A sexually-explicit guide written in a way that condemns traditional North American values and promotes homosexuality and abortion to young girls learning about sex is being considered for use in public schools, and leaders at a family-values think tank are horrified.

“We have to find a way to stop this from happening,” Joseph Ben-Ami, the executive director of the Institute for Canadian Values, told WND. “People don’t know this is happening.”

The project is called, “The Little Black Book ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú A Book on Healthy Sexuality Written by Grrrls (sic) for Grrrls” and was assembled by a group including the St. Stephen’s House community service organization.

The Toronto project, now online after earlier published versions, is, according to Ben-Ami, “a thinly veiled propaganda piece that undermines healthy parent-child relationships, substitutes voodoo myths for actual science, and provides advice that, if followed, will certainly result in real and serious harm to those who follow it.”

For example, the guide states that “only 10% of the population is heterosexual ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú the rest being ‘mixed’ or bi-sexual,” but mentions no evidence. It also promotes homosexuality and labels parents “homophobes.”

The publishers give this summary of the book.

“A super-important guide for girls?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùwritten by teens for teens. Check it out: not just a book about sex, but a look at girl culture by teenagers. No stuffy school textbook. No nosy adults. Just a diverse group of teen girls from a community youth project who had questions about sexuality. To find answers, they collected stories, poetry and artwork from other youth. They also interviewed frontline health experts to get solid facts about the personalities and pressures that young women have to deal with. It’s a great mix of real-life examples and life-saving info. Topics include: – Relationships – Periods – Sex – Birth control – Pregnancy – Sexually transmitted infections/AIDS – Sexual assault All the content has been vetted by doctors, and the book is endorsed by health professionals — so girls know they’re getting good info. There’s also a section at the back with places to contact to find out more. It’s all stuff that youth need to know, and it’s all decked out in a compact, easy-to-browse zine style. The Little Black Book for Girlz is an important, take-anywhere empowerment guide. Girls shouldn’t leave their teen years without it.”

THE INSTITUTE FOR CANADIAN VALUES HAS STARTED A PETITION TO GET THIS BOOK BANNED FROM OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WITH FUNDING FROM 3 LEVELS OF GOV?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢T THEIR CHANCES ARE SLIM.

This is some of their comment regarding this book:

“The Little Black Book” is being promoted across Canada as a guide to healthy sexuality for teenage girls. In reality, it is a dangerous, unscientific and offensive piece ideological propaganda.

Among the books more egregious assertions:

• “A lot of parents are homophobic, and so are their children – until they get minds of their own.”
• “If you need a figure to represent God The Holiness then for me she?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a fat, black dyke.”
• Only 10% of the population are heterosexual while 10% are homosexual, the remaining 80% are bi-sexual.

It gets worse.

What are your thoughts on this? Does this reflect a further intrusion on the sanctity of the family by those who only wanted ?¢‚ǨÀúequal rights?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ in marriage? When they say that this book has been vetted by health professionals and doctors, who are they, and what is their agenda?

Nephi?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s brother Jacob said: ?¢‚Ǩ?ìand also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream?¢‚Ǩ¬ù (Jacob 7:26).

From an eternal perspective, the length of time we spend here is like a dream, and yet of great consequence.

In Facsimile #2 we are told that 1000 years of our time are equal to 1 cubit (about 18?¢‚Ǩ¬ù) to God. As Allan Fletcher mentions in his book, ?¢‚Ǩ?ì A Study Guide to the Facsimiles of the Book of Abraham, p77, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìCould that mean that when we lived with the Lord in heaven, we lived in an environment so advanced that in the time it took for us to move the distance of one cubit (about the space it takes to turn halfway around) a thousand years according mortal time would have passed.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù

So, if a half turn would equal 1000 years, then what distance would we have to move to go 60 or 70 years.

When we return home it will seem as though we never left, yet as we pass from day to day here, it seems that we are going to live here forever.

This raises some interesting questions about what we are called upon to endure here and the challenges and other experiences we face. How long do they really last? If we had an eternal perspective, or were able to visualize it, would we look at our trials and tribulations, our joys and happiness, differently? Would the irritations of life bother us as much? Would the bothersome characteristics of others bother us as much? Would we be patient and long-suffering? Would we strive harder to find the good ?¢‚Ǩ¬¶?

