What Can Home-School-Parents Expect Under the Obama Administration?

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends of Homeschooling:

Since the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president, HSLDA has received more than a few calls from both members and nonmembers. Some are quite concerned about the future of homeschooling under an Obama presidency.First of all, let us always remember that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). He also instructs us to be wise, plan, and be prepared in everything we do.Despite HSLDA’s efforts prior to the election to get an official statement from the Obama campaign regarding their position on homeschooling, we received no response.

So where does that leave us?We do know that the Democratic Party has an official position of supporting public education. The National Education Association (NEA), which is the national teachers union, is a major supporter of the Democratic Party. We know that the NEA’s position is that every child should be either taught by a certified teacher or supervised by one. Additionally, their position is that the curriculum used by all homeschoolers should be approved by the state, and children should only be able to continue to be homeschooled based upon systematic evaluation by the state.

It is important to remember that under the United States Constitution, the federal government has no authority over private and home education. This is not to say that they will not attempt to exercise authority in these areas. And whenever private educators accept grants and benefits, there are conditions to receiving those benefits, including being subject to regulation.Just because the federal government has no constitutional authority over home education, however, doesn’t mean that federal bureaucrats or legislators might not attempt to impose some form of regulation over private and home education.

We saw this back in 1994, when the reauthorization of the Secondary and Elementary Act (H.R. 6) contained an amendment which would have conditioned funding to the states for public education to require that all teachers be certified in every subject area they teach. The homeschool community rose up; over a million phone calls were made to the U.S. Congress, and the amendment was defeated. During that process, Representative Dick Armey from Texas introduced an amendment which stated that the federal government and Congress have no authority over private and home education. This protective language was passed by the House of Representatives.

With your help and the help of homeschoolers all across America, we will vigorously resist any effort on the part of the federal government to regulate home education. Obviously, this will take resources—which come from our membership—and we would encourage our current members to continue standing with us, and encourage others to join us.An immediate concern to watch is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Although we do not know what Barack Obama’s specific position on the treaty is, we know that future Vice President Joe Biden has publicly indicated that this UN Convention should be ratified by the United States.It does appear that we will soon have the challenge of keeping the UN Convention from being ratified by the U.S. Senate, ratification requiring a two-thirds majority to pass.Should the UN Convention be ratified, it would impose the United Nation’s view of children’s rights on America. Under the U.S. Constitution, treaties become the Supreme Law of the land, taking precedent over state laws and state supreme court decisions.The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is not in the best interest of parents or children, as it would undermine the parental authority that our laws currently recognize.

For further information on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child visit ParentalRights.org.To summarize, homeschoolers should not live in fear, but we do need to be wise, and we will need to be vigilant to protect parental rights and homeschooling freedoms in the future. We stand prepared, with your help, to do that as we’ve done for 25 years.

Michael Smith,
HSLDA President
Home School Legal Defense Association

McCain's Final Speech... WHAT A GENTLEMAN! WHAT CLASS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acS6XtKJpCM

The Election, The Bible & The End-Times

The article below sounds and looks like much of what the Bible says about "The END of Time"... (Makes one wonder why this man is so 'loved' around the world? Also, why have Americans 'bowed' so low, as to elect someone this un-patriotic? The end is nearing... simply read your Bible to see the FINAL outcome! Above all else, TRUST God for the future of your children and grandchildren!) "God Help Us All"! The End is upon us for sure... will God find faith on the earth at His sure-to-be SOON return? Fearful we may be, but always trusting GOD!
(Below: The 2008 President of The United States... Proud American??? We think NOT!!!)
Barack Obama's election as America's first black president unleashed a global tide of admiration, hopes for change and even renewed love for the United States on Wednesday.
The president of Kenya declared a public holiday in Obama's honor, and people across Africa stayed up all night or woke before dawn to watch U.S. election history being made.
In Indonesia, where Obama lived as child, hundreds of students at his former elementary school erupted in cheers when he was declared winner and poured into the courtyard where they hugged each other, danced in the rain and chanted "Obama! Obama!"
"Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place," South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela, said in a letter of congratulations to Obama.
Rama Yade, France's black junior minister for human rights, told French radio: "On this morning, we all want to be American so we can take a bite of this dream unfolding before our eyes."
Many expressed amazement and satisfaction that the United States could overcome centuries of racial strife and elect an African-American — and one with Hussein as a middle name — as president.
"What an inspiration. He is the first truly global U.S. president the world has ever had," said Pracha Kanjananont, a 29-year-old Thai sitting at a Starbuck's in Bangkok. "He had an Asian childhood, African parentage and has a Middle Eastern name. He is a truly global president."
In an interconnected world where people in its farthest reaches could monitor the presidential race blow-by-blow, many observers echoed Obama's own campaign mantra as they struggled to put into words their sense that his election marked an important turning point.
"I really think this is going to change the world," gushed Akihiko Mukohama, 34, the lead singer of a band that traveled to Obama, Japan, to perform at a promotional event for the president-elect. He wore an "I Love Obama" T-shirt.
The magnitude and emotion of the world reaction illustrated the international character of the U.S. presidency. Many look to Washington as the place where the global issues of war and peace, prosperity or crisis, are decided.
"This is an enormous outcome for all of us," said John Wood, the former New Zealand ambassador to the U.S. "We have to hope and pray that President Obama can move forward in ways which are constructive and beneficial to all of us."
The Vatican said Wednesday it hoped Obama will work to promote peace and justice in the world.
Hopes were also high among those critical of President Bush's policies that an Obama victory would bring in a more inclusive, internationally cooperative U.S. approach. Many cited the Iraq war as the type of blunder Obama was unlikely to repeat.
Indeed, even as they raised expectations, many U.S.-watchers were quick to point out that Obama would have to confront enormous problems once in office: wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, tenacious difficulties in the Middle East and North Korea, a world economy in turmoil.
Europe, where Obama is overwhelmingly popular, is one region that looked eagerly to an Obama administration for a revival in warm relations after the Bush government's chilly rift with the continent over the Iraq war.
"At a time when we have to confront immense challenges together, your election raises great hopes in France, in Europe and in the rest of the world," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a congratulations letter to Obama.
Some South Koreans said they hoped Obama — who has said he favors direct engagement with North Korea — would press North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on human rights issues and the alleged kidnappings of hundreds of South Koreans.
Skepticism, however, was high in the Muslim world. The Bush administration alienated those in the Middle East by mistreating prisoners at its detention center for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and inmates at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison — human rights violations also condemned worldwide.
Some Iraqis, who have suffered through five years of a war ignited by the United States and its allies, said they would believe positive change when they saw it.
"Obama's victory will do nothing for the Iraqi issue nor for the Palestinian issue," said Muneer Jamal, a Baghdad resident. "I think all the promises Obama made during the campaign will remain mere promises."
In Pakistan, a country vital to the U.S.-led war on the al-Qaida terrorist network and neighbor to Afghanistan, many hoped Obama would bring some respite from rising militant violence that many blame on Bush.
Still, Mohammed Arshad, a 28-year-old schoolteacher in the capital, Islamabad, doubted Obama's ability to change U.S. foreign policy dramatically.
"It is true that Bush gave America a very bad name. He has become a symbol of hate. But I don't think the change of face will suddenly make any big difference," he said.
Still, many around the world found Obama's international roots — his father was Kenyan, and he lived four years in Indonesia as a child — compelling and attractive.
Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki declared a public holiday on Thursday in honor of Obama's election victory, and people across Africa stayed up all night or woke before dawn Wednesday to watch the U.S. election results roll in.
"He's in!" said Rachel Ndimu, 23, a business student who joined hundreds of others at the residence of the U.S. ambassador in Nairobi. "I think this is awesome, and the whole world is backing him."
In Jakarta, hundreds of students at his former elementary school gathered around a television set to watch as results came in, erupting in cheers when he was declared winner and then pouring into the courtyard where they hugged each other and danced in the rain.
"We're so proud!" Alsya Nadin, a spunky 10-year-old in pink-framed glasses, said as her classmates chanted "Obama! Obama!"

The New President of The United States Elect...

OBAMA ELECTED!
We have only ONE thing to say, "God Help Us All"! The End Times are upon us for sure... is it possible that God will find faith on the earth at His sure-to-be SOON return? One thing is for certain, FAITH is very low amongst Christians at this time, as we are all very fearful but, NO MATTER what may happen now, we're trusting GOD for the days ahead! Especially for the children and grandchildren of today!!!

ONLY ONE DAY LEFT!!!!!

With one day to go before Election Day polls show Obama leading in Pennsylvania and other key states. Nationally, several major polls indicate Obama has a 7 to 8 percentage-point advantage. But these same polls also show the race tightening.

Click here for more on the race.

YOU DECIDE: Can John McCain and Sarah Palin still close the gap and win the White House?

OF COURSE THEY CAN, PRAYING IT'S GOD'S WILL AND DEPENDING ON THE CHRISTIAN VOTERS TO GET OUT AND VOTE FOR THE 'RIGHT'...

MCCAIN & PALIN ARE THE PERFECT CANDIDATES

TO WIN THE WHITE HOUSE IN '08... FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!

Don't Be Afraid of Political Humor... Welcome It!

By Mike Huckabee Host, FOX News Channel’s “Huckabee”/Former Republican Presidential Candidate

Political humor has come to play an increasingly important role in our election process.
Shows like “Saturday Night Live,” “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” “The Colbert Report With Stephen Colbert” and late night comedies such as Leno, Letterman, Ferguson, Kimmel and O’Brien have more impact on framing the political discussions than the news shows do.

Don’t be afraid of that — welcome it.
Parodies of political humor can’t happen in a vacuum — they only work when they take something that is true and turn up the volume to point out its absurdity or audacity.
A political parody can’t create an issue, it can only bring attention to its inconsistencies or its ironies and make us laugh to keep from being mad about it.
The political humor that we get is not a distraction from the truth, it might be the closest thing to the real truth we actually get.
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