Posted on 06/23/2005 3:07:38 PM PDT by lexfreedom
Camenker: Article 8 director responds to letters By Brian Camenker Thursday, June 23, 2005
David Parker's arrest made the national media. People across the country - including Massachusetts and even in Lexington - are still in shock. One would think it would cause a community to embark on some thoughtful introspection.
But instead, a relatively small but very vocal (and angry) group of people has undertaken a campaign of hysteria, lies, fear, and intimidation to discredit and demonize David Parker, his family, and anyone associated with him, including other parents who came to his side, Pastor Jed Snyder of Countryside Bible Chapel, and my group, Article 8 Alliance. There's been a tidal wave of letters to the editor, signs, op-ed articles, calls to talk shows, TV stations, and even calls to the Parker home.
This is not unique to Lexington. I've seen it before in Newton (where I live), Bedford, and other places. But I've never seen anything quite this vicious. To cite just a few examples:
They harangue that Article 8 is a "hate group" because we oppose homosexual marriage. Across America, this is a mainstream position. Last November, 11 states voted that way, and gay lobby in Massachusetts is afraid of a vote here. We're also critical of homosexuality being presented in schools, and of homosexual behavior in general. That's also a legitimate point of view, arguably supported by a majority of parents in this country.
Speaking of "hate group" tactics: A few Sundays ago the "tolerant" Lexington Cares people picketed outside a church in Wayland because it had the nerve to host an event to support David Parker. Isn't that exactly what the Kansas people did?
They repeatedly say that David Parker's "real" intent is to control what other children say to each other. That's an outright lie, and Parker has clarified that from the beginning.
They repeatedly claim that they "know" Parker's arrest was meticulously planned. It certainly wasn't. It begs the question: How can you plan for an outcome as absurd as that? Certainly not in any normal school system.
It gets ludicrous. In a letter to the Minuteman, Juli Davidson said our Web site contains "hateful rhetoric" which she quoted as: "... jackbooted thugs currently in control in Lexington." Nothing like that was ever on our Web site. But why let facts get in the way? (Actually, that's on the MassResistance blog. But come on. Hateful rhetoric? Lighten up a bit! After all, they love calling us Nazis.)
There's the Orwellian comparison, constantly repeated, describing the school's imposition of homosexuality on David Parker's child as "inclusive" but Parker's concerns as "divisive" and similar to racists in the Civil Rights struggle.
They wail that Article 8 is an "outside group." That's where the real hypocrisy sets in. From the beginning, everything they've done has had the fingerprints of outsiders, from the ADL to Human Rights Campaign to GLSEN to Freedom to Marry Coalition. It's everywhere.
For example, Meg Soens claims she's just a concerned parent. But she taught a workshop, sponsored by the national homosexual organization GLSEN, titled, "Getting Gay and Lesbian Issues Included in Elementary School Staff Development, Curriculum Development, and the PTA." Earlier this year a GLSEN representative gave a presentation at the middle school. And isn't Carol Rose the executive director of the Mass. ACLU?
All David Parker asks is to be notified when adults discuss homosexual relationships or transgenderism with his 6-year-old son, and to be able to opt his son out of such discussions. That's it. By any objective measure, his requests are completely valid. And the Lexington parents who came to his side are serious and thoughtful. I had worked with these kinds of situations in Newton, so last January David called me for some advice. He needed some support, especially since so much of this emanates from national groups. Article 8 Alliance agreed to work with him.
It's unfortunate for Lexington that the "Lexington Cares" bunch can't defend their position, so they resort to hysterical ad hominem attacks and other intimidation devices. It's a truly disgusting tactic. They are destroying the reputations of decent people who simply insist on sticking to their own beliefs. Good people must not let this happen.
David Parker is an incredible person. Throughout the whole thing, he was up front and honest. You can read the e-mails between him and the school at our Web site, www.Article8.org and follow what he went through and the totalitarian-like mindset he was up against. They deceived him and finally threatened him with arrest. Just about anyone else would have simply backed down. He had the character to stand his ground and he's still paying the price.
The fact that this can happen in America is a shame and disgrace to all of us.
Brian Camenker is the director of Article 8 Alliance.
Why would they do that? We no longer have the right to assembly? I attended the event. It was very informative with several excellent speakers.
This IS Massachusetts, after all. I like it here, but the PC makes me just sick.
Why am I not surprised??? There is no level to which these activists won't stoop!
Just got back from a long trip. Unfortunately, I didn't find a new world to move too...we seem to be out of those so the pilgrim option doesn't exist. Revolutions tend to consume everyone in sight, the American Revolution being a distinct exception. And the major parties have largely caved into the homo agenda.
Keep on pressing on...I see no other way.
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