[Vision2020] Real family values

[J Ford]

Thank you for sharing this...so right on and so clearly what mothers all 
over the country are dealing with on a daily basis.

Well done.

J  :]




>From: Ralph Nielsen <nielsen at uidaho.edu>
>To: Vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: [Vision2020] Real family values
>Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 19:46:10 -0700
>
>http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060513/ 
>NEWS0503/605130321/1055
>
>
>Article published May 13, 2006
>Elizabeth Wakeman: I don't favor my straight children — and neither  should 
>Idaho
>
>I am the mother of four sons. I love them equally, but they are  different 
>in so many ways. Like most brothers, they do not always get  along, but 
>they love each other very much. We are a family.
>
>I have similar hopes and dreams for all of my sons, despite their  
>differences. I want them to grow up to be strong. I want them to  stand up 
>for what they believe is right. I want them to be kind and  sympathetic to 
>their fellow citizens. I want them to be happy. I hope  they fall in love, 
>that they find someone with whom they can share  their lives, because 
>sharing my life with another person has enriched  me in so many ways. My 
>husband pushes me to be my best self and  accepts me when I am my worst 
>self. I want them to have that: someone  to care for, and someone to care 
>for them. I want to dance at their  weddings. I want them to bring me 
>grandchildren.
>Of course, I don't always get what I want. I accept that my sons,  each of 
>them being so different, may travel different paths in their  lives. They 
>may never fall in love. Even if they do, they may choose  not to marry, or 
>decide not to parent. They may live lives quite  different from my own, and 
>from what I want for them. That is their  right, and I accept it.
>
>I cannot, however, accept that my fellow citizens may vote to  enshrine in 
>our state constitution an amendment saying that two of my  sons may never 
>have what their brothers may have. Two of my sons are  heterosexual. They 
>can marry in the state of Idaho. If their spouse  falls ill, they are 
>guaranteed the right to visit her in the  hospital, participate in 
>conversations with doctors about her care,  and can take time off from work 
>to see her well. And they know their  spouse will have the protections 
>necessary to care for them in the  same situation. They can raise their 
>children as equal partners,  sharing in all of the protections (insurance, 
>leave, inheritance) of  a married family.
>
>Their brothers, though equal in my love, are not equal in the law.  Two of 
>my sons are gay, and many of the protections my heterosexual  sons will 
>have when married are denied to them. They can be kicked  out of a hospital 
>room, even denied the right to make medical  decisions on behalf of their 
>partner, because they aren't "family."
>They can lose their property, even their livelihoods, at the sudden  death 
>of their partner, because Idaho inheritance laws do not protect  unmarried 
>relationships. No matter how many years they might be in a  committed 
>relationship, they are, in the eyes of the state, nothing  more than 
>strangers to their partners.
>
>I am told this amendment is necessary to protect families. I look at  my 
>boys and I just don't understand. How can the protection of one  hurt the 
>other? How can denying the rights of two of my sons make the  other two 
>safer? When you go to vote this November, remember my sons.  Remember that 
>the people whose lives you will affect have mothers.  Mothers who are proud 
>of their children, gay or straight, and feel  they all have the right to 
>share their lives with someone they love.  Mothers who want to dance at all 
>their children's weddings.
>
>Elizabeth Wakeman is president of Parents, Family and Friends of  Lesbians 
>and Gays, Treasure Valley Chapter.
>
>_____________________________________________________
>List services made available by First Step Internet, serving the 
>communities of the Palouse since 1994.                 http://www.fsr.net   
>                              mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

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