Reading Sally’s article on male Primary teachers sent me off on a tangent that I thought I had left behind a number of years ago. It seems that all men have been relegated to the role of insignificant slugs (a little hyperbole doesn’t hurt here) with little more value than as breeding stock (Mary’s experience with Kim aside) (ask the Swedes).

What are we to make of men? Do television ads portray them in any positive way? Do news stories portray them differently than women when identical crimes are committed? What about how men are treated in the Church?

We talk of quorum unity, but where is it exhibited? Could the experience of others be like someone I know, where the Bishop and High Priest group leader assigned one High Priest to go into his home 3 days after his wife kicked him out, because she didn’t want to be married to him anymore?

We now see from Sally’s blog that men are to be highly supervised when called to the Primary and other callings.

The point is: What is man and why bother with him?

My beginning statement regarding men was put there to attract attention to a ridiculous argument. We all know that it is ridiculous on its face. However, could the comment made by this man have been triggered by some negative experiences with women, or the role that men now seem to fill in todays society? (I’m not trying to excuse his remarks…just trying to figure out why a supposedly intelligent person would make such a stupid statement.)

Are we beginning to see a burgeoning men’s movement that discounts reason in the vain attempt to give men some credibility? Are we feeling the consequences of the denigration of men as men?

Take a look at the number of single adult young men, who are marriageable age, who are not even dating. Take a look at the age at which people are getting married today. The average age is substantially higher today than it was 30 years ago.

There is a serious problem with young men going inactive in the Church after they return from their missions. Why?

Where are the male role models? Those that we often look to as models spend half their time criticizing men instead of building them up. Where do they turn for identity, because there is a crisis that exists today?

How do women portray men? What are their expectations of them?

In short…where are the answers?

Beautiful Lauren Elizabeth Bates was born August 14th, 2005 at 10:55 p.m. She weighed in at 6 lbs 11 oz and is 20 1/2 inches long.

She is the 2nd daughter of my oldest son, Sterling, and his beautiful wife Liz. You should see her older sister and cousins. Man I do good work (bowing to loud applause and showing appropriate humility).

This now makes four grandchildren, with two more on the way. This grandparenting stuff can get real exciting, and it is definitely rewarding.

I wanted to post her picture but it’s been suggested that that’s not a good thing. (I had to delete a bunch of comments here because they weren’t in keeping with the wonderful announcement, so I’ll blog on it another day)

Lately I’ve been reading more and more Canadian political blog sites. One of the most disturbing elements of these blogs has been the vitriol with which Liberals attack Conservatives and Conservatives attack Liberals, East blasts the West, the West blasts the East, and on and on.

None of this is constructive, except to allow the venting of emotions, which are often excuses for lack of knowledge or understanding of a particular issue. We have our philosophies on what constitutes good government, or governance based on todays realities. Some are very cynical, others are full of spinning, and others are optimistic, if only they had a chance. Clearly, there is no consensus.

What I would like to start is a philosophical discussion, by all political persuasions, that would eventually lead to some consensus that would allow us to hypothetically affect change in the way we are governed, so that discussion could be based on reason, rather than emotion.

Changing what is is extremely difficult, and any changes started today would take at least 25 years to implement, so I’m not under any illusion that we are going to affect real change; but for our purposes, we can establish a framework that might elicit more rational discussion.

To introduce this, allow me to present a political philosophy that measures left-right issues differently than we do today.

Instead of using the Communist – Nazi extremes that we do today, let’s start with a balanced centre that defines the fundamental role of government, and the extremes would be totalitarian government (left) versus anarchy(right). A horizontal teeter-totter would be a good analogy.

If we believe that we should be sensitive to the needs of the poor we are on the left side of the balanced centre for that issue; if we believe that we should 1) weigh the costs of our programs and 2) determine how any policy, or program, will affect the rights and individual freedom of all citizens (not just minorities) then we would consider ourselves to the right of the balanced centre.

We can be on both sides of the issue on the need to look after the poor, and not be contradictory, and the result would keep us from wandering too far from the balanced centre. Any program instituted by government would be weighed in the balance to ensure its propriety.

This is very primitive in its form, but the idea here is to start a process that will allow for the evolution of a philosophy that can catch on and be meaningful, with principles from which to argue our points of view.

So the question to begin is: ‘What would constitute the balanced centre in a constitutional democracy that Canada represents?’

Have a look at this if you want some evidence.

Have a look here if you want to see what wonderful and caring people the NDP are.

