Free Republic

For those who have been active in trying to rescue babies and their mothers from the horrific evil of abortion, the piercing screams and the sound of the gnashing of teeth are familiar. We hear them often when we fight for the lives of the innocent. The darkness of evil infiltrated the nation’s capital during the Senate confirmation process of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. You could feel it as the shrills of protesters interrupted the hearings and the confirmation vote. Senators were confronted by satanic threats so real that many still require police escorts. Justice Kavanaugh and...

We were having an 8 a.m. coffee with family in their home on the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam when the music started.Ringing through the morning, as happens every day here and on U.S. military bases around the world, was the melody of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”“O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,“What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming …”As the song plays, people strolling through the neighborhood freeze in their steps, cars pull to the side of the road, and even children stop playing and stand tall, exactly as they have been taught, to honor...

My heart leapt this week when I placed my hands on your mommy’s belly for the first time and felt you move. Dear beloved grandchild, you are a squirmy one! My daughter giggled at my squeals of joy from feeling you softly “dance” inside her. Little does she know that one day very soon your movements will be powerful kicks instead of gentle flutters. Your mom and dad have decided to wait until your birth to discover if you are a boy or a girl. And they will rejoice in learning your identity, knowing that it is the Creator of...

It’s said that the most powerful word in any language is “mother.” I believe that’s true, not just for the effect we have on our children when they are small, but because mothering never ends. As every mom of adult children can attest, love for our sons and daughters only increases with time. You come to love them more and more as unique individuals who you can learn from, too. My own awesome three adult children have expanded my world and thinking as I’ve watched them pursue their own unique gifts — gifts I just don’t have. I so enjoy...

Equal protection under the law for pre-born human beings is headed our way - and from the work of a surprising demographic: adults under 30. A 28-year old dynamo working on college campuses across the nation, Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, exemplifies why hers is the "pro-life generation". Kristan feels deeply the loss of nearly one-third of her age group. “The undeniable fact is that nearly a third of my generation was killed by abortion. We are missing brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, husbands and wives…. But [we’re] determined to set it right. We’ve seen the ultrasounds of our...

Culture Challenge of the Week: Poll-Driven “Principles” The American people are not stupid. Recently, President Obama announced he’d discovered a new conviction in favor of homosexual marriage (conveniently timed to maximize his standing at a $15 million Hollywood fundraiser among the liberal glitterati). It was nothing more than a blatant attempt to fire up his base, particularly young liberal and independent voters: If they don’t vote, Mr. Obama loses big-time. But the American people are not buying into his pandering. A CBS/New York Times poll found that 67 percent of all Americans think Mr. Obama’s announcement was “mostly for political...

Culture Challenge of the Week: The Truth About Rick Santorum The challenge for any presidential candidate is to get his message out. For Rick Santorum, that has been an extra-tough challenge. As the conservative standard-bearer, Rick has faced more than his share of antagonism and message-distortion from the liberal press. His response? To stand his ground and proclaim a bold message that resonates in the hearts of all Americans who actually get to hear it. Rick is the “real deal” - a man open about his beliefs, authentic in living those convictions and compassionate to the plight of American families....

Kool-Aid. It conjures up contradictory images.  On the one hand, it brings to mind thirsty gulps, drink-stained lips, and happy children.  On the other, it suggests the shadow of the Jonestown massacre, where a cult leader killed his followers, including children, by spiking their sugary drinks with poison.  It tasted good going down but led to inevitable death. These days, too many of our children are drinking spiked Kool-Aid. ] And it’s being served to them by unwitting educators, dysfunctional celebrities, government leaders, and the whole of pop culture. What’s in the Kool-Aid? The sweet flavor of unrestrained sexual pleasure...

I'm penning this column from Australia where I was privileged to speak a few days ago at an event at Parliament House celebrating Australia's National Marriage Day. As in America, marriage in Australia is under attack by homosexual activists who seek to shoehorn their lifestyle choices into a shoe that will never fit: marriage. They want the law-and public opinion--to redefine marriage to include homosexual sex as something good, the moral equivalent of marital sexuality expressed by a husband and a wife. Pro-family Australians are blessed with charismatic leaders like MP's Bob Katter and Kevin Andrews, and pro-family advocate Babette...

Two weeks ago, New York’s legislature imposed its radical redefinition of marriage on its citizens:  homosexual ‘marriages’ now have legal approval and will happen by month’s end.  The law affirms the  messages of homosexual advocates who say that the sexual union of homosexual pairs is as natural and moral as that of a married husband and wife, and that children don’t need a mom and a dad.  But the damage doesn’t stop there. From the homosexual perspective, two lesbians, two homosexual men or indeed any combination of transgendered adults can parent as effectively as a family headed up by a mom...

