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Alan Keyes: "Sugarcoating poison"
WorldnetDaily ^ | 6/03/02 | Alan Keyes

Posted on 06/03/2002 2:05:58 PM PDT by Keyes For President

Sugarcoating poison


Posted: June 3, 2002
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Alan Keyes


© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com

Millions of decent American parents today are forced to wage a continual battle to preserve the innocence of their children – particularly in sexual matters – against a rising tide of morally corrupting influences in the media, in the government schools and in the culture at large.

But safeguarding the souls of children largely consists of protecting them from hearing about, thinking about or – God forbid – experiencing perverse possibilities that they would never consider on their own. Unfortunately, sometimes this means that decent parents become too childlike – coming to believe that no one would seriously propose such perversities, or seek their acceptance. It is the Achilles heel of the struggle for innocence that we can so convince ourselves that certain things are unthinkable and unspeakable that we lose vigilance in opposing those who are quite ready to think, speak and do the most monstrous things.

Hence the perverse service that Joycelyn Elders has performed by contributing a preface to a new book by Judith Levine, "Harmful To Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children From Sex." If you have somehow managed to believe that the institution of childhood itself is not under attack, think again. This book explicitly advocates the view that sexual activity among young people is a good thing, and that sexual relations between adults and children aren't necessarily bad. And Dr. Elders has helpfully contributed a sanitizing aura of "educational" legitimacy to sugarcoat this very real poison.

What is the appropriate response to such an attack? We must, of course, unconditionally reject the spurious doctrine of sexual exploitation of children "for their own sake" with all the moral outrage that has been so rightfully directed to the Catholic priests, and others, who have already been acting on the Levine doctrine.

But we should reject it with the confidence that comes from knowing the reasons that sex is bad for children. This society has a rational moral preference against childhood sex, and we must defend that preference with coherent and compelling argument – not just with outrage. When adults speak the unspeakable, we must respond with argument.

The sexual "liberation" of children requires the denial of any connection between human sexuality and family life. It means, accordingly, the failure to school the heart, mind and conscience of children to look at their sexual being in a way that is rooted in the mature moral possibilities of human life – the relationships, responsibilities and commitments that are the key to genuine happiness.

The Planned Parenthood mantra that the key issue in sexual formation is "education" treats sexuality as if there is a body of factual knowledge that any 13-year-old can acquire that will make him capable of responsible decisions in such matters. Nothing could be more false.

The knowledge that makes humanizing sexual choices possible comes, in part, from moral experience that is simply not available to the young. Sexual responsibility is a crucial part of moral responsibility. That means it requires the formation of character, and of the ability – among other things – to forego present gratification for future goods. Moral responsibility includes the ability to appreciate the importance of things like honor, decency and obligation to family that may seem abstract in the short term, but turn out to be all important to human happiness.

It is a simple fact of human experience that the tides of passion must begin to swell before the ability to handle those passions can develop. The formation of moral character occurs crucially during the years of maturation and struggle with such passions. The proposal that young children can be beneficially "informed" about and then manage sexual practices is at best utterly morally obtuse. Whatever the "liberationists" may claim for the child, what invariably occurs is exploitation.

The first and foremost component of sex-related education must be the family itself. The first thing that children can learn and ought to learn is not about physiology, but about what it means to be a mother or a father, and the connection between moral discipline and the love and tenderness that is shared within a family.

Once children are introduced to this understanding of true family life, their attention starts naturally to focus on their assumption of that role for themselves. Then, and only then, as the formation of their moral character approaches the maturity of adulthood, it becomes appropriate and fruitful to introduce them to the mysteries of the married state.


Tune into Alan Keyes' new show "Alan Keyes is Making Sense" on MSNBC, Monday through Thursday, 10 p.m., ET. And be sure to visit Alan Keyes' communications center for founding principles, The Declaration Foundation.


Former Reagan administration official Alan Keyes, was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Social and Economic Council and 2000 Republican presidential candidate.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abuse; child; children; keyes; sex
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To: Rowdee
Now you're having a go at the PETA folks, as well.
21 posted on 06/03/2002 4:52:35 PM PDT by Mortimer Snavely
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To: Keyes For President
"It is a simple fact of human experience that the tides of passion must begin to swell before the ability to handle those passions can develop. "

Alan Keyes is always so right about everything.

22 posted on 06/03/2002 4:59:38 PM PDT by Wordee
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To: Not Fooled
Why is this man not president?

Do you really want to know?

23 posted on 06/03/2002 5:01:32 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
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To: Not Fooled
Why is this man not president?

1. money
2. too brilliant to be President
3. makes way too much sense
4. dissed by his party of choice
IMO

24 posted on 06/03/2002 5:13:55 PM PDT by takenoprisoner
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To: Keyes For President
The proposal that young children can be beneficially "informed" about and then manage sexual practices is at best utterly morally obtuse. Whatever the "liberationists" may claim for the child, what invariably occurs is exploitation.

This is the most proffound thing i have ever read!

25 posted on 06/03/2002 5:16:47 PM PDT by FragileMagic
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To: Mortimer Snavely
Anyone advocating a stoning would have to be really specific to avoid misunderstanding....;)
26 posted on 06/03/2002 7:17:30 PM PDT by martian_22
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To: ~EagleNebula~
PING!
27 posted on 06/03/2002 7:18:38 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
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To: Keyes For President
where were you, when I needed you?
28 posted on 06/03/2002 10:06:33 PM PDT by let freedom sing
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To: Keyes For President
I agree with Keyes on most issues and would support him in a race against any Democrat. His style is a bit over board for my personal tastes.

As far him not being president, it's plain hard for anyone to be elected having only held an ambassadorship. Not since James Buchanan was elected in 1856, has someone whose only political experience was as an ambassador been elected president of the United States. Remember how much heat George Bush took for being "unexperience" by the media - and Bush was a governor of Texas.

29 posted on 06/03/2002 11:13:39 PM PDT by afuturegovernor
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To: afuturegovernor
Keyes has the advantage of being unquestionably intelligent. I haven't been able to follow much of his political moves, but I reckon his capability to hold office hasn't been questioned much.
30 posted on 06/04/2002 12:47:56 AM PDT by Not Fooled
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To: olivia3boys;Senator Pardek
I recently heard Dr Keyes speak in Des Moines....and it is NOT hard to listen to him, or follow him. He is a rivetting speaker!!

The Pre-Election SUPER RALLY on June 1 was a blast, and Dr Keyes was a powerful speaker!!

31 posted on 06/05/2002 8:47:25 PM PDT by ~EagleNebula~
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