Family Life Education Bill passes out of committee–heads to full Senate vote

MoonHowler

On Thursday, members of the Senate Education and Health committee voted to report SB 967: Family Life Education Standards of Learning by a vote of 11-4. This was a huge victory but the first step of many to getting this common-sense legislation signed into law.

On Monday, the entire Senate will vote on this legislation.

Family life education. Requires each school division to implement the standards of learning for the family life education program promulgated by the Board of Education, or a family life education program consistent with the guidelines developed by the Board, which shall have the goals of reducing the incidence of pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and substance abuse among teenagers. Any curricula or materials used must be evidence-based and supported by peer reviewed medical research.

As I understand it, this legislation would do away with schools being coerced into using bogus materials that present voodoo pseudo science as medical evidence. I once sat through several classes of abstinence education.  It was foolish and the kids all laughed at it.  There were virginity pledges, rings, and other gimmicks that really didn’t address sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and the responsibilities involved in becoming sexually active at an early age.  Those types of ‘classes’ are better for church groups and within the family.  They are not appropriate for public education.  This bill protects our children from pseudo science being presented as fact.

Please write to your state senator and encourage him or her to support SB 967.  Accurate information never hurt anyone.

Senator Colgan’s email:

[email protected]

 

The Mid-Eastern World, It is Exploding….

MoonHowler

The violence and government overthrow in Tunisia and Egypt raise a few question for Americans. 

In particular, Egypt is one of our strongest Muslim allies.   For all practical purposes, they are in the middle of a full blown revolution.  To some, Mubarak is a a dictator.  To others, he is a trusted ally.  Are those Egyptians who are rioting and protesting good patriots, watering the tree of Egyptian liberty or are they thugs and terrorists?  Are they cleaning their own country?  (We often hear that hurled at those here illegally from Latin American countries.)  

As Americans, do we stay out of the Egyptian business?  We did that when there were Iranian revolts a year or so ago and President Obama is still being criticized for not ‘supporting’ the revolting Iranians.  The Islamic  Brotherhood with its Al Quada ties might be behind some of this.  They are on our terrorist list, aren’t they?  How about the Suez Canal?  That waterway is critical to our strategic movement in the area.  Then there is the oil issue. 

What set all this off?  Muarak has been in office for 30 years.  Weren’t people happy with him, even though he is technically a dictator?  Is it their economy?  Have prices sailed through the roof?  Have food prices gone sky high? 

I don’t think I would want to be President Obama or Hillary Clinton this week.  These are the times that try men’s souls and there are no easy answers.

Moonhowlings reflections……

MoonHowler

On February 26, Moonhowlings will be 1 year old.  During the past 11 months we have had both highs and lows.  The past couple days have been lows for us.  Why so?

Our main objective for having this blog is to find common ground.  The past couple of days we have felt like that was no longer possible and that there was no common ground.  Hopefully,  we can move forward and push partisanship aside in favor of discussion of ideas.  Not agreeing is fine, but in all conversation, people can find some area to agree upon. 

There has recently been some meanness expressed here.  We don’t want that.  It isn’t helpful and it isn’t productive.  Personal, unkind   remarks will just be taken down, quietly, in the future.  We won’t all agree.  We have some very different world views and people who would define themselves as conservative, liberal, centrist, libertarian and liberal.  Please think about what we are asking.  If you just want to shove your opinion down everyone else’s throat, this isn’t the blog for you.  If you want to sell your ideas, then that’s a whole different story.  Please while you are selling, take the time to listen to the other guy and look for common ground.  Our very country depends on our ability to do so. 

Moon-Howler and Elena

 

 

Low Hanging Fruit

MoonHowler

The other day, I got an email from Delegate Jackson Miller, trumpeting all the work he is doing to stop illegal immigration.  I expected to read that he had taken up personal vigil down on the border considering all the fanfare.  Such was not the case.  In part, his email stated:

 

During the 2011 Virginia General Assembly Session, we will be debating many issues that are important to the Commonwealth, but one issue of particular significance to me is illegal immigration.  As a former police officer with almost two decades of experience, I have seen firsthand the effect that illegal immigration can have on a community.  As your Delegate, I am working hard to find solutions to the many issues and challenges that illegal immigration has presented in our communities and in our Commonwealth.  

 Recently, I appeared on Fox News Channel’s morning program, Fox & Friends, to defend a bill on which I am a co-patron.  This bill, HB1465,   (click for full text)  stipulates that illegal aliens will not be eligible for admission to Virginia’s colleges and universities.  Higher education is a privilege, not a right, and placement in Virginia’s colleges and universities has become increasingly difficult for legal residents of our state to obtain.  This bill will require that all prospective students submit appropriate documentation showing proof of citizenship or a student visa for eligibility for enrollment. 

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