Posted on 08/22/2002 10:30:52 AM PDT by theophilusscribe
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends,
As you likely know by now, the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), is a treaty signed by Jimmy Carter in 1980 and passed in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 30, 2002. United States Senator Joseph Biden, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has stated his intention to see the Senate consider the measure when Congress returns in September from its summer recess.
Home School Legal Defense Association, and numerous pro family groups, (including Focus on the Family and National Right to Life) strongly oppose the ratification of this treaty. CEDAW threatens the traditions of motherhood and the sex distinctions held by most home schoolers. We believe the treaty's vaguely written attempt to "protect" women's rights could negatively impact Americans' ability to train their children free from burdensome government intervention.
Right now we need your help to keep this treaty from being ratified.
REQUESTED ACTION
HSLDA believes Senator Zell Miller from your state is a critical vote on CEDAW this fall. It is important that Senator Miller receive from his constituents as much input as possible. Therefore we are asking you to do the following things:
1. Please call Senator Miller in his state office at 404-347-2202 and express your opposition to CEDAW.
2. Please write a letter to your senator expressing your opposition to CEDAW (see a sample below). Letters should be sent to: 100 Colony Square, Ste. 300, Atlanta, GA 30361.
3. If you can, please write a letter to the editor to your local paper opposing CEDAW and calling for your Senators to publicly oppose it as well.
4. Pass this email on to your friends.
5. Feel free to send us a note at NationalCenter@hslda.org to let us know what kind of response you receive.
Whatever you have time to do, it is crucial that you take action now. The clock is ticking on CEDAW. We believe treaty supporters in the Senate will push hard for a full Senate vote in the coming weeks.
===========================================================
Sample Letter:
Dear Senator Miller:
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the ratification of the United Nation's Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). As you know, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed CEDAW on July 30, 2002.
CEDAW is a broadly worded treaty open to numerous interpretations. The treaty addresses everything from education to the size of families in its quest to end stereotyping and discrimination against women. It is interpreted by a panel of 23 United Nations "experts" who, citing CEDAW, recommended the decriminalization of prostitution in China; expressed concern that Belarus celebrates Mother's Day; lectured Armenia on the need to "combat the traditional stereotype of women in the noble role of mother"; stated that too many Slovenian mothers were staying home to raise their children; and, urged the nation of Andorra to order a review of textbooks used by the Catholic schools concerning sex education. I could go on and on. Clearly, these "experts" have a domestic policy agenda that far exceeds discrimination based on sex, a problem the United States banned decades ago. We do not need the United Nation to tell us what is good domestic policy. This is the job of our own elected representatives.
The following is a sampling of the groups that have expressed their opposition to the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
American Association of Christian Schools
American Family Association
American Policy Center
American Renewal
American Values
Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute
Christian Coalition
Concerned Women of America
Eagle Forum
Family Research Council
Focus on the Family
Home School Legal Defense Association
National Center for Home Education
National Institute of Womanhood
National Right to Life Committee
People Advancing Christian Education
Religious Freedom Coalition
Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Traditional Values Coalition
Traditions, Family, Property Inc
Wilberforce Forum
I want to add my voice to this list. I look forward to hearing from you how you intend to vote on CEDAW.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
=========================================================== For more background information on CEDAW, visit our website at: http://www.hslda.org/legislation/national/2002/CEDAWTreat y/default.asp
With your help, we can stop this dangerous treaty from becoming the law of the land. Un-elected UN bureaucrats have no business meddling in the domestic policy of the United States. It's time we tell the U.S. Senate to protect our freedom.
Tom Washburne Director, National Center for Home Education
"Un-elected UN bureaucrats have no business meddling in the domestic policy of the United States. It's time we tell the U.S. Senate to protect our freedom."
You probably ought to start by rereading the US Constitution. Representatives have absolutely nothing to do with ratifying treaties.
"United States Senator Joseph Biden, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has stated his intention to see the Senate consider the measure when Congress returns in September from its summer recess."
What do you suppose they want to do? I realize they can't ratify a treaty. But can't they adopt principles of treaties and make them into laws—especially laws regarding descrimination?
Just asking.
A quick "primer" for the uninformed (me!) would be much appreciated...since Carter signed on to this already, is a simple vote of the Senate now enough to "ratify"? Does it need a 2/3rds majority? Presume ratification means we (the U.S.) would then be subject to the treaty's provisions...there's no further requirement for the House or 2/3 of the States to also ratify?
Thanks for your help in "/ignorance"...!
Freegards
Dr. James Dobson at Focus on Family, is also encouraging his listeners to contact their Senators....and the media. Tell them that you're shocked the Senate is working to solidify an anti-God, anti-family treaty during wartime when the world is looking at the US for direction.
Give the UN the right to define our families? Ridiculous. The media's burying this story. The Dems. come off as...well, Dems.
ARTICLE 1
Section. 10
Clause 1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal;coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
ARTICLE II
Section. 2.
Clause 2: He [the President] shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
ARTICLE III
Section. 2.
Clause 1: The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;--between a State and Citizens of another State; (See Note 10)--between Citizens of different States, --between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
ARTICLE 5
Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
In other words, the Senate does not initiate a treaty, but must consent to it. I suppose that after Carter accepted the UN's treaty in 1980, the Senate never consented to it. Now, they are ready to bring it back as an issue.
Thanks for your suggestion! You were right, I needed to read it again. :o)
http://www.clatworthyforussenate.com
And Biden notwithstanding, it apparently must be 2/3rd's consent, which I hope and trust is not possible...it may work for Biden in Delaware (I think that's his state?!) but I don't think it will work in the so-called "fly-over" country...hopefully his "selected" chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (thanks jumpin' Jim) will end with November's elections...
Freegards, and thanks for going back and doing the "research"...!
Sure hope you are right 88keys! Have a great day! :o)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.