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Protection of Family Civil Rights / Letter to Congress / New Hall of Fame
From: Webmaster (webmaster@kids-right.org)
This is a message from a mailing list, members@kids-right.org http://www.kids-right.org/ To unsubscribe from this list at anytime, send email to Majordomo@kids-right.org with the following 1 line in the BODY of the message (Subject is ignored). unsubscribe members ====================================================================== Good People, This message contains info on the following: 1. Ongoing effort with Senators Schumer and Clinton -- will they work? 2. Ongoing effort with Senators Schumer and Clinton -- can you help? 3. New effort to start in Indiana - Senators Bayh & Luger 4. New Hall of Fame - people who have tried. 5. Hall of Shame - heard of "reactive attachment disorder?" 6. Letter to Congress - and to ourselves. 1. Ongoing effort with Senators Schumer and Clinton -- will they work? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Got a message (not repeated here) and I have to disagree with the line, "Public officials only represent the wishes of the politically elite!" I can assure you even more than campaign money, their worst fear is a group of constituents claiming they are not being responsive to an important National issue. As a group, I have to say up to now we have we certainly have not demonstrated a following of people ready to "take to the streets." In Senator Schumer, we found a very sympathetic local staff who was willing to listen. As we have said in the list messages -- it's going to take more than four or five people coming to his office to cause a U.S. Senator to sponsor a bill (and that is probably the way it should be). In our letter (end of this message), we encouraged him to take the lead -- but we need to work also. Publicity is key to letting the "masses" know that there is a real chance of reform. Civil Rights is a concept almost everyone understands. As a Group (www.AKidsRight.Org), we talk about NonViolent Action and then need for people motivated by Faith, Love, and willing to Sacrifice. I believe it is true the staffs in our local Federal Building are watching what happened to me (one person went to jail peacefully, no press coverage). I will be returning to the building on Monday to do the same. On the day when more leaders join in demonstrating Faith and Love, and a willingness to sacrifice -- we will obviously get the media coverage when 2-3 parents are arrested because Members of Congress are not even meeting with them. Then it will be they who have to answer the tough questions. Then things will begin to work. I find no place for anger directed toward public officials -- they obviously don't want to go out on a dangerous limb (which is what many see family reform to be). The REAL unfortunate part is that 'WE', parents who have been cutoff from our kids and had our rights trampled -- are also not willing to Sacrifice? (John Murtari - jmurtari@AKidsRight.Org) NOTE -- again below we will repeat a call to just pick up the phone or write and let these Senators know how you feel -- then let us know. This lists reaches thousands -- so far we know of ONE person who called. We can do a lot better! Just let them know you love your kids and you want Family Rights protected. 2. Ongoing effort with Senators Schumer and Clinton -- can you help? ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want to catch up with what has happened, how to help, and what is planned for Syracuse, NY. Please see full details at: http://www.AKidsRight.Org/actionb_syr Please make an effort to call/write the Members of Congress involved, especially Senator's Clinton & Schumer. A few people have written in the "our government only protects special interests." We really don't think so, but WE have to contact and hold our elected official responsible. John Murtari will be returning to the building next Monday (Oct 22), and every Monday after that (as long as he is not in jail). The help of people seeking reform is crucial. Many of you out there are wondering if NonViolent Action (Faith, Love & Sacrifice) can bring real political change? We need media attention (and have gotten very little so far). John Murtari had a long talk with on of the Police Officers while his arrest was being processed (there is quite a bit of paper work involved!) The officer told John about Animal Right's Activists who were protesting out in the street. When a police officer responded and told them to move they intentionally charged the officer and started a fight (looking for TV coverage). They got the TV coverage, but it did not draw a lot of sympathy to their cause. IT IS IMPORTANT to note their was no animosity between John and the police officers. They rapidly recognized he was there for the sake of the love of his child and to represent other children/parents. He was doing his duty and they were doing theirs. They "charged" him with the minimal offense, simple trespass, which is about the same as a traffic ticket. 3. New effort to start in Indiana - Senators Bayh & Luger --------------------------------------------------------- Yvonne Cook (vonsck@aol.com) and Richard Eichinger (rae1275@cswebmail.com) who visited the offices of Senators Clinton and Schumer in Syracuse, New York, are starting to contact the offices of Indiana's two U.S. Senators, Evan Bayh and Richard Luger (a very senior member in the Senate). They will be sending them a letter similar to the one used in New York (repeated below). If you are in Indiana or a nearby State and would like to participate and/or help plan any potential meeting. Please contact them. Again, the issue is protection of our Civil Rights as Families. 4. New Hall of Fame - people who have Sacrificed. ------------------------------------------------ We have had a Hall of Shame (http://www.AKidsRight.Org/) for a while. Anyone can contribute a story. We want to start recognizing those people who do feel that Faith, Love & Sacrifice can work. These are folks who have participated in past NonViolent Actions. Most recently Yvonne Cook and Richard Eichinger travelled 10 hours from Indiana. Please check the page out at: http://www.AKidsRight.Org/fame.htm -- let us know what you think! 5. Hall of Shame - heard of "reactive attachment disorder?" ---------------------------------------------------------- We are always getting new listings and try to feature those near the top of the list (http://www.AKidsRight.Org/shame.htm). This one is from Kym Goodman, one of the people who sent us a petition that was submitted to the offices of Senator Schumer and Clinton, along with Congressman Walsh. John Murtari had a chance to talk with her on the phone after getting out of jail and learned more details from her story, in brief: Her 8 year old son was taken away by the Department of Social Services. They want to terminate here parental rights (and it appears also her memory from her son). He has been in foster care for almost two years and was recently professionaly diagnosed with "reactive attachment disorder." In lay persons terms, he still loves and remembers his Mom too much. The professional/expert solution. Subject her child to the "rebirthing" procedure recently exposed on TV. A very harassing experience where the child is actually "wrapped" in a blanket and fights their way to birth. Can you believe this happens or that WE allow it to happen? 