Letters to the Editor for the week of May 29

Letters to the Editor

Holton’s speech encouraging, inspiring

After reading the encouraging words of First Lady of Virginia Anne Holton at the University of Mary Washington, remembering her father saying to his girls as he was opening the door every morning, “It’s opportunity time”, this is an inspiring statement, three great words, to hear every morning. Now put it to work! This stirs me in a positive way to look at what life has to offer.

I choose to follow one of my dreams and that is to begin taking enrichment classes to expand my knowledge and to better myself with a writing class that will help and encourage me to become a freelance writer with magazines and newspapers. This is a very big step for me but I feel that there is a chance, so I will try.

Anna Victoria Reich
Stafford

Reader shares view on parental legislation

In our country’s rich legal history, the courts have recognized and protected parental rights as fundamentally implied. They were not written in the Constitution explicitly because the founding fathers took for granted that the primary charge for the upbringing of children fell to parents, not the government. During the past few decades there have been efforts to erode these rights, but none as blatant and forceful as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Treaty which the U.S. has been under pressure to sign since the 1990s.

Because of the Supremacy Clause in our Constitution in Article VI, if the United States ratifies it, its principles would become binding superseding all state law. The only solution is for Congress to pass the Parental Rights amendment, which explicitly defines that it’s the liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children as a fundamental right. It also limits the government so that it cannot enter into any treaty that would supersede or modify these rights.

Thankfully, Rob Wittman is representing his constituents and became a sponsor on this bill, but we need to let Senators Webb and Warner know that we want their opposition on the UNCRC and support for the parental rights amendment.

As citizens, what should we do? Call Sen. Webb (202) 224-4024 and Sen. Warner (202) 224-2023 and let them know you strongly oppose the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child treaty and you would like for them to support the Parental Rights amendment. Sign the petition at parentalrights.org urging our Congressmen to pass H.J. Resolution 42- Parental Rights amendment.

Terry Beatley
District 1 Congressional Coordinator for Parentalrights.org
Lancaster