My grandparents have this habit of sending me emails that are just... a little ridiculous at times. Today I got a whole slew of them, and decided to write back on this because it was so very misinformed. Angered as I was, I couldn't keep it to myself, so here's the email, and my response to it.
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www.UnitedFamilies.org
February 8, 2007
Urgent Alert!
AMERICA'S CONSTITUTION AT RISK
The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
- John F. Kennedy
Dear Friends of the Family,
Women come in all shapes and sizes, all different backgrounds, and have all different needs. Understanding the importance of our role in society is what binds us together. We give balance to the family, the community, the nation and the world. We flourish in the home, institutions of learning, careers, and with our own personal fulfillment. These are characteristics that for generations have been cherished and respected. Today more than ever the uniqueness of women is under attack. Unfortunately, the radical feminists want us to lose our individuality and take us out of the childrearing business. The tools used to achieve this include the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women treaty (CEDAW). This treaty threatens not only our laws, policies, and culture, but our nation's sovereignty.
I ask that you act today to offset the tremendous pressure that our adversaries are putting on Congress. With the change to a Democrat majority in Congress, it is easier for our opponents to push through their agendas. And, they are at it again. The ratification of CEDAW will impose oversight and intrusive policies from an appointed United Nations committee with a radical agenda. Our voices must be heard now.
Call to Action
Sign on to our petition opposing the ratification of the CEDAW treaty. UFI will deliver the signed petitions to the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before a vote occurs. Your voice will be heard through this petition.
Brief Background & Reference Guide
CEDAW is the International Version of Equal Rights for Women
The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (or CEDAW as it is better known) has a history worth noting. In the 1970s and 80s the federal equal right’s amendment was sent by the U.S. Senate to all 50 states for ratification. It fell three states short of passage. Since that time, the radical feminist movement infiltrated the United Nations working groups on CEDAW.
Radical Feminists are Behind CEDAW
According to the National Organization for Women (NOW), a campaign is underway to have local, state, and federal governments adopt resolutions in support of its ratification. More than a dozen states have passed resolutions in support of CEDAW, along with nearly two dozen counties and almost 50 cities. NOW called for ratification of the convention in its action agenda for the 110th U.S. Congress.
CEDAW is a Treaty and Treaties are Law
The Constitution of the United States clearly states the importance of treaties. In Article VI, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution, treaties are "supreme Law of the Land." The founding fathers firmly believed that treaties should be upheld as constitutional.
With CEDAW comes International Oversight
Countries that ratify CEDAW are required to report to the oversight committee immediately and then every four years on how they are implementing the treaty and the demands of the committee. Currently, China and Cuba are members of the CEDAW committee. Only countries that have ratified CEDAW may apply to be members of the committee. These members are given power and authority over treaty countries with no appeal process. Following are some examples of the UN CEDAW demands:
Governments have been directed to legalize prostitution in direct conflict with language in CEDAW that opposed prostitution.
37 pro-life governments have been instructed to change their laws on abortion even though abortion is not part of CEDAW.
Poland was just questioned on its stance on abortion because of its pro-life government.
Ireland was criticized for allowing the Catholic Church too strong a voice on public policy.
Libya was directed to reinterpret the Koran to fall within committee guidelines.
Out of Control Courts
Justice Kennedy referenced international law when he delivered the court's ruling in Lawrence v. Texas (2004) which ruled on homosexual marriage. International law or treaties are starting to creep into state and federal case law. We believe the United States is a sovereign nation and should stay that way.
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Dear Friends and Upholders of Family Values
I read that email on how CEDAW is going to destroy america, family, women's place in the home and so on... but I'm failing to see what evil plan CEDAW has up their sleeves, especially since the email is EXTREMELY vague. So some feminists are trying to push a pro-abortion stance in the international community. How is this different from what feminist groups in the U.S. are doing?
How, exactly, is America's constitution in danger? Isn't the U.S., as a melting pot of cultures and people as the email expresses, supposed to be about an equal stance for all? Besides, when was the last time the United States listened to the United Nations anyway? We're a major player amongst the world's nations and one who pretty much ignores what everyone else has to say. Iraq anyone? WMD's anyone? We have a history of not listening to the UN unless it suits our agenda, and since the U.S. is slow on the uptake in equalizing the rights of people who aren't straight white males, I'm not sure you have anything to worry about.
Please explain to me how these crazy liberal lefties are taking away the "childrearing business" from women today? What is this, "Sarah, Plain and Tall?" Newsflash: women already have the choice as to whether or not they will remain in the home to raise children. Many, in fact, choose careers instead these days. Its not that unusual, nor is it the fault of some random group like CEDAW. If anything, this email is promoting an inequality based on gender in its assertion that women's place is in the home and it should be celebrated; those who choose different clearly are immoral agents some dark international force. I, for one, cannot understand how this purports to be in favor of women, "who come in all shapes and sizes, all different backgrounds, and have all different needs" by keeping them subjugated under a unilateral standard. That makes so little sense as to be ludicrous.
Furthermore, have any of you bothered to read what the convention has to say, at all? It's easy enough to pass around emails that spout some skewed drivel that demands the american people's attention. But the american people ought to be an informed people too. Try reading what they have to say, what the purpose of this convention is, and then make a decision about these things. (Granted, the convention has been infiltrated by radical feminists, in fact I believe that's on the resume of several of the committee's members...)
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/37sess.htm#pro
Take a quick second to discover that the United States is "not a party to CEDAW convention." No, we don't participate as of yet, and thus we aren't discussed. Countries involved (countries who radified the convention) are reviewed every four years and given provisions to make strides towards equality for women. This does not replace or revoke the sovereignty or the constitution of the United States. is no different than anything else the UN does, in terms of sanctions or convention rulings for countries. This history of the ratification of CEDAW was proposed by Jimmy Carter, but shot down and wasn't supported by Reagan or Bush administrations. The Clinton Administration tried to ratify it again, but with proposed conditions, one of which stated that: the U.S. "would have a 'non-self-executing' provision, which proposed that no new laws would be created as a result of Convention ratification; and a 'dispute settlement' provision, which stated that the United States was not bound by Convention Article 29(1) which refers unresolved disputes to the International Court of Justice."
Essentially, U.S. laws would not be changed by joining the convention, and there would be no way for the convention to take actions against it if it didn't implement any of the provisions suggested. The current adminstration supports the goal of CEDAW but has some concerns similar to those of the previous.
Frankly I'm just not impressed. Perhaps my favorite part is that the United Families International ("securing the Family since 1978 - whatever did we do before that?) begins their message with a quote from John F. Kennedy, a democrat. It then goes on to say that with democrats holding the house and senate, we're could be in some serious trouble. The greatest irony is what the quote says. Essentially this is just somebody getting worked up over statement or two that they decide to make a crusade out of it. It's fairly unrealistic. Oh, and tossing in a case about homosexual marriage? Controversial it may be, but relatively unrelated.
In the future I suggest you all do what this great country has allowed us to do: think and make decisions for ourselves. Too many people in this country are lazy when it comes to political standings. We let others tell us what to think, incorporate unrelated information cloud our judgement (is this god's chosen canidate? really?) or allow ourselves to buy into opinions without understanding the issues. Read, research and decide for yourselves. This is all I ask.
Sincerely,
Peter
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