6. Letter to Congress - and to ourselves. ---------------------------------------- Oct 15, 2001 Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Representative James Walsh: We hope you will take the time to carefully review this letter and especially the personal petitions which have been included as attachments. We are mothers and fathers asking you to please call for Congressional hearings into the need for a Family Rights Act. In the past year we have had the chance to meet with members of your staffs in Syracuse, but have seen little progress since then. It seems we have a problem of "priority" and of "size". Right now we appear to be such a small group and I'm sure you all have very busy staffs. Some would say that we need to do a better job of organizing and presenting the issues (and there is some truth there). This letter may cause you to reconsider the amount of initiative and leadership you may be able to show. As a group we are committed to the principle of NonViolent Action; that Faith, Love, and Sacrifice can make a difference. But we sure can use your help! The issue is Civil Rights ------------------------- We believe recognizing parents have a basic Human Right to participate in the lives of their children is obvious - but is the time right? I have had some small personal experience in the political process and Family Law was not even an issue for me, until I was visited by an awful divorce proceeding. I am asking each of you to take the time to listen and see what is really happening - and to also draw analogy to the past, as you consider the many Members of Congress who have proceeded you in this Nation's history. Have you ever wondered what those members were thinking of TWENTY years before: * Slavery was ended. * Women were granted the right to vote. * Segregation was ended. What would the response have been by you and your staff to: * A slave coming to your office and asking you to protect their right to be free? * A women coming to your office and asking for the simple right to vote? * A black coming to your office and asking to sit in the front of the bus? Would you have told them to go back, get better organized (and maybe - you have to wait, we are in the middle of a war or other crisis?). We all like to be "proactive." You are very talented and I'm sure ambitious people. Would you have taken the risk and lead on the issue before the rest of the Nation was ready to follow? The "Freedom Riders" sat in the front of the bus and were hauled off to jail. Do we have to make that same Sacrifice for the Love of our children also? We are parents asking you to recognize the God given right we have to be with our children, for protection from well intentioned government interference. Will you help us? Our Petitions ------------- We have attached some letters and photographs of parents and children who have had their most basic Civil Right violated: · Ms. Yvonne Cook - had to battle just to keep an equal relationship with the children with a spouse who kept returning to Court seeking sole custody because he thought "it would be better for the children." · Mr. Richard Eichinger - shared two years of equal parenting (a week with each parent), which was ended after financial negotiations failed leading to a finding of "failure to communicate." He is now an every other weekend parent. · Dr. Malcolm Hatfield (MD) - after an allegation of abuse to his young daughter, the Judge made the "safe decision" and reduced him to infrequent and supervised visits. Isn't being separated from a loving parent abuse? He is a good parent to his new spouse's young daughter. He appears to have been found a threat only to his own flesh & blood. · Mr. Arthur Ignatiadis - also had to battle to keep involved in his daughters life. · Ms. Kym Goodman - who continues to pursue access to her child and has been sanctioned by the local D.A. to stop. But still a good parent to her other child? · Mr. John Murtari - wanted an equal relationship and was willing to communicate. His spouse wanted sole custody and refused to cooperate in any way. Finding of failure to communicate. Now a visitor in his son's life . These are just a sampling, our web site contains tragic stories from almost every state, it is our Hall of Shame (http://www.AKidsRight.Org/shame.htm). Protection of Family Rights -------------------------- We also include a DRAFT Family Rights Act. It is an attempt to restore balance in Family Law nationwide. Each state had the ability to establish its own criminal code and procedures, but was still required to remain within the U.S. Constitutions guarantees of: a presumption of innocence, real proof, and the protection of a Jury. In the last 40 years there has been an explosion in the well intentioned Family Law produced in each state, but without the firm guidance of our Constitution. The words "best interest of the child" have been used to justify any state action. We only ask the same principles used to protect liberty, also protect the bond between parents and children (probably an even more valued freedom) - the presumption of equal parenting, real proof, and the protection of a Jury. Being an NCP ----------- Almost all of these people are NCPs (Non Custodial Parents). An official term which we hope will soon join the other "N" word from segregation. What an oxymoron? As an NCP our child can be involved in a serious accident, linger in the hospital, die, and be buried - and there is no legal requirement we even be notified. Why even use the word "Parent?" Why do some of us risk jail and why are we asking for your help? Which is worse, not knowing your child is seriously ill or just being asked to ride in the "back of the bus." In similar words used by Abraham Lincoln to describe the institution of Slavery, "Many people like the concept of the NCP, but I have yet to find a parent who wanted to be one." Your Response ------------- We ask each of you to please take the time to give us a response to this letter that we can share with our membership. ================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list at anytime, send email to Majordomo@kids-right.org with the following 1 line in the BODY of the message (Subject is ignored). unsubscribe members
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