Don’t forget that these are the people the Liberals love to sleep with. No two tier health care system for Canada…not on your life…or is it not in your life. As professional autocrats they know better than any one of you silly plebes what is right for you.

Now with same sex marriage legalized have a look at this http://angrygwn.mu.nu/archives/100156.php. Imagine having consequences for decisions one makes. As someone pointed out there, the next ruling for these idiots will be that Churches can have their own standards, but they can not force them on individual members.

What a wonderful world we have created for our descendants.

Yes, Harper and the Conservatives do have a hidden agenda…not because they haven’t announced it, but because it falls outside the fairy-tale world of Liberals and NDP and therefore is hidden from view of those who can’t think for themselves.

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to youIs worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the landAnd don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.

For some reason I had a dream last night that incorporated this song. As I later pondered what Dylan said it occurred to me that this song, amongst all the others, was prophetic.

Prophetic in the sense that the times we were going through when he wrote the song, and the period since, have changed what was into a time that has shaken our windows and rattled our walls, unlike any period in history.

Our sons and our daughters (generally speaking) are beyond our control, and the line is drawn and the curse it is cast. What was will never be again.

Depending on which side of the line one is on, the perspective is different. How did Dylan know how rapidly the times were changing? Was he hoping or guessing, or did he have some insight (drug induced, perhaps?) that those of us less into the culture of the day didn’t have?

If the case was that some of us were so wrapped up in our own little world that we didn’t pay attention then, what can we make of what is happening in our world today?

What are you thoughts with respect to what Dylan wrote?

It’s great to be a part of an Alberta blog. Kim is a great one to blog with, because he knows how to identify local issues and raise awareness. Mary knows how to keep him in line, and occasionally come to his defense. Terrific people.

My family history in Alberta goes back a long ways. My grandfather was fond of telling me how he was born in the NorthWest Territories in 1896. His records show he was born in Cardston, but he was actually born in Aetna, a few miles southwest of Cardston.

His mother was in the first group to enter the Cardston area and his dad in the second, back in 1887.

My grandfather served in WWI with the Fort Garry Horse, and was in some of the fiercest battles of the war.

I am proud of the history of my father and grandfather and their service in the army in both world wars. There is much that I have learned from them about war, and the reasons for going.

I have a proud Dutch heritage that I inherited from my mother and her family, who were immigrants from Holland in the early 1920’s. They eventually settled in Strathmore and resided there until 2003. They established a heritage that has spread across Western Canada.

My grandfather (on my mom’s side) was a finishing carpenter and worked on a number of the early buildings in downtown Calgary.

My grandmother ran the farm and was known for her generosity, especially during the dirty thirties, when men in need of a meal would knock on her door daily. No one was ever turned away and they always went away full.

I have fond memories of going to the farm, most particularly to raid her pantry.

My mom is a woman of unusual talents. She always was a great organizer and cook. Even in her advanced years, she has found the energy to put on large dinners for the Salvation Army and others. The only problem is, she moved to B.C. in 1984.

I was born in 1947, in the old General Hospital. Aside from a 5 year stint in B.C. between the ages of 3 and 8, and a mission to England for two years for my church, my life has been spent in Alberta, mainly Calgary.

In grades 3 and 4 I had a teacher whose roots were firmly grounded in Alberta. She was fond of telling us all the famous individuals her father knew. From her I learned to love the history of the RNWMP. I also learned about our native Indian heroes, as well as Father Lacombe and others. She gave an intense appreciation of Canadian history. We learned the maps of Canada, the U.S., and the world; we learned how to spell; we learned to appreciate music and poetry; we learned how to handle ourselves as ladies and gentlemen. In short, she taught us just about everything a teacher could teach. Her name was Christine McInnis.

I also attended Connaught Jr. High, and in high school, I went to Western Canada.

I have a great love for my country, but I have been more than greatly disappointed in the quality of leadership we have had in the last 40 years. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I am disappointed in Canadians and the type of leadership and governance we elect. (My focus has been mainly on a federal level, as opposed to provincial or local politics.)

This is a highly partisan statement, and I guess it reflects my bias and my research. I have always been a political animal, and interested in good government, and the pursuit of better government. That’s not to say that I have all, or any, of the answers but I know bad when I see it.

There you have me. I hope I can contribute, in a modest way, to Alberta Blog. At least I can ride the coat tails of Kim and Mary.