I'm not sure how you can describe the largest expansion of government into the most private area of our lives as anything other than socialism. And "socialist" comes fairly close to describing the manner in which our national leaders recently behaved when they ignored the will of the people and voted to ram through a health care program that seeks to force every American to bow to the "wisdom" and mercy of government leaders to decide what is best for us and our families. Sean Hannity, in his new book, "Conservative Victory" proves that this is just the latest in...

Carrie Prejean is, in many ways, representative of today's young women. Her generation is "star struck", into all-things Hollywood, and programmed to use their bodies and sexual power to get ahead. In other ways, Carrie is remarkably different from her peers: She is "coming of age" in front of the entire world, with an army of enemies determined to seize upon her every error in order to destroy her. Young, beautiful "stars" are not allowed to challenge the status-quo and speak their own minds. If you want the fame and fortune that Tinseltown offers, you must play their game. Or...

I'll always remember how magical it was to see Tinker Bell flitter across the TV screen. She would touch the top of Cinderella's Castle with her magic wand and release a million tiny sparkles that cascaded down the television screen and seemingly into my living room. Since our family normally attended church on Sunday evenings, it was a rare treat to watch the Wonderful World of Disney. On that occasion when I was home and could steal away and turn on the TV, I was instantly transported into a world of fairytales and dreams. Disney was synonymous with innocence, happiness...

These timeless words from the Bible have inspired mankind throughout the ages, reminding us of the necessity to think about the future and our role in it. As a parent, it's easy to forget the vision part as we are caught up in the "tyranny of the urgent" and the day-to-day challenges of raising children. Many overwhelmed parents institute a bunch of rules and routines to help get through each day. But don't mistake having a list of "dos" and "don'ts" for parenting - it's more like policing. Having rules without telling our children what they mean in context of...

Children and teens love chat rooms. The problem is, sexual predators do, too. Parents need to wake up to how dangerous and just plain raunchy chat rooms can be. The anonymity of participants, unfiltered and unlimited access by virtually anyone, and the lack of parental supervision, make for a dangerous combination. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, two out of every five children ages 15 to 17 who are abducted fall victim in connection with internet activity. The way in which children use chat rooms makes them incredibly vulnerable to weirdos who wish to do them...

Last week a U.S. Senator treated the world to a shocking display of rudeness toward a member of our armed services. As Brigadier Gen. Michael Walsh testified before the Environment and Public Works Committee, Chairwoman Sen. Barbara Boxer arrogantly and ignorantly reprimanded an officer and a gentleman who has risked his life many times over for her "right" to become a U.S. senator in the first place. When he respectfully began a statement with "ma'am," she abruptly interrupted and gave the smarmy directive, "You know, do me a favor. Can you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am'? It's just a thing....

Julia is a fairly typical 16-year-old girl: she is crazy about boys, concerned about being fashionable, doesn't appreciate homework, loves pizza - and she "cuts". For those who aren't familiar with the term - and whose imaginations might be thinking the worst about what it means to "cut" - I'm afraid I only have very sad news: "cutting" means you take a knife or razor and use it to actually dig into your own flesh. This barbaric practice is common among today's precious teen women. Some school counselors estimate that the majority of middle and high school aged girls have...

If you’ve ever wondered why liberals fight tooth and nail whenever it comes to confirming judges, just look to California. There, in another outrageous example of judicial over-reach and leftist social experimentation, the state Supreme Court ruled on May 15 in favor of homosexual “marriages.” Specifically, it overturned a 2000 referendum on Proposition 22, in which California voters -- i.e., the people --affirmed, nearly 2-to-1, that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.Sorry, voters: You only think you know best. Your judicial overlords know better. Now run along, like good subjects.Whatever happened to government, “for the people,...

If you think political correctness on our college campuses is a threat to free speech, I have a news flash for you. It's even worse than that. It's actually putting the lives of our young people at risk. Sound a bit over the top? Only if you haven't read a riveting account by a campus psychiatrist who knows the price our children are paying – mentally, emotionally and physically – for the attitudes that allow the "sexual revolution" to rage unchecked in the halls of "higher learning." That psychiatrist, Dr. Miriam Grossman, took a bold step last year when she...

Rarely am I so taken by the beauty and power of a movie that I want everyone I know to see it. “Bella” is a film you must see. The story (I won’t reveal too much, because I don’t want to spoil it for you) concerns a young soccer star whose career is abruptly cut short. He winds up working in his brother’s restaurant in New York City, where he befriends a struggling waitress. The story is rich in messages of redemption, friendship, sacrifice and hope. No wonder the Hollywood crowd is beginning to cut it to shreds. (snip)The film...