a colleague asks that this be forwarded to the sixties list. ---------- >From: Jeanette Baust <jbaust@du.edu> >Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 10:14:10 +0000 > >As a student of sociology of religion, who does a lot of work in >diversity education, I find myself on the mailing list of numerous >organizations. Yesterday I heard from "Focus on the Family," a >conservative Christian organization in Colorado Springs, founded by >James Dobson. They sent me a mailing, which included a fairly thick >booklet describing the "Nine Key Issues that will Shape Our Future." In >reference to education it reads, "Many of our schools are besieged by >... moral relativism (under the guise of multiculturalism), revisionist >history and amoral sex education, among other things." Dobson >encourages a day of prayer and fasting on November 5th and a commitment >to get out the vote. He challenges the thousands who receive his >mailings to urge two people to vote, who in turn will ask two more. He >says, they are trusting that a "domino effect" will occur. > >Once again, I am reminded how mobilized, committed, and vigilant people >like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson and others are. I >respect their commitment to overturn Roe v. Wade, appointing Supreme >Court Justices who will vote with Scalia and Thomas. I acknowledge their >drive to get vouchers for constituents who can send their (predominantly >white) children to religious schools and turn school boards into purely >ideological battle grounds. > >But I am often in a quandry, in important historical moments like these, >why many of the other "list serves" I receive never mention that there >is an upcoming election. They talk about national academic meetings and >agendas, but somehow ignore the political fray, (taking the high >ground?). > >I encourage those of you who care about racism, sexism, issues of sexual >identity, class stratification, and intellectual freedom to join the >other 'domino effect' and impact the upcoming presidential and >congressional election. It is my suspicion that you will be doing more >for ASR and the issues we say we care about than you can imagine. > >At the very least, you could send an e-mail to your list-serves and >friends, relatives and colleagues, like I am doing today. This may well >be the closest election in 30-40 years and our activity (or lack of it) >may make all of the difference. > >Thanks for reading this and considering some action. > >Jeanette Baust>Univ. of Denver/Iliff School of Theology
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