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SENATE TO CONFIRM SECRETARY OF STATE
On January 8-9, 1997, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote
on the confirmation of Madeleine Albright for Secretary of State, with a
vote by the full Senate in the near future. President Clinton has nominated
U.N. Ambassador Madeleine Albright to replace Warren Christopher as
Secretary of State. Albright's nomination has raised concerns with some
pro-family groups, because of her strong advocacy for the U.N. Convention
on the Rights of the Child. According to the Home School Legal Defense
Association, this treaty threatens parental rights, because it mandates
giving children a fundamental right of association, freedom of religion,
freedom to privacy, free access to the media, etc., all without parental
intervention. Parents who infringe on their children's rights in these
areas could be subject to investigation by the child welfare department".
[The National Center for Home Education, FAX ALERT, 1/3/97] Although U.N.
Ambassador Albright signed the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child
for President Clinton on 2/23/95, the U.S. Senate has refused to ratify this
treaty because of the calls and letters from pro-family individuals and
organizations. In addition, Madeleine Albright strongly supports the
ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women, which mandates "the elimination of any
stereotyped concept of the roles of men and women ... in all forms of
education ... by the revision of textbooks and school programs ..." U.N.
treaties are dangerous because they become the "Supreme Law of the Land"
when ratified by two-thirds of the Senate. Call your two U.S. Senators at
(202) 224-3121 and communicate your concerns about Madeleine Albright's
confirmation as Secretary of State as well as your concerns about the two
U.N. treaties. [The National Center for Home Education, FAX ALERT, 1/3/97]
THANK YOU WAL-MART
The nation's largest seller of popular music is saying NO to indecent song
lyrics, album art and videos. According to Cal Thomas, "the chain's
decision not to sell a product that offends the values of the company and
its customers is having an effect on the recording industry." [Cal Thomas,
"Corporate Cleanup?", WORLD, 11/23/96, p 19] Because of Wal-Mart's
courageous stand, they are being accused of censorship and are being
pressured to reverse its policy. According to Mr. Rolfe, president of The
Dove Foundation, Wal-Mart's policy isn't censorship, because the producers
are not restricted from selling their wares elsewhere. There are still
plenty of places where the raw version of these explicit titles can be
bought. [In Flight, a publication of the Dove Foundation, Fall/Winter 96]
ACTION TO TAKE: 1) Write Wal-Mart President and CEO, David D. Glass to
thank him for their courageous stand -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 702 SW 8th
Street, Bentonville, AR 72716-6209. 2) Distribute a Wal-Mart "Thank You"
petition for your friends, family, church to sign and mail to Wal-Mart.
Call FW for a petition; 3) Thank a Wal-Mart store manager for the
company's strong stand for decency; and 4) Pray that more corporate leaders
would begin to develop family-friendly policies. [AFA ACTION PAGE, 1/97]
CONVENIENCE STORE BANS PORN
The Diamond Shamrock Corporation recently announced that all pornography
would be removed from their corporate-owned Corner Stores and Stop-N-Go
stores in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Louisiana by January 1,
1997. The company plans to take a positive step toward improving literacy
by installing Family Reading Centers that will contain books for children,
teens and the entire family. Texas Governor George W. Bush hailed this
decision as a real victory for families. AFA of Texas had been working with
the Diamond Shamrock Corporation for over five months, generating 2000-4000
phone calls to DS executives and board members, 28,500 petitions and a 17
city "Diamond Shamrock Road Trip". Tim Wildmon, vice-president of AFA has
said, "We applaud Diamond Shamrock for taking this stand and hope that the
families who avoided the store because of the presence of pornography will
be just as fervent in their patronage now that the company is becoming
family friendly." [Clay/Platte AFA VICTORY ALERT, 11/8/96]
SCHOOL BOARD PRAYER IN JEOPARDY
In January, 1992, a conservative school board in Cleveland, Ohio voted to
open their meetings in prayer. One of the board members stated, "I think the
idea was just to recognize that there was a larger purpose than ourselves.
It wasn't to cram any one faith down anyone's throat." That same year, an
ACLU lawsuit was filed against the school board on behalf of a teacher and
student who claimed to be offended by the opening prayer. In 1996, a
district magistrate judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that the
practice of leading a prayer, or calling for a moment of silent prayer,
constitutes an endorsement of religion in a public school setting. To urge
the school board to fight for the right to pray, write to Board President
Stephen D. Sullivan, 1380 E. 6th Street, Cleveland, Ohio, 44114 or call
(216) 574-8585. [Plain Dealer, 10/23/96; Elyria Chronicle-Telegram,
10/24/96; ACLU news release, 10/22/96, Religious Rights Watch, a publication
of Christian Coalition, 1/97]
LIQUOR ADVERTISING READER POLL
In the past, commercials for beer and wine products have been aired on TV.
Now, it is likely that your local stations will begin airing advertisements
for hard liquor and distilled spirits. TV Guide is conducting a poll to
find out how people feel about their hometown stations airing such
commercials. Please fill out the following questions and mail to:
TV GUIDE
POLL, P.O. Box 706, Times Square Station, N.Y., NY 10108.
1) Have you seen an ad for hard liquor on TV in the last year?
Yes No
2. Do you think beer and wine ads are more acceptable on TV than
hard liquor ads?
Yes No
3. Would you approve of liquor ads running if they were restricted to
certain parts of the day (for example, late night)?
Yes No
4. Do you think hard liquor ads should be completely banned from
TV?
Yes No
5. Do you think beer and wine ads should be completely banned from TV?
Yes No
[TV GUIDE, Kansas City Edition, p47, 12/96]
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