who are these chicks?

I was reading an article the other day about Concerned Women for America, a group started by Tim Lahaye's (of Left Behind fame) wife, Beverly. I started out being interested to see if the article would be biased at all, and kept reading because I had no idea what this group of women is all about. I'm usually all about conservative groups that are sticking it to the Powers That Be with intelligence and resolve, but I dunno about these ladies.

I like the idea of putting ultrasound machines in all birth control clinics, the idea is for them to be used as more of a deterrent to abortion, but I don't know that I like it being national legislation. I don't mind it being a state decided issue, because there's really no reason to bring the federal government into each and every Planned Parenthood in the nation, or even telling each state to do so. I don't favor a bigger government or more bureaucracy, and think that with how divided the country is on abortion rights in general, it might be an easier fight to win on a smaller level.

I also like the idea behind the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, I think that's a clever idea, and if it's well written it could be a good piece of legislation. It'll add to the contradictions that are currently allowed to exist in the law, such as Scott Peterson being convicted of murdering his unborn son, but if Lacy had decided herself that she wanted to abort the baby, it'd be considered legal...but that's another post entirely.

I don't like the idea of lifting the IRS ban on churches participating in politics. Granted, there are so many different denominations and religions in the US that it's hard to believe that we would ever get to the point of a religiously run state, but the whole point of America and the first Amendment was to avoid that. I'm not talking "separation of church and state" crap. I'm talking that pastors have a lot of influence on people, and I don't think it's their place to exercise that influence on politics (sorry Al and Jesse). I was sick to my stomach with all the kids who didn't care to think for themselves taking their political cues from Rolling Stone and MTV, I would feel the same about pastors taking advantage of even a few in their flocks like that.

I haven't seen the movie Kinsey and don't really plan to - groups like this condemning movies like that just always make me wonder who in the organization actually took the time to see the movie, or read the screenplay or anything. There are way lots of ignorant judgements thrown around on all sides.

I don't really know how I feel about their opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment. I can see the point, and I don't agree that homosexuals should be allowed a marriage status (one brilliant pastor pointed out that there is no such thing as gay marriage. Every reference to marriage in the Bible as being a man and woman, so in God's eyes, nothing else is marriage). But where does the line get drawn between standing on principle of something being wrong, and having compassion for those who need the medical benefits, or deserve the social security/death benefits of a loved one to whom they cannot be married? I just thought it was kinda ballsy to go up against James Dobson, and this amendment for which most Christian groups are clamoring.

I'm definitely not sure how I feel about them having so much power in Washington. I think it's cool that they can mobilize lots of people to write congressmen and senators andbe involved in the process, but I generally don't like lobbyists. They tend to be very selfish in the requests they make and don't always look for the greater good, they usually are just looking for their greater good. I guess overall I'm impressed that there is such a group out there, sticking to their guns, not afraid to take on anyone, but I don't think I'll really be signing up to join the ranks just yet...I'd probably get drummed out for insubordinantion.