"MOST FAVORED NATION" TRADE STATUS FOR CHINA . . .On June 24, 1997, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 259-173, approved House Joint Resolution 79, which will renew "Most Favored Nation" (MFN) trade status to China for another year. Because of China's disregard for the most basic human rights, i.e., the right to have a child, the right to worship, the right to be paid for your labor, etc., many pro-family and human rights groups had voiced their opposition to MFN status for China. But, Congress passed H.J. Res. 79 even though two-thirds of the American people believe that trade status should be linked to human rights. [Family Research Council's Legislative Hotline, 6/27/97] Pro-family and human rights groups will continue to fight for the rights of persecuted people of faith around the world through legislation, such as the Freedom from Religious Persecution Act (H.R. 1685/S. 772), which will require sanctions against countries that engage in ongoing, widespread religious persecution. [Missouri Christian Coalition Action Alert, 6/26/96] BEST BUY BOYCOTT . . .The Minneapolis-based Best Buy Company recently sponsored the "Ozzfest" tour, which features hate-rock group, Marilyn Manson. The group's stage antics regularly include spitting on the audience, using the American flag as toilet paper and constantly shouting vulgarities. Marilyn Manson, the leader of the band, has said he wants to put an end to Christianity through his music. In addition, the band's music has been tied to at least two teen suicides. American Family Association (AFA) is endorsing a nationwide boycott of Best Buy Company, which is a nationwide retailer of music, appliances and electronics.ACTION: AFA encourages pro-family individuals and churches to contact the Best Buy Company and politely, but firmly let them know of your concerns over their sponsorship of the "Ozzfest" tour. Write/Call: Best Buy Company, Inc., P.O. Box 9312, Minneapolis, MN 55440-9312. 800/369-5050. Fax: 612/947-2422.Email:moneytalk@bestbuy.com WWW: http://www.bestbuy.com. [AFA Action Alert, 6/21/97] A FAILURE TO PRODUCE BETTER STUDENTS . . .Congressional Record, 6/9/97, Page S5393 -- Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV). Sen. Byrd questioned President Clinton about "the Nation's failure to produce better students despite public concern and despite the billions of Federal dollars which annually are appropriated for various programs intended to aid and improve education." Sen. Byrd pointed out that our children rank 28th in average mathematics performance according to a study of 8th graders published in 1996. He then raised concerns about the current approach to mathematics in our schools, called the "'new-new math". According to Sen. Byrd, the apparent concept behind the new-new approach to mathematics is to get kids to enjoy mathematics and hope that the "enjoyment' will lead to a better understanding of basic math concepts. Senator Byrd reviewed a "new-new math" textbook, titled "Secondary Math:An Integrated Approach: Focus on Algebra" and he found some interesting points. The "Getting Started" section of the book indicated that computers will do most of the work that people used to do in the workplace, i.e., adding up invoices, computing sales tax, etc. Sen. Byrd asks, "What kind of message is sent by that brilliant opening salvo? It hardly impresses upon the student the importance of mastering the basics of mathematics or encourages them to dig in and prepare for the difficult work it takes to be a first-rate student in math." The "Getting Started" section goes on to "extol the virtues of teamwork, to explain how to get to know other students and to ask how teamwork plays a role in conserving natural resources." Sen. Byrd asks, "... what in heaven's name does this have to do with algebra?" Other questionable sections of the book: 1) inclusion of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in three languages; 2) lectures on endangered species; 3) a discussion of air pollution; 4) chili recipes, etc. "By this time I was thoroughly dazed and unsure of whether I was looking at a science book, a language book, a sociology book or a geography book. In fact, of course, that is the crux of the problem. I was looking at all of the above. This textbook tries to be all things to all students in all subjects and the results is a mush of multiculturalism, environmental and political correctness and various disjointed discussions on a multitude of topics which certainly is bound to confuse the students trying to learn ..." Sen. Byrd closes his statements by encouraging parents to look at their children's textbooks "to be sure that the new-new math and other similar nonsense has not crept into the local school system. All the Federal dollars we can channel for education cannot counteract the disastrous effect of textbooks like this one." [See Congressional Record 6/9/97, pg S5393 for complete text of Sen. Byrd speech. Also see U.S. New and World Report, 5/26/97, "That So-Called Pythagoras", by John Leo]PRO-LIFE POLAND . . .Poland's highest court struck down that nation's controversial abortion law, which had only been in effect for five months. The court's 9-3 ruling will mean that almost all abortions in Poland will once again be illegal. Andrzej Zoll, tribunal chairman had this to say about the ruling, "The highest value in a democracy is human life, which must be protected from its beginning to the end." [WORLD, 6/14/97]SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS BANNED?The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development submitted a report to the June 1996 "Habitat II" United Nations Conference in Istanbul called the "Community Sustainability: Agendas for Choice-Making and Action" This report, submitted as official U.S. policy, called for the restructuring of American society by: 1) eliminating single-family dwellings; 2) curbing suburbs; 3) reducing the population's meat consumption; 4) imposing population control techniques; etc. For more information, contact John Meredith of the American Policy Center at 703/925-0881. [The Nat Cen for Public Policy Research, Issue 166, 6/10/97] |