the chapter on abortion. For the record I don't think there is a chapter on adoption oddly enough (so much for choice). How can any pro- choice advocate claim that I and my children have a choice when they spend tax dollars to tell my kid that the unborn baby is a lump of cells that the Planned Parenthood would be glad to get rid of for them? Isn't it bad enough that children have to sit through a biology class in high school that teaches them everything about the development of a baby as if the fetus were just a useless lump of cells or an extra organ that can be gotten rid of?

The Planned Parenthood talks about it's goal to reduce teen pregnancy and prevent unwanted pregnancy. Then they turn around and tell fifth graders that sex is wonderful and anyone should have it anytime they want. Then they throw in the kicker, if you get pregnant they'll kill the baby for you. They will also test and take care of STD's for you. They are teaching our children to be sexually irresponsible. They are teaching them that sex is more important then any relationship. The thing is that sex is not a hobby or a sport. Killing the resulting unborn children and testing for STD's does not remove the consequences. It can make them worse. But somehow this book gets to be printed and given away to children with our tax dollars.

I have a list of moral objections about the information presented here as well. Contrary to the pro- choice, Planned Parenthood party line, my morals are not based in hatred, bigotry, or crazy thinking. I do plan to talk to my kids about sex, but that talk will be in line with my morals and it will include sexual responsibility (two things missing from the Planned Parenthood class). I continue to be disgusted by the fact that I am forced to pay for this kind of stuff. Where's my choice and my say in the matter?

I am appreciative that the snippets from this book came from a sealed envelope in which I had a choice to open or not. Even though I am aware that it is a cheap ploy that is used to build up suspense and curiosity, this is not something to have your kids just find. If your kids are getting ready for sex ed in school, please take the time to find out exactly what they're being taught and handed out. If for some reason you're not allowed to be there or participate, that's a red flag for you as a parent. Don't let your child be indoctrinated. Speak up and take the time to teach your child what you want them to know about sex. I wish I'd never had to take it when I was in school and apparently it's gotten worse. Stand up for your children and don't be afraid to not let your child take sex ed if you object to what's being taught. Sex ed used to be a parents responsibility and it still should be. You can't avoid talking about sex with your children (that's irresponsible as well), but you need to make sure that they learn what you want them to learn about it.