Date: Tue, 6 Feb 96 12:47 EST From: lmrutt@postoffice.ptd.net (Laura, The Peoples Alliance ) (by way of Maggie Heineman ) Subject: Focus is out of focus in Lancaster Following is a letter to the editor in response to a "positive" article about the Focus on the Family. February 5, 1996 Editor, Sunday News Lancaster, Newspapers, Inc. 8 West King Street Lancaster, PA 17603 Dear Editor: The article on James Dobson and Focus on the Family in The Sunday News on February 4, 1996, perpetuates the false assumption that morality, family values and faith are the unique and exclusive property of Mr. Dobson and the conservative Christian Right. Nothing could be further from the truth! And what failed to be noted is that: 1)Promoting outdated "simple solutions" for today's complex social, political and economic problems is adding to the frustration many people feel in our ever changing and confusing world, by trying to categorize everything into "black and white". 2)Advocating corporal punishment for children is perpetuating the cycle of violence and domestic abuse, which continues through generations against children and can be a contributing factor in spousal abuse. 3)Wanting to control women and deny women the right to a safe and legal abortion, will not only force women to seek abortions illegally, but will put women's health at risk, add to the number of women and children on welfare, and increase the large number of unwanted, hungry and homeless children, one of our country's greatest tragedies. 4)Destroying the Constitution by seeking to force his brand of prayer on a captive audience in the public schools, will no more solve the problems of our society, than forcing all women to become housewives, taking away birth control for teens, or blaming everyone else for our society's problems. And contrary to what the article says, it is not Washington that is listening to James Dobson, but the current right wing office seekers that continually change their "convictions" to cater to the next voting block that looks promising. I would like to suggest that you also run an article about People for the American Way, The Human Rights Campaign, The Feminist Majority, or other groups which not only advocate morality and family values, but also women's rights, reproductive freedom, religious liberty, separation of church and state, and the ideas that there are no simple solutions to society's complex problems and that we must work together so all may participate equally in society to come up with solutions that empower people of all ages, races, genders, religions and sexual orientations. Sincerely, Laura Montgomery Rutt Director, People Alliance for Tolerance and Freedom Lancaster, PA 581-1029 Laura Montgomery Rutt - lmrutt@postoffice.ptd.net The Peoples Alliance for Tolerance and Freedom The Pennsylvania Alliance for Democracy - "You know you have created God in your own image, when you find that your God hates the same people you do." --